Amazon has filed a patent that could allow its Echo devices to one day listen in on conversations to help with user recommendations. Should you whisper around your Amazon Echo, lest it whisper back to you? The idea seems to be to turn Alexa, the company’s virtual assistant, from a dutiful aide under the user’s command to one with a more proactive attitude. In a statement, Amazon said the patent was a proposal for the future, rather than a feature it is preparing to roll out. “Like many companies, we file a number of forward-looking patent applications that explore the full possibilities of new technology.

Source: The Guardian April 11, 2018 16:30 UTC