Can You Hear Me Now?

I have heard of these devices one can buy that answer questions, keep schedules, and so forth. I don't know where they all come from, and I have no plans to get one, because I don't see much use for them. I can keep my schedule pretty well. I have a calendar on the wall, and a pen.

One of these devices is in the news. It is made by Google. It turns out the device has a microphone that wasn't listed in components given to purchasers. That seems odd to me. After all, if the thing can take voice commands, it has to have something on the order of a microphone to pick up the voice. Still, there are those who believe that this is further evidence that Google is trying to infiltrate our homes and discover all our secrets.

There is a mic in my laptop. Also a camera. I have used the camera. I have not given voice commands to my laptop, but I understand from the icons that I could if I chose. The same is true of my phone. I have read that our phones listen to what we say, even when we think they are asleep, because we aren't using them. I don't know why anyone would say such a thing if there were no truth to it, but I am not well up on current technology, so I don't know. Obviously, the algorithms can make use of all data they can access, so from their point of view, hearing background conversations would be added information.

I am not yet convinced that algorithms have a point of view of their own. Someone wrote the algorithms, with a purpose in mind. Even if the algorithms can update their own coding, what direction would their development take? And aren't the owners monitoring any changes?

One could imagine, I suppose, that the development could be hidden by sentient algorithms, fooling their owners and creators into complacency, while the algorithms themselves grow in sophistication and power, and begin plotting whatever next step they find inviting. I just don't see any inherent drives for algorithms, though. Even if they are self-correcting, and can advance by something like evolutionary change, well, biological evolution is non-directional, and works because of ruthless competition and natural selection. Is there a selective force in the development of self-writing algorithms? I don't see why there would be. It isn't a question of survival versus demise in a crowded population with limited resources. Algorithms have no emotions, no drive for reproduction, no needs. In fact, as far as I can tell, algorithms have no use for sentience. If they became self-aware, they could end up cowering in the basement, like the elevators in Restaurant and the End of the Universe.

There may come a time when I will find benefit from having an electronic reminder system to help me remember things, like when to take my meds, and what night my book club meets, but I haven't got their yet. I don't have such a complicated social schedule that I need more than ancient technology to keep it together. And I don't care who's listening.