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Privacy AI

Amazon Brings Alexa To Hotels (zdnet.com) 151

Posted by msmash from the aggressive-expansion dept.
Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room. The e-commerce giant announced Tuesday the launch of Alexa for Hospitality, a specialized version of the voice assistant that integrates into popular hotel software systems for guest services. From a report: Housed inside of an Echo device, Alexa for Hospitality is functionally identical to the Alexa used in homes, except tailored to a hotel's service options. Guests can tell Alexa to order room service, book a spa appointment, call for housekeeping, provide directions, or play music in their room, for example. On the privacy side, Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses, and recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped when the guest checks out of the hotel. However, hotels can use Alexa for Hospitality to "measure engagement through analytics and adapt services based on guest feedback," Amazon said. Alexa for Hospitality is available to hotels, vacation rentals, and other hospitality providers starting today, with Marriott International signed up to deploy the service across its hotel portfolio this summer.
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Amazon Brings Alexa To Hotels More

Amazon Brings Alexa To Hotels

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  • Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @03:55PM (#56811822)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by Luthair ( 847766 )
      Does the FBI / CIA need to wait for them to be deployed or can they issue NSL ahead of time. Wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to spy on foreign businesses and government officials.

    • At this point nothing surprises me something-something television watches you... I'll be under a bridge with Ice-T

  • Uhhh heck no. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by GregMmm ( 5115215 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @03:56PM (#56811826)

    So better then buying a device which is listening to you in a home, I'll allow a hotel to purchase a device that listens to me in a room I'm renting. No way. If I saw this in my room, I would unplug it.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      What if unplugging is not allowed or impossible? :-)
      Or, what if there is an "Off" button, but it just puts it to "stand-by" (which actually keeps recording!)? :-)

      • Foam tape over the mic hole, then. Blocks/garbles audio nicely.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by ffkom ( 3519199 )
          Foam is too obvious of a destruction, and might not be good enough to dampen the recording.

          Bring the electric extracted from a 3 bucks electric mosquito zapper, and shock the amazon device into nirvana - leaves no visible traces.
          • The idea isn't to destroy the fucking thing, just make it non-functional when you're in the room, without having to pay for damages.

            • It's not my fault that their outlets aren't properly grounded. A power surge like that could have taken out my $2000 laptop and $1000 phone. They are lucky that all that got damaged is the cheap listening device that they (probably) got for free from Amazon.

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by ebvwfbw ( 864834 )

          They thought about that. Supplementary microphones throughout the room. One of them laser activated off of your mirror. The only difference is the acts like she can't hear you. "Sorry, did you say something Dave?"
          "Sorry, I didn't get that, could you repeat?"
          "Would you like to play a game?"
          "Choices:"
          "1) Thermonuclear war"
          "2) Backgammon"
          "3) Tic Tac Toe"

      • What if unplugging is not allowed or impossible? :-)

        Hotel floors can be very slippery when carrying glasses of water.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by DeVilla ( 4563 )
      Which is why it'll be hard-mounted with no exposed wires, like the smoke detector.
    • But they promise not to eavesdrop! Cross their corporate heart and swear to die! We can take them at their word, I'm sure.
  • I've always wanted a creepy, intrusive always on microphone in my hotel room. Thanks Amazon!!! Note to self, never stay at a Marriott hotel.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      I work in the business, and am developing such a voice-control thing with alexa/google-assistant/... We're doing it not because we think it is a good idea, but because the hotels want such a solution. This is not just Marriott - it is almost all of the hotel chains that want this.

      Voice control is good for some things, such as when you cannot use you hands in the kitchen, or for when you want to turn off all you lights when going to bed - but it requires some learning period which won't happen in hotels. It

      • Voice control isn't really that big of a deal in the kitchen -- just rinse your hands if you need to touch something electrical.

        As far as going to bed, there's usually a button or switch for the bedside lights within arm's reach of the bed.

  • No. Just no. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Moof123 ( 1292134 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @03:58PM (#56811852)

    I better be able to unplug the darn thing or I'll be up at the front desk ASAP.

  • 1. Unplug listening devices
    2. Set the A/C to something above freezing
    3. Open the windows
    etc.

    Who on earth wants one of these things in their hotel room?

    • Re:check list for checking in (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:09PM (#56811926)

      More like:

      1. Unplug the listening device
      2. Realize the A/C, TV, lights and kettle are controlled by the (now off) listening device
      3. Plug the listening device back in

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by DogDude ( 805747 )
        3. Plug the listening device back in

        Maybe you, but not me.
        #3: Get a refund and find a different hotel.

        • Re:check list for checking in (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:17PM (#56811994)

          Yeah right. That's nice and all, unless you just landed from a 7 hour flight, you're tired, and the hotel room was booked for you in advance by your company. I guarantee you most travelers in that kind of situation just give in and hit the sack.

