What I hate about that sketch is that it verges on reality. In a horrible way it reminds me of the days when kids discovered that they could use word processors with a ‘Thank-you for my present’ template and then just top and tail a couple of personalisation sentences.
Google Duplex is real. That was just a skit on it.
Here is the actual demo at io last week.
I call complete BS on the Dog toy video. Many people make videos trying to sniff what, if anything is being sent up stream. I’m yet to see one that finds anything. The usual tests are watching traffic when Echo or home, are listening to when their not. You can clearly see the difference.
If Google was listening to all mics around the world, just imagine the traffic volumes. And imagine the videos proving it, and the press shouting about it.
BTW I’d love to have a chat with that Google Duplex. Would be interesting to see how it reacts to random comments like “what is the perfect amount of bacon for a bacon batty” or “what did you have for tea last night”.
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