Do The Benefits Of Smart Speakers Outweigh The Security Concerns?

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Anyone who does not have a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo, the Google Nest, or the Apple HomePod has undoubtedly heard of them and is aware that they use artificial intelligence protocol and voice recognition to follow commands. These devices help people use their voices to do everyday tasks like order take-out, track a package, and get updates on news and weather – all hands-free. Smart speakers can even tell a homeowner who is at the front door while keeping an eye on pets at home alone. And they play music, too.

Apple became the first company to use voice recognition technology when the mobile assistant app Siri was made available in the Apple Store in 2010. Apple purchased Siri shortly afterward, making it an integral part of iPhones and making the app the ubiquitous iOS feature it is today. A few years later, in 2014, Amazon came along with Alexa, the voice assistant first embedded in the Amazon Echo device. Now it, too, has found its way into all Amazon devices. Voice recognition had been around many years — almost 50 years — by the time Apple and Amazon saw value in putting it into their devices. IBM had its IBM Shoebox, which recognized a whopping 16 words and numbers. Now that smart speakers have been integrated into so many devices. They have become not just the ears but also the eyes of their owners. This proves that staying connected is of paramount importance in the 21st Century.

Related: HomePod Mini Vs. Echo 4th Gen: Apple & Amazon's $99 Speakers Compared

However, users must weigh the benefits of this constant connection against security concerns. Some recent reports, including one at The Ambient, point to the possibility that this melding of technology with the human voice may not always be a good