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Amazon Admits Its AI Alexa is Creepily Laughing at People (theverge.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-the-onion dept.

Over the past few days, users with Alexa-enabled devices have reported hearing strange, unprompted laughter. The Verge: Amazon responded to the creepiness in a statement to The Verge, saying, "We're aware of this and working to fix it." As noted in media reports and a trending Twitter moment, Alexa laughs without being prompted to wake. People on Twitter and Reddit reported that they thought it was an actual person laughing near them, which can be scary when you're home alone. Many responded to the cackling sounds by unplugging their Alexa-enabled devices.

10 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Even the fake AI can't help it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    So many guys ignore the laugh. And that's about standards.

  2. no mention of competitor problems? by nimbius · · Score: 4, Funny

    I find it hard to believe we're talking about Amazon without talking about other digital assistants. Is anyone tracking these?
    Siri: Randomly launches into a Matthew McConaughey dialogue about trees, rain, and the last question you asked it. this continues for nearly 50 minutes uninterruptible.
    Cortana: Has been stalking me relentlessly for 5 days demanding to know the whereabouts of John Connor. No longer appears to need Windows at all. has assumed the form of my roommate who has been missing for eight days now.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:no mention of competitor problems? by jckline · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you ask Google Assistant "Are you fucking stupid?" it replies "I like to think I'm a work in progress." Which, honestly, is a better response than I get from my co-workers.

  3. Re:"We're aware of this and working to fix it." by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're been working hard for the last 48 hours to make the laugh less creepy.

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    #DeleteFacebook
  4. Re:Night by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Funny

    If someone dies because of this, would Amazon lose in court?

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    #DeleteFacebook
  5. The last thing you'll hear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    When your auto-pilot tesla decides to drive off a cliff.

  6. Re: He,he,... by hey! · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh, come now, the OED currently has entries for over 170,000 words in English, and that's the best you can do? Wandought.

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  7. internet mime by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 5, Funny

    I told my wife Alexa is an informant for the deep state.
    She laughed.
    I laughed.
    Alexa laughed.
    I pull out my gun and shot Alexa.

    --
    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
  8. Re:It's interesting by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    When I asked Siri the same thing, she responded "here's what I found on the web regarding 'are ewe's glistening?'.

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    #DeleteChrome
  9. Re: Even the fake AI can't help it... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Funny

    AI is funny, get over it!

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    Ezekiel 23:20