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Amazon Brings Alexa To Hotels (zdnet.com)

Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room. The e-commerce giant announced Tuesday the launch of Alexa for Hospitality, a specialized version of the voice assistant that integrates into popular hotel software systems for guest services. From a report: Housed inside of an Echo device, Alexa for Hospitality is functionally identical to the Alexa used in homes, except tailored to a hotel's service options. Guests can tell Alexa to order room service, book a spa appointment, call for housekeeping, provide directions, or play music in their room, for example. On the privacy side, Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses, and recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped when the guest checks out of the hotel. However, hotels can use Alexa for Hospitality to "measure engagement through analytics and adapt services based on guest feedback," Amazon said. Alexa for Hospitality is available to hotels, vacation rentals, and other hospitality providers starting today, with Marriott International signed up to deploy the service across its hotel portfolio this summer.

19 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Translaton: by ArylAkamov · · Score: 5, Informative

    Corporation brings always on spy microphones to public hotels

    1. Re:Translaton: by Luthair · · Score: 2

      Does the FBI / CIA need to wait for them to be deployed or can they issue NSL ahead of time. Wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to spy on foreign businesses and government officials.

  2. Uhhh heck no. by GregMmm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So better then buying a device which is listening to you in a home, I'll allow a hotel to purchase a device that listens to me in a room I'm renting. No way. If I saw this in my room, I would unplug it.

    1. Re:Uhhh heck no. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2

      Foam tape over the mic hole, then. Blocks/garbles audio nicely.

  3. No. Just no. by Moof123 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I better be able to unplug the darn thing or I'll be up at the front desk ASAP.

  4. Re:My first test by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Alexa, send a moderately priced escort to room 1703. Brunette, no more than 120 pounds, age 25 or younger.

    You're going to be disappointed when Alexa sends a 13 year-old jockey to your room. Or maybe not.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  5. Re:Wired in by GregMmm · · Score: 2

    Of course I have something to hide... my privacy. It's a real bass ackward way to look at it. I don't give people the ability to listen to me inside my house or bedroom because I don't have anything to hide. If you would like to, go ahead. For me, I'll "hide" all of my deep dark secrets, mainly because I can, and I want to.

  6. Re:check list for checking in by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Insightful

    More like:

    1. Unplug the listening device
    2. Realize the A/C, TV, lights and kettle are controlled by the (now off) listening device
    3. Plug the listening device back in

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  7. Re:My first test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    or a 25 year old ford escort that is being sold for less that 120 pounds sterling

  8. Re:check list for checking in by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yeah right. That's nice and all, unless you just landed from a 7 hour flight, you're tired, and the hotel room was booked for you in advance by your company. I guarantee you most travelers in that kind of situation just give in and hit the sack.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  9. Privacy options exist by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Informative
    From: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/t...

    Marriott Hotels was announced as the first adopter of the new platform ...

    Guests can choose whether they would like to share a room with Alexa or disable the technology by tapping the “mute” button. Guests can also request the Echo speaker to be taken out of the room.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  10. Cyberpunk Dystopia without the Cool by decipher_saint · · Score: 2

    At this point nothing surprises me something-something television watches you... I'll be under a bridge with Ice-T

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
  11. Random person recording in a hotel room...? by DogDude · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, if a random independent hotel owner puts a recording device in their rooms, wouldn't that person go to prison for a long, long time? How about the civil suits? I don't understand how people wouldn't want, say, me, to put a recording device in their rooms, but are A-OK with Amazon doing the recording, and sharing that recording with an unlimited number of unknown people.

    People are kinda' dumb.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  12. Re:privacy? by andrewbaldwin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses"

    oh really?

    the second part seems to contradict this

    "recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped"

    unless that implies that the hotel doesn't keep a copy but Amazon does.

    My guess is that they do have access to recordings - but let's imagine that they don't:

    What happens when the guest orders a load of perishable food to the room and then when it arrives they deny all knowledge [e.g. through malice or if their romantic getaway turned sour and they didn't want that expensive dinner any more or they claim someone else walked in the room and made the request or ... ] ?

    Are you seriously suggesting the hotel wouldn't keep a copy of the order to play it back to the guest?

    If they don't then there's plenty of scope for 'pranks' and or sabotage from their competitors to run up the food wastage bills ; if they do keep recordings for this eventuality, then why not for other purposes (which gives a weasel excuse to cover any/all occasions).

  13. msmash is a drone by burningcpu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room."

    I'm getting a little tired of the blatant advertising on /., and definitely annoyed with the 'related links' section, which highlights the same controversial / offputting links for all stories.

    msmash embodies the new /. Yuck.

  14. Alexa: delete my log of activities by bettodavis · · Score: 2

    "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"

    Everything is fun and giggles, until someone hacks the hotel and all Alexa records of privately said words and activities (with names and personal info) are sent to a big DB in Ukraine, and then to sites making fun of the adult movie viewing habits of foolish hotel visitors.

  15. "finally"? by sacrilicious · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room.

    What is this, an advertisement? Pre-supposing the audience has wanted this for a long time?

    --
    - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
  16. Re:My first test by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Funny....

    But on a serious note, will be you able to disable and turn the fucking thing OFF??

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  17. Re:Finally? by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2

    Voice control isn't really that big of a deal in the kitchen -- just rinse your hands if you need to touch something electrical.

    As far as going to bed, there's usually a button or switch for the bedside lights within arm's reach of the bed.