Apple recently announced an upcoming feature for their new Apple Watches called “Audio Intelligence,” which will always be listening to and transcribing conversations in the background and summarizing them at the end of the day. While Apple have implemented some protections and safeguards to protect the privacy of the watch owner, anyone who talks to someone who has an Apple Watch with “Audio Intelligence” enabled could potentially be recorded without their knowledge or consent.
I can see how such a feature could be genuinely useful. Keeping a personal journal, keeping track of what was discussed in business meetings, etc. But I think the privacy implications are serious.
I don’t like the idea that anything I say in a public setting or in a conversation with others could end up in a transcript summary on someone’s personal device. But this is just the latest in a long line of concerns about surveillance as the devices we use become more and more technologically advanced.
In truth, there have been concerns for many years about smartphones, smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, and even smart TVs listening in on us without our knowledge or consent. I've lost track of how many times I've experienced or heard others relate their experiences of how they were discussing a particular topic with a friend or family member and then as soon as they get on Facebook or another social media platform on their smartphone, they see posts and ads featuring the very topic they were discussing.
Meta's AI Glasses have been causing a stir because people who wear them are wearing video cameras that can record everything – and everyone – they see.
OpenAI is developing a wearable device, designed by Johnny Ive of Apple fame, that will no doubt be constantly listening, recording, and transmitting data to OpenAI's servers and who knows where else.
And whether we personally own or use any of these devices ourselves, chances are we will be interacting increasingly more with people who do.
For all the controversy around Flock cameras being installed everywhere, eventually they might become obsolete. Because the surveillance devices won't need to be on top of poles strategically posted in public places. The surveillance devices will be hanging around our necks, in our earbuds, built into our glasses. We will be wearing them, carrying them in their pockets, driving them, etc.
This goes far beyond the breadth and scope of the telescreens George Orwell envisioned in his dystopian novel 1984. And that story did not end well, either.
#100DaysToOffload (No. 167) #tech #privacy