Alexa, How Do You Really Work?
What Next | Daily News and Analysis
Slate Podcasts
4.3 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 4 April 2018
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this week’s If Then, Slate’s April Glaser and Will Oremus discuss the outrage at the largest television station owner in the country—Sinclair Broadcasting—after the media conglomerate forced its local news anchors read a script that echoes Trumpian talking points. They also unpack Trump’s beef about Jeff Bezos owning what he calls #AmazonWashingtonPost. Meanwhile, music streaming site Spotify went public this week in a totally new kind of way. The hosts take a look at its unorthodox move, and what it means for the company’s future.
Will is joined by Al Lindsay, vice president of Alexa Engine Software at Amazon to talk about how exactly Alexa works, what privacy concerns it raises, and why it started scaring the bejesus out of people a few weeks ago by emitting peals of creepy laughter for no apparent reason.
Don’t Close My Tabs:
The New York Times: ‘I Can’t Stop”: Schools Struggle With Vaping Explosion
Podcast production by Max Jacobs.
If Then plugs:
You can get updates about what’s coming up next by following us on Twitter @ifthenpod. You can follow Will @WillOremus and April @Aprilaser. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com.
If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | One note to listeners before today's episode. |
| 0:03.4 | As we were recording this show, news was coming in about a shooter at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, with several people reportedly hurt. |
| 0:10.8 | We didn't have further details at the time of recording, but we're thinking of everyone there and sending our thoughts to those affected. |
| 0:20.7 | Welcome to If Them, the show about how technology is changing our lives and our future. |
| 0:25.9 | I'm April Glazer. |
| 0:27.4 | And I'm Will Aramis. |
| 0:43.6 | Hey, everyone. Welcome to If Then. We're coming to you from Slate and Future Tense, a partnership between Slate, Arizona State University, and New America. We are recording this on the afternoon |
| 0:48.9 | of Tuesday, April 3rd. On today's show, we'll discuss the drama over the largest television station |
| 0:53.8 | owner in the country, Sinclair Broadcasting, and the outrage that's boiled over the past |
| 0:58.5 | weekend over the media conglomerates demands that its anchors read a script that echoes |
| 1:03.4 | Trumpian talking points. We'll also unpack Trump's beef about Jeff Bezos, owning what he calls |
| 1:09.3 | hashtag Amazon Washington Post, |
| 1:11.4 | and music streaming site Spotify went public this week in a totally new kind of way. |
| 1:16.7 | We'll look at its direct public listing and what it means for the company's future. |
| 1:21.3 | Later, we'll be joined by Al Lindsay, vice president of Alexa Engine Software at Amazon. |
| 1:26.7 | We'll talk to Al about exactly how Alexa works, |
| 1:29.8 | what privacy concerns it raises, and why it started scaring the bejesus out of people a few weeks |
| 1:34.6 | ago by emitting peals of creepy laughter for no apparent reason. And we'll end with Don't Close My Tabs, |
| 1:41.0 | our picks for the best on the web this week. All right, April, where are you |
| 1:45.2 | coming to us from this week? I am coming from New Orleans, which is a place that I've always |
| 1:50.3 | kind of considered a second home, visiting some very close friends out here. So doing the |
| 1:55.8 | podcast from here. You're in California. As usual. And before we jump into the news, a little house business |
... |
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