Poll: Do you use the mic switch on your smart speaker?
Recognition: Adam Molina / Android Authority
Whether you’re using an Amazon Echo, Google Nest device, or Apple HomePod, there is a microphone switch (albeit sometimes virtual) that you can use to keep your smart speaker or display from waiting for commands. This can be helpful if you are concerned about accidental activations or don’t want your device to listen without your express consent.
But do you use that microphone switch or does it stay idle most of the time? This is a handy feature, but it can also be a problem if you aren’t particularly concerned about a device with a microphone in your living room. Please tell us your habits in the following survey.
Load surveyIt’s not as necessary to use a microphone switch as you might think. While some believe that having a microphone always-ready means your device will record everything you say, that’s not really true. Smart speakers and displays don’t record anything or only share it when they hear wake-up words like “Alexa” or “Hey Google”. You don’t have to worry about Amazon or Google offering shopping tips based on your off-hand conversations.
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At the same time, there is still the possibility (however small it may be) that someone will hear more than you wanted to share. Businesses often have operators listen to recordings and read transcriptions to ensure that their voice assistants are working properly. Although these clips are anonymized and may not last long, there is still a chance someone somewhere overhear what you said in confidence. It might be worth flicking this mic switch at those moments when you want to rule out eavesdropping completely, no matter how unlikely it may be.
What are your reasons for using the microphone switch, if you ever use it? Please share in the comments!
