Alexa’s newest feature — though still in development — will be able to mimic any person's voice based on short audio clips. But experts say the technology could bring security and ethical problems.
The new Alexa feature also raises questions about consent, Leaver added — particularly for people who never imagined their voice would be belted out by a robotic personal assistant after they die.
“There’s a real slippery slope there of using deceased people’s data in a way that is both just creepy on one hand, but deeply unethical on another because they’ve never considered those traces being used in that way,” Leaver said.Having recently lost his grandfather, Leaver said he empathized with the “temptation” of wanting to hear a loved one’s voice.
Prasad didn’t address such details during Wednesday’s address. He did posit, however, that the ability to mimic voices was a product of “unquestionably living in the golden era of AI, where our dreams and science fiction are becoming a reality.”Should Amazon’s demo become a real feature, Leaver said people might need to start thinking about how their voices and likeness could be used when they die.
“Do I have to think about in my will that I need to say, ‘My voice and my pictorial history on social media is the property of my children, and they can decide whether they want to reanimate that in chat with me or not?’ ” Leaver wondered. “That’s a weird thing to say now. But it’s probably a question that we should have an answer to before Alexa starts talking like me tomorrow,” he added.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Amazon has a plan to make Alexa mimic anyone's voiceAmazon.com Inc wants to give customers the chance to make Alexa, the company's voice assistant, sound just like their grandmother -- or anyone else.
Read more »
Amazon feature has Alexa speaking in voice of late relative | Digital TrendsWhether you find it comforting or creepy depends on your disposition, but Amazon has found a way to get Alexa to speak in the voice of a deceased relative.
Read more »
Amazon to give Alexa the ability to sound like anyoneAlexa will soon be able to have Alexa's voice mimic anyone including a deceased relative. Amazon is offering this new feature to bring back the voices of loved ones who have passed due to COVID.
Read more »
Amazon's Creepy New Alexa Skill Could Be Mimicking Dead Relatives' VoicesA company vice president said its ability to use voices on its Alexa devices is part of 'living in the golden era of AI.'
Read more »
Amazon's new pitch: let Alexa speak as your relatives from beyond the grave | EngadgetAmazon's new pitch: let Alexa speak as your relatives from beyond the grave
Read more »
Amazon's Creepy New Alexa Skill Could Be Mimicking Dead Relatives' VoicesA company vice president said its ability to use voices on its Alexa devices is part of 'living in the golden era of AI.'
Read more »