Alexa in your hotel room

[spacein_vader]

An always enabled microphone, answerable to Amazon & the hotel chain rather than then end user* in your rented bedroom? What could possibly go wrong?

Might need to give Marriott et al a swerve if these are put into all rooms. No thanks.

*Yes you'll be able to log in to your own account (and they promise to log you out of it when you leave, and I'm sure that will always work and the next guest won't order stuff on your account, ever,) but the underlying account will be the hotels.

[peterb]

Well, I’d be pulling the plug out on that - or carrying some insulated wire cutters to my luggage.

[ik9000]

Well, I’d be pulling the plug out on that - or carrying some insulated wire cutters to my luggage.

^this. "Oh I'm sorry, I'd put it in the bathroom for when I had a shower and it just happened to fall into the sink full of water. No really, I'm not sure how that happened"

[TheAnimus]

No.

No, no, no.

If they do this I'm issuing a bulletin that no one can stay in their hotels in our company for opsec reasons. I'm sure other firms will too.

[ik9000]

No.

No, no, no.

If they do this I'm issuing a bulletin that no one can stay in their hotels in our company for opsec reasons. I'm sure other firms will too.

you're absolutely right. This is a surely an invasion of privacy? I mean why not just make the walls and door translucent while you're at it.

[spacein_vader]

Well, I’d be pulling the plug out on that - or carrying some insulated wire cutters to my luggage.

Not sure if they have battery backup. If they do then ik9000s solution sounds better.

[ik9000]

the first thing I will do on checking in will be to take it to reception and make them sign that I handed it in. If they refuse then sink time. Or falling off the balcony. Or similar dim-witted mishap.

[Zak33]

I've discussed more business in a hotel room, via Skype and mobile, than enough to know that, categorically, that bad boy is going outside the room door... where there will likely be a row of them from other guests

the sheer audacity of the plan is, though, genius

[peterb]

On one level it is quite a good idea - just not well thought through.

Playing devil's advocate, Amazon have always maintained that nothing is stored and the device sleeps until it gets the wake up word. And being able to order room service/other hotel facilities/change TV channels without using the phone/remote etc could be an advantage - and if it was a surveillance device, sorting through the billions of spoken words would be a challengeing and the effort required would far outweigh any potential gains.

But at a visceral level - NO!

[ik9000]

the sheer audacity of the plan is, though, genius

[ik9000]

On one level it is quite a good idea - just not well thought through.

Playing devil's advocate, Amazon have always maintained that nothing is stored and the device sleeps until it gets the wake up word. And being able to order room service/other hotel facilities/change TV channels without using the phone/remote etc could be an advantage - and if it was a surveillance device, sorting through the billions of spoken words would be a challengeing and the effort required would far outweigh any potential gains.

But at a visceral level - NO!

I'm not sure anyone wants to hear what me and mrs ik9000 get up to in a hotel room. And before you go all smutty - that includes the inevitable. "did you pack xxx", "oh I think I left the bathroom light on at home..." "for crying out loud do you have to do that when I'm in the room, couldn't you at least open the window" etc etc

[Zak33]

in the industry I know best I know which hotels in a particular town host the director level staff of the major brands.

there are often 20 + of them staying.

it's not a "million mile imagination journey" to see the data capture/confidential info capture/ black mail potential of those devices being hacked

[ik9000]

in the industry I know best I know which hotels in a particular town host the director level staff of the major brands.

there are often 20 + of them staying.

it's not a "million mile imagination journey" to see the data capture/confidential info capture/ black mail potential of those devices being hacked

and just think of the political damage that could occur if revelations were made as to what actually did go on in hotels while on the campaign trail, or at significant conferences and the like.

[Lanky123]

in the industry I know best I know which hotels in a particular town host the director level staff of the major brands.

there are often 20 + of them staying.

it's not a "million mile imagination journey" to see the data capture/confidential info capture/ black mail potential of those devices being hacked

and just think of the political damage that could occur if revelations were made as to what actually did go on in hotels while on the campaign trail, or at significant conferences and the like.

Well...if someone's going to the trouble of hacking one of these why would they not just get one of the minimum wage cleaners to drop a mic in each room. Easier solution that would work in any hotel and wouldn't come with an inconvenient 'Hello, I'm Alexa' (or whatever it says) warning as you walk into the room.

Not that I want to give anyone ideas but...I can't imagine too many CEOs/politicians do a James Bond style sweep of their hotel room before starting a conference call.

[Ttaskmaster]

Really, HEXUS?
Not one of you would instead take the opportunity to utterly muck about and cause as much mischief with the stupid thing as possible??!!

I'm disappointed in you all...

the first thing I will do on checking in will be to take it to reception and make them sign that I handed it in.

"I see, sir...
So sir actually removed the unit from its installed location, did sir? Without the authorisation of us, the legal owners, sir? Congratulations, sir is now the proud owner of an Alexa, sir, and I shall add the cost of a brand new replacement unit to sir's credit card, sir... unless sir would care to have a seat in the bar, and await the arrival of the Police who have already been summoned, before answering to the charges of theft, damage to private property, and unauthorised work on a live electrical installation?
Sir would not?
Very good, sir.....

Will there be anything else?"

[ik9000]

Will there be anything else?"

Yes, eat my fist. You can add assault and battery to the rap list.