Apple Admits and Apologizes for Listen to Your Conversations

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.


Apple will also delete by default any recordings used for the program.

“We realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that, we apologize,” Apple said in a post.

“We’ve decided to make some changes to Siri” as a result of concerns expressed about the grading program, the company added.

“Our goal with Siri, the pioneering intelligent assistant, is to provide the best experience for our customers while vigilantly protecting their privacy.”

Computer-generated transcripts will still be used to hone the ability of the software to understand what people say and mean, the company said.

Apple suspended the program after news broke that contractors were hearing confidential medical information, criminal dealings, and even sexual encounters.

The California tech giant was among several firms scrutinized using contractors to “listen” to conversations with digital assistants to improve artificial intelligence software.

If customers opt-in, only Apple employees will be allowed to listen to audio samples of Siri interactions and they will “work to delete any recording which is determined to be an inadvertent trigger” of the voice-commanded digital assistant, according to the company.

“We hope that many people will choose to help Siri get better, knowing that Apple respects their data and has strong privacy controls in place,” Apple Apology.

Google and Amazon have also announced changes to their programs in response to privacy concerns.

source: usa.inquirer.net

LOOK: Siri loads penis image in answer to inquiry on Trump age

Virtual assistant Siri surprised Apple users after it pulled up the picture of a penis when it was asked about US President Donald Trump.

The Apple virtual assistant made this mistake after vandals altered the image of Trump on the Wikipedia page, according to a website editor’s statement to The Verge.


The editor stated that the vandals have been blocked indefinitely.

A screengrab of the vandalized Wiki post also popped up on a subreddit called r/SiriFail dedicated to documenting Siri’s various mistakes over the years since it was released on the iOS.

Reddit user “u/Throwaway28536” shared the screengrab with a [NSFW] tag attached to it.

The incident had impeccable timing as well, since it occurred on the US Thanksgiving holiday, during which Trump pardoned the turkeys Peas and Carrots from being served for dinner as part of a White House tradition.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple sued over iPhone 4S 'assistant' Siri

SAN FRANCISCO — An iPhone 4S buyer has sued Apple for promising more than it delivered with automated “Siri” voice-activated assistant software built into the coveted smartphones.

A suit filed in a California federal court argued that Apple advertising touting the wonders of Siri amounted to “intentional misrepresentation” and unfair competition, according to documents available online Tuesday.

Lawyers representing a New York City man who bought an iPhone 4S want class action status to represent millions of people who bought the latest generation Apple smartphone.

The suit included Apple—which runs showing people asking Siri to help them find restaurants, learn chords to songs, tie neck ties, and even figure out if there is a rodeo in town—had disappointed some users.

Lawyers representing the iPhone 4S buyer, identified as Frank Fazio of Brooklyn, argued that Siri claims were “misleading and deceptive,” and are calling for California-based Apple to pay unspecified damages.

“Promptly after the purchase of his iPhone 4S, plaintiff realized that Siri was not performing as advertised,” the lawsuit said.

“For instance, when plaintiff asked Siri for directions to a certain place, or to locate a store, Siri either did not understand what plaintiff was asking, or, after a very long wait time, responded with the wrong answer.”

Apple does not comment on pending litigation.

Siri has been a hit since its US debut with the iPhone 4S in October and was even referred to as a direct challenge to Google’s search engine by the Internet giant’s chairman Eric Schmidt.

Siri artificial intelligence software was derived from research conducted to make computers more intuitive at understanding and working with soldiers in action.

Siri is designed to understand context so people can speak naturally when asking it questions.

For example, spoken queries of “Will I need an umbrella this weekend?” and “What is the traffic like around here?” will prompt online searches for local weather forecasts or road conditions.

Siri helps make calls, send text messages or email, schedule meetings and reminders, make notes, find local businesses, and get directions. Siri will even perform mathematical calculations if asked.

source: japantoday.com