The voice assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant are now an integral part of daily life, simplifying operations such as turning on lights, setting timers or controlling smart devices. However, they hide behind their convenience important disadvantages related to privacysafety and reliability, which are often overlooked.
These devices are indeed designed for constant listeningactivating when a specific command is spoken. However there is a risk that also collect sensitive datathen stored on the servers of the large companies that manage them, such as Amazon, Google and Apple. This data could be used for commercial purposesand although the companies claim that the devices only listen after activation, there have been reports of recordings being made at unexpected times.
Then pay attention to a closely related topic: IT security. Since voice assistants are connected to the Internet, they are vulnerable to cyber attacksjust like a computer or smartphone. Hackers could, for example, access your personal data or, in the case of Alexa, your Amazon account, which contains sensitive information such as your credit card. Even more worrying is the possibility of control physical devicessuch as smart locks, with simple voice commands, putting the security of your home at risk.
The lack of reliability
In addition to these problems, voice assistants . Being based on algorithms and artificial intelligence, they can commit errors of interpretation. They often respond incorrectly or out of context, causing frustration. For example, you might ask for the weather and receive it irrelevant answers or errors in recognizing commands, especially if there is background noise or if the pronunciation is not perfect.
Despite these disadvantages, many users continue to use them daily due to their convenience. They are certainly useful for saving time, especially for automating daily operations such as turning lights on or off or controlling devices. However, to reduce risks, it is advisable mute the microphone when not necessaryespecially during sensitive conversations, and take precautions about home network security. It is essential not to underestimate all this and be aware of the dangers involved.
