Just tell me my Pixel 3 isn't always listening and I'll be good (very specific search suggestion)

[elvee68]

Your smart *** remark is unwarranted.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be smart ***
I was just stating facts at least with Google anyway.
During the process of setting up a Android device, along comes the opt-in or out part. Even after the setup and you start some sort of Google service, Assist, Discovery, etc, comes the part where we all have to make that CHOICE before moving on.

So I apologise for offending you, but for me, there is no grey area. Opt-in or Opt-out, Google makes it very clear.

 

[booboolala2000]

Frist - as a rule, I do not accuse technology of secretly listening to me. I have always written off anyone who says, "Google is listening to my conversations!" as someone who probably typed it in a search, sent an email about it, etc.

However, after years of owning Android phones and Google Homes, I was put into a situation today where I am seriously questioning how Google knew what I wanted to search for on my phone. I mean highly specific, perfectly timed, and offered as a first choice after entering only four letters of a 3 word/number phrase.

My Pixel 3 was on the table during a conversation where this highly specific topic was being repeatedly discussed and I picked up my phone to execute the search in the midst of it.

I am 100% positive I have never entered or spoken this information into a previous search or in any email sent or received. It is so specific!

I can come up with a complex link to an email my husband sent to obtain a quote that was not sent to me, but even if I accepted that slightly frightening fascinating connection, it still doesn't explain why the search suggestion appeared as the first one. Is it some crazy connection between his email, my location at the store and.... errr....it made a lucky guess about what aspect of the product we were talking about? And how does Google decide what info from my husband's email is approrpriate to use?

So, humor me when I ask this...

Is there any configuration where the Pixel 3 would be listening while at rest on a table other than the setting to listen for OK Google (which I have off)? You know... like "for my benefit" to give me such a great experience.

I'll probably just write this off but I am wondering what all of you have to say.

This was the search: flexsteel fabric 912-01

The way Google works on Home and in the phone is that it is constantly listening. But it only recalls the last bit of the listening when someone performs a search. It isn't saving or logging any of this information. Once the search is done, the memory clears and the process starts over. It does this to give you those targeted results in fewer inputs required by the user.

 

[booboolala2000]

I find it creepy and I don't feel comfortable with it. Hell, a guy was just sent 1,000+ transcripts of a guy talking in the privacy of his own home caught on an Alexa: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation...-amazon-sends-alexa-recordings-to-wrong-user/

I don't like it. I have removed all "smart accessories" from my home. I don't need a private company somewhere recording and storing all of my private conversations.

That was Alexa, not Google. Amazon is kinda reckless with their tech.

 

[booboolala2000]

Ok Google is always listening. The question is, what does it do with that.

Say you are "discussing your questionable search history" with your wife....

Then a few hours later your wife mentions the "hubs" on her car and your Gogglie phone asks "which video you want to watch on p@rnhub?"

https://support.google.com/googlehome/answer/7072285?hl=en

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I never had this problem on any iPhones, but I get it on my Pixel all the time. I am not comfortable with it and it makes me want to ditch it for something else.

I actually returned my Google Home Hub because I didn't trust it. Nobody should own "smart accessories" that's always listening.

The modern iphones allow Siri to always listen just like Google does with Android Assistant, Amazon with Alexa, Samsung with Bixby, and Microsoft with Cortana.

 

[Gdraft#WN]

I work in the financial tech industry.

EVERYTHING you do is being tracked. They (using the term to address those with access). Know where you live, work and spend every dime on your credit card of debit card.

They use that data (with Ai) to determine everything about you. I have seen reports that show where people live. Where they spend thier money on certain days (Wednesday, pizza day) Ai figures out how you got to point A to point B and what you might have been doing in between.

So far.... No one (at least publicly) has used the data from all of this to the detriment of a person or group.

But it is just a matter of time.

As someone said above. Unless you are off the grid... You are being watched.

At some point in time. Someone (Google, Amazon, or some other company or interest) will find a way to coordinate all that data. Then, if you even realize it... You will have something to worry about

 

[Golfdriver97]

My experience is hit and miss. Sometimes I am in the situation the OP outlined, but often, at least in the terms of searching, I fairly often have to type out the start of the person's last name too.

Now, my results are tailored to me. I get gsmarenas site near the top of the list when I type in phones, or wiki is usually a top result for some random topic

 

[anon(10092459)]

I work in the financial tech industry.

EVERYTHING you do is being tracked. They (using the term to address those with access). Know where you live, work and spend every dime on your credit card of debit card.

They use that data (with Ai) to determine everything about you. I have seen reports that show where people live. Where they spend thier money on certain days (Wednesday, pizza day) Ai figures out how you got to point A to point B and what you might have been doing in between.

So far.... No one (at least publicly) has used the data from all of this to the detriment of a person or group.

But it is just a matter of time.

As someone said above. Unless you are off the grid... You are being watched.

At some point in time. Someone (Google, Amazon, or some other company or interest) will find a way to coordinate all that data. Then, if you even realize it... You will have something to worry about

Of this, I have no doubt. I think that begs the question of what company is a proper custodian of that data.

I ran across this piece over at The Verge discussing this very debate of whether your phone is really listening to you. Was an interesting read...

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/...ok-microphone-tapping-recording-instagram-ads

 

[bhatech]

I never had this problem on any iPhones, but I get it on my Pixel all the time. I am not comfortable with it and it makes me want to ditch it for something else.

I actually returned my Google Home Hub because I didn't trust it. Nobody should own "smart accessories" that's always listening.

Nothing wrong with it and it's a personal decision which everyone has to make for themselves. Apple also listens to you, homepod has to listen always for the hey siri keyword and to some extent on iPhone as well when it's charging for the hey siri keyword. Some people trust Apple more but personally I trust Google as well. I don't put Apple in a different level. I personally feel Google is very responsible with user data and getting better every day with different controls for privacy for users. But there is only so much they can do since they are a data company and provide lots of valuable free services based of that data.

It's understandable if some people worry about it and don't want to do anything with it. Everyone has different confidence level with different companies, for example I have zero trust with Facebook

 

[AustinIllini]

Nothing wrong with it and it's a personal decision which everyone has to make for themselves. Apple also listens to you, homepod has to listen always for the hey siri keyword and to some extent on iPhone as well when it's charging for the hey siri keyword. Some people trust Apple more but personally I trust Google as well. I don't put Apple in a different level. I personally feel Google is very responsible with user data and getting better every day with different controls for privacy for users. But there is only so much they can do since they are a data company and provide lots of valuable free services based of that data.

It's understandable if some people worry about it and don't want to do anything with it. Everyone has different confidence level with different companies, for example I have zero trust with Facebook

Right. At this point, I trust Google with my data. I also generally trust Apple with my data.

I do not trust Facebook at all.

That being says, try figuring out what information Apple has about you. You can't. Google has a way to see and delete a lot if not all of what they know about you.

 

[Xbox GT Hammtweezy2192]

Bro's I got bad news for you, Google isn't the only one always listening and collecting your data. Phones are the best bugs. I'll just leave it at that. Not trying to be Snowden or anything.