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TV News Broadcast Accidentally Activates Alexa, Initiates Orders (cw6sandiego.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the always-listening dept.

ShaunC writes: In San Diego, TV news anchor Jim Patton was covering a separate story about a child who accidentally ordered a doll house using her family's Echo. Commenting on the story, Patton said "I love the little girl, saying 'Alexa ordered me a dollhouse.'" Viewers across San Diego reported that in response to the news anchor's spoken words, their own Echo devices activated and tried to order doll houses from Amazon. Amazon says that anyone whose Echo inadvertently ordered a physical item can return it at no charge.
Meanwhile, Engadget reports that a team of Twitch streamers has convinced one Google Home device to answer questions from another, and they're livestreaming the surreal conversation.

5 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dilbert predicted this by meerling · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the early 80s at the PC group meeting, a rep came in to show off their voice command software.
    He set it up, and then from the crowd, someone said "Format C: Enter", followed by another voice "Yes".
    Sure enough, it formatted the entire drive, and the rep had a much shorter presentation than he was expecting, but even he had to admit, the demonstration, though short, was very effective.

  2. Re: Dilbert predicted this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hi Scott.

  3. Well bugger me! by quenda · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well bugger me! ... No! No! Cancel! ...

    Alexa 7.0 robotic assistant will need a safe word.

  4. Re:Well that's a hell of a security hole. by quenda · · Score: 4, Funny

    Safe bet that Amazon will be rushing some sort of patch on that ASAP

    Patch!? Hell no, they've rushed out a patent - the no-click patent. Everyone else will be prevented from doing this, which is some consolation.

  5. Re:What a coincidence by hackwrench · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was in a mental ward quite some time ago, (yes as a patient. I wanted to insist that I had a contract with Microsoft that did not exist and other bizarre things. I did not actually believe I had a contract with Microsoft, that would be crazy) where one of the other patients said "I am Napoleon." and the doc said, "How do you know you're Napoleon?" and the patient replied, "God told me." and another patient piped up, "I did not!"