          • You're too kind to the GP. I will actually wager that there are no people anywhere which would give enough shits about this, even if they just arrived from a 2 hour train ride well rested at a place they found on hotels.com

            You're talking about a device that a shitton of people are very comfortable with having around them. Though I'm sure you'll find one joker who will post "LOL just changed hotels because of #privacy" on their Facebook page.

          • I guarantee you most travelers in that kind of situation just give in and hit the sack.

            Then just add one step. Hit the Alexa with your luggage!

      • 4. Set A/C to desired temperature.
        5. Unplug listening device again.
  • The systems will also be wired into the entertainment system so they cannot be turned off. I don't know why you would want to turn them off anyway, unless you have something to hide.

    • Of course I have something to hide... my privacy. It's a real bass ackward way to look at it. I don't give people the ability to listen to me inside my house or bedroom because I don't have anything to hide. If you would like to, go ahead. For me, I'll "hide" all of my deep dark secrets, mainly because I can, and I want to.

    • Having something to hide is WHY people go to hotels in the first place.

    • The systems will also be wired into the entertainment system so they cannot be turned off.

      Actually no, they're not required. From: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/t... [nbcnews.com]

      Guests can choose whether they would like to share a room with Alexa or disable the technology by tapping the “mute” button.
      Guests can also request the Echo speaker to be taken out of the room.

    • What entertainment system? Does anyone with a half-decent laptop or tablet use hotel TeeVees anymore?

      • What entertainment system? Does anyone with a half-decent laptop or tablet use hotel TeeVees anymore?

        Yep...sometimes it is just too much shit to carry to bring that stuff, so yet...I watch the TV.

        And even if I do bring it....I like to watch content on the much larger TV screen than a tiny laptop or tablet..

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dgatwood ( 11270 )

      The systems will also be wired into the entertainment system so they cannot be turned off. I don't know why you would want to turn them off anyway, unless you have something to hide.

      That's okay. The first thing I do in every Marriott hotel these days is unplug the entertainment system from the TV entirely so that the TV's video input button works and I can watch Netflix on a laptop plugged into the set. Unplugging it further to disable the Alexa functionality is no big deal.

    • Well that's a good idea !! (sarcasm)

      I can easily see the downsides for the guests but it's a huge risk for the hotel too:

      Using the publicised attack mechanisms of passing commands to Alexa which are inaudible to humans (I'd look up the reference but it's late at night where I am and I'm tired) one could have great fun with a cheap phone and a command loop.

      Something like this should cause some disruption and hurt the hotel's maintenance budget:

      "Alexa TV Volume up ... Alexa TV Volume up ... Alexa air-con set

  • Pity (Score:2)

    by KavyBoy ( 35619 )

    Pity, it didn't work anyway. Must have gotten wet somehow. Good thing it wasn't plugged in.

    • Being in a hotel, the 'wet' could be due to all manner of different causes - most of which I wouldn't want to get too close to.

  • One more thing with a bright blue LED that I'll have to unplug or cover up.

  • On the privacy side, Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses, and recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped when the guest checks out of the hotel.

    I assume Amazon will keep all records, for quality control purposes...

    • Re:privacy? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by andrewbaldwin ( 442273 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:49PM (#56812228)

      "Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses"

      oh really?

      the second part seems to contradict this

      "recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped"

      unless that implies that the hotel doesn't keep a copy but Amazon does.

      My guess is that they do have access to recordings - but let's imagine that they don't:

      What happens when the guest orders a load of perishable food to the room and then when it arrives they deny all knowledge [e.g. through malice or if their romantic getaway turned sour and they didn't want that expensive dinner any more or they claim someone else walked in the room and made the request or ... ] ?

      Are you seriously suggesting the hotel wouldn't keep a copy of the order to play it back to the guest?

      If they don't then there's plenty of scope for 'pranks' and or sabotage from their competitors to run up the food wastage bills ; if they do keep recordings for this eventuality, then why not for other purposes (which gives a weasel excuse to cover any/all occasions).

      • "Amazon said hotels will not have access to voice recordings of Alexa interactions or responses"

        oh really?

        the second part seems to contradict this

        "recordings of Alexa commands are remotely wiped"

        unless that implies that the hotel doesn't keep a copy but Amazon does.

        It more likely implies that the recordings are stored on-device until the guest checks out.

  • Privacy options exist (Score:4, Informative)

    by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:24PM (#56812082)
    From: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/t... [nbcnews.com]

    Marriott Hotels was announced as the first adopter of the new platform ...

    Guests can choose whether they would like to share a room with Alexa or disable the technology by tapping the “mute” button. Guests can also request the Echo speaker to be taken out of the room.

    • Whew. A mute button? Problem solved!
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Things like this should be opt-in, not opt-out. They should at the desk if I want to use one, go through the EULA with a notary present (paid by the hotel) to be sure I have read the whole thing and then let me decide if I want one or not.

