Earlier today we were concerned about the coming robopocalypse due to the Atlas robot getting an upgraded balancing algorithm. Well, maybe we can rest a little easier knowing the wiretapping devices — er, consumer entertainment products — in our homes are still dumb as hell.
Amazon Echo and Google Home are somewhat similar devices, in that they both have a microphone that’s always on, waiting for you to say something incriminating — er, ask it a question, we mean. YouTuber Adam Jakowenko figured out a way to get the two devices caught in a loop, speaking to each other seemingly indefinitely. If that calendar event in question is a daily recurring line item, this could go on for months.
It reminds me of that one time when I picked up a toy parrot on an endcap at a store, said “f*ck you” to it, then laughed when it mimicked what I said. Then another parrot on the endcap also repeated “f*ck you” in its high-pitched parrot voice. Then a few other parrots said it. And soon a chain reaction was going of toy parrots saying “f*ck you” back and forth and overlapping like a vulgar Row Row Row Your Boat. About ten minutes later I saw a store employee run past me holding a toy parrot, as the employees were now rushing to separate the foul-mouthed parrots, one at a time. I regret nothing.
(Via Pleated Jeans)