Revenge of the Robots: Amazon Device Curses at Man After He Cancels Prime Account

Imagine you come home after a long day and ask Alexa to play you some music – but instead of playing your jams, your Amazon echo dot calls you a sh*thead.

That’s what Michael Slade from south Wales is claiming happened after he canceled his Amazon Prime account:

“I tried to cancel my subscription and had a short conversation with someone in customer service and the next day my Alexa is calling me names,” said Slade, adding “I’ve spoken to technical support and they’ve never heard of this happening before.”

Slade uploaded a video of his conversation with Alexa:

People have suggested that he told Alexa to call him the dirty word, or used it as a playlist name, but Slade swears that isn’t the case.

“Software is available for the Echo Dot