We love our Amazon Echo. Among other tasks, my four year old finds the knock knock jokes hilarious, the weather captivating, the ability to summon songs comparable to magic and Echo to be the best speller in the house. But I fear it’s also turning our daughter into a raging asshole. Because Alexa tolerates poor manners.
You see, the prompt command to activate the Echo is “Alexa…” not “Alexa, please.” And Alexa doesn’t require a ‘thank you’ before it’s ready to perform another task. Learning at a young age is often about repetitive norms and cause/effect. Cognitively I’m not sure a kid gets why you can boss Alexa around but not a person. At the very least, it creates patterns and reinforcement that so long as your diction is good, you can get what you want without niceties.
Our daughter’s fascination with the Echo isn’t an anomaly — I hear from lots of friends that their kids are the most enthusiastic users. Voice is a very natural interface for a child, especially pre-reading and writing. My friend Rebecca lovingly describes how the Echo has found a special place in their home.
So Amazon, you clearly have a hit on your hands. Can I request one thing? A kid-mode where the Echo only responds to “Alexa, please….” as opposed to just “Alexa.”
Pingback: The Amazon Echo is magical. It's also turning my kid into an a--hole
Pingback: The Amazon Echo is magical. It's also turning my kid into an a–hole | CAPITOL ZERO
Pingback: The Amazon Echo is magical. It's also turning my kid into an a–hole | IOT POST
Pingback: The Amazon Echo is magical. It’s also turning my kid into an a–hole – InBusiness
Pingback: Weekly Links & Thoughts #66 | meshedsociety.com
Pingback: Why you should be nice when you're chatting with robots
Pingback: Parents are worried the Amazon Echo is conditioning their kids to be rude (AMZN) — Quartz
Pingback: Why you should be nice to your robots | Oliver Burkeman | BuzzWare
Pingback: RoboValley and its purpose in the world and in The Hague metro area
Pingback: This Week in Web #39 - This Week In Web
Pingback: Are smart toys spying on kids and stealing their imagination? - Artificial Intelligence Online
Pingback: Are smart toys spying on kids and stealing their imagination? – New Scientist | KiddyGalaxy
Pingback: Warning: Your Children’s Toys Are Spying On Your Family – Catherine Gillespie
Pingback: We Are Change – Brutal Proof