Sometimes our Amazon Alexa devices will start talking without us asking it anything, usually when it hears something on the TV. Now people are reporting that Alexa is randomly laughing, which can be seen in the video below.
Amazon has been looking into why Alexa may have started to laugh randomly with no prompts and is now making some tweaks to stop it from happening.
So Alexa decided to laugh randomly while I was in the kitchen. Freaked @SnootyJuicer and I out. I thought a kid was laughing behind me. pic.twitter.com/6dblzkiQHp
— CaptHandlebar (@CaptHandlebar) February 23, 2018
Understanding the Issue
The phenomenon of Alexa laughing randomly has been unsettling for many users. Imagine being alone at home and suddenly hearing a laugh out of nowhere. This unexpected behavior has led to numerous reports and even some viral social media posts. The laughter is described as eerie and out of context, making it even more disturbing.
Amazon has acknowledged the issue and has been actively investigating the cause. According to the company, in rare circumstances, Alexa can mistakenly hear the phrase “Alexa, laugh,” which triggers the laughter. This misinterpretation can occur due to background noise, conversations, or even sounds from the TV.
Amazon’s Response and Solution
You can see a statement from Amazon below, which reveals why this might be happening and what they are doing to fix it.
“We are changing that phrase to be ‘Alexa, can you laugh?’ which is less likely to have false positives, and we are disabling the short utterance ‘Alexa, laugh’”, the company added. “We are also changing Alexa’s response from simply laughter to ‘Sure, I can laugh’ followed by laughter.”
By changing the command from “Alexa, laugh” to “Alexa, can you laugh?” Amazon aims to reduce the likelihood of accidental triggers. The new command is less likely to be misheard, thereby minimizing the chances of random laughter. Additionally, the response has been modified to include a confirmation phrase, “Sure, I can laugh,” followed by laughter. This change ensures that users are aware that Alexa is about to laugh, making the experience less startling.
Has this happened on your Alexa device? Please leave a comment below and let us know.
Broader Implications and User Reactions
This incident has broader implications for the development and deployment of voice-activated assistants. It highlights the challenges of creating a device that can accurately interpret human speech in various environments. Background noise, accents, and even the way a phrase is spoken can all affect how Alexa interprets commands.
User reactions have been mixed. While some find the random laughter amusing, others are genuinely concerned about the reliability and security of their devices. The incident has sparked discussions about the potential for other unintended behaviors and the importance of regular updates and fixes from manufacturers.
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