039 - Katherine Prescott: Alexa Privacy & Echo Show 5

TL;DR

Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook have different approaches to privacy, with Privacy becoming a key feature in the tech industry. The new Echo Show 5 from Amazon offers improved privacy features.

Transcript

you know Amazon and Apple primarily sell things to people so they profit from their customers and this creates really good alignment and helpful accountability especially when it comes to privacy but that logic is more complicated for Google and Facebook for Monday June 17 2019 this is episode 39 Alexa privacy issues and the echo Show 5 I spoke wit... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 Tech giants like Amazon and Apple are shifting towards privacy as a key feature, differentiating themselves from companies like Google and Facebook.
• 👤 The Echo Show 5's privacy-focused features, like the camera shutter and voice-commanded recording deletion, address users' concerns and give them more control over their privacy.
• 😮 The rise of smart displays, like the Echo Show 5, will lead to increased adoption and more multimodal experiences, which can significantly enhance user experiences and interactions with voice assistants.
• 📱 Smart displays may require brands and developers to develop multimodal skills to provide users with visual experiences in addition to web and mobile access.
• 🤯 The Echo Show 5's lower price point and affordability will likely result in more people owning smart displays, leading to increased opportunities for brands to engage with consumers visually.
• 👾 Privacy concerns and the focus on privacy as a feature in voice assistants and smart displays will shape the future of advertising in this space.
• 👯 The privacy dialogue surrounding voice assistants is part of the early stages of adoption, and as the technology improves and addresses privacy concerns, more people will embrace it.

Questions & Answers

Q: What privacy concerns are Amazon currently facing?

Amazon is being sued for recording children without their permission, which has raised privacy concerns among parents. This highlights the importance of understanding when Alexa is recording and how to control privacy settings.

Q: What privacy-focused features does the Echo Show 5 offer?

The Echo Show 5 includes a built-in camera shutter, providing users with more control over their privacy. Additionally, users can now delete their voice recordings for the day by simply saying "Alexa, delete everything I said today."

Q: How does the introduction of smart displays like the Echo Show 5 impact user experience?

Smart displays, like the Echo Show 5, enable a multimodal experience by combining voice and visual interactions. This can lead to improved user experiences and the development of better third-party Alexa skills that can respond with both audio and visuals.

Q: Do smart displays pave the way for advertising on voice assistants?

While Amazon has stated no plans for Alexa voice ads, the introduction of smart displays could potentially open up opportunities for more non-intrusive advertising, such as Alexa display ads. However, it is more likely that sponsored content and paid positioning in search results will become more prevalent.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Privacy issues have been in the news, with Amazon being sued for recording children without permission and Apple introducing a new privacy feature called "Sign-in with Apple."

• The Echo Show 5, a new smart display from Amazon, focuses on privacy with features like a built-in camera shutter and the ability to delete voice recordings with a voice command.

• The proliferation of smart displays, like the Echo Show 5, and the rise of multimodal experiences will have implications for brands, developers, and advertisers, potentially leading to the need for multimodal skills and displaying ads on smart screens.