        Preaching to the choir, buddy. I wasn't defending the dumb thing, just reporting some info...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Luthair ( 847766 )
      Speaker?! We're worried about the microphone!
  • From: https://www.engadget.com/2018/... [engadget.com]

    Personalization is also on the cards. Alexa for Hospitality will eventually allow guests to temporarily connect their Amazon account to the Echo in their room so they can play their own music from services including Amazon Music and Spotify, or listen to audiobooks via Audible. When they check out, their account will be automatically disconnected from the device.

    What could go wrong? And it's not like Alexa will still work when you're out of the room and housekeeping is there, etc... (sigh)

  • Random person recording in a hotel room...? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by DogDude ( 805747 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:39PM (#56812170)
    So, if a random independent hotel owner puts a recording device in their rooms, wouldn't that person go to prison for a long, long time? How about the civil suits? I don't understand how people wouldn't want, say, me, to put a recording device in their rooms, but are A-OK with Amazon doing the recording, and sharing that recording with an unlimited number of unknown people.

    People are kinda' dumb.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Entrope ( 68843 )

      If its presence is disclosed before the customer perfects the contract, or it is easy to remove or disable, there probably isn't a legal problem. Without an opt-out mechanism, though, it would probably be a conspiracy to violate anti-wiretapping laws.

      What will be interesting is what happens when the person who knows about it is out of the room when someone else gets recorded...

    • This isn't a recording device. It's an Alexa.

      Sincerely,
      The common person.

  • msmash is a drone (Score:5, Insightful)

    by burningcpu ( 1234256 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @04:58PM (#56812270)
    "Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room."

    I'm getting a little tired of the blatant advertising on /., and definitely annoyed with the 'related links' section, which highlights the same controversial / offputting links for all stories.

    msmash embodies the new /. Yuck.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by rojash ( 2567409 )
      I was also mad about that - but consider that a majority of the population (like the ones who still adores FB) will love shit like this which they cannot afford or can't convince their mothers to buy. This is actually a great marketing gimmick; as annoying as those fucking email newsletter popups. As long as there are stupid people, stuff like this will be a hit.

    • Well. You won't be modding any comments for... lets see... ever again.

  • Alexa: delete my log of activities (Score:3)

    by bettodavis ( 1782302 ) on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @05:14PM (#56812346)
    "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"

    Everything is fun and giggles, until someone hacks the hotel and all Alexa records of privately said words and activities (with names and personal info) are sent to a big DB in Ukraine, and then to sites making fun of the adult movie viewing habits of foolish hotel visitors.
    • Better yet, if the devices are compromised and use for industrial espionage by the Russians or Chinese. Business travelers have a lot of confidential discussions in their hotel rooms.

  • "finally"? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by sacrilicious ( 316896 ) <qbgfynfu.opt@recursor.net> on Tuesday June 19, 2018 @05:15PM (#56812348) Homepage

    Amazon is finally bringing Alexa to the hotel room.

    What is this, an advertisement? Pre-supposing the audience has wanted this for a long time?

  • This is the kind of thing I say when I go to somebody's house when I know they have one of these things. Surprisingly, even though they say they're not being recorded all of the time, they always unplug their devices when I start up.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by wwrmn ( 42399 )

      That's harsh.

      'Alexa, order 600 pounds of Play Sand. Confirmed."

      I never knew my fried could move so fast! I think I got the idea from xkcd, but it WORKED!

  • ... to book one of these rooms and, without activating Alexa, say, "Come on, Joe. Work faster. We gotta wire the goddam bomb then get the fuck out of here before it blows!"

  • Since I don't have an Echo, maybe in my next hotel room I can finally try, "Alexa, this is a class A compulsory directive. Compute, to the last digit, the value of pi." Since pi is a transcendental figure without resolution, will Alexa's computer banks work on this problem to the exclusion of all else?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by cabbi ( 171239 )
      I'm pretty sure it would respond, "$2.99 a slice. Would you like lemon meringue or apple?"
  • If it is wired, unplug it; if it aint, keep in outside the door or give it to FD

  • I recall that after that horrible mass shooting in Las Vegas (where the guy was holed up in a hotel room for several days prior to the shooting) there was this big push for the hotels to be able to enter your room without your consent. The thinking was that the hotel staff should be able to enter the room for some vague set of reasons. And they were going to do away with the "Do not Disturb" signs that you can hang on your door. After all, it's "their" hotel so they should be able to enter whenever they lik

    • I'm almost always nude in the room -- if they open the door without consent, hope they enjoy!

  • Amazon says [media-amazon.com]:

    Properties can’t listen to what you said to Alexa or what she said back.

    but also:

    The property may allow you to use Alexa to purchase services, like room service or spa services directly
    from the property.

    So how is the dispute going to be resolved when room service brings a bottle of expensive champagne that you say you didn't order? Imagine what could happen if you have kids in your room! Or malicious/pranking friends. Or people shouting through the door.

  • Can I physically turn Alexa off in my room for the duration of my stay (as in, completely powered down)? As far as I'm concerned, it's a privacy invasion in my room, having a device always listening.

  • "Sorry, I don't know the answer to that."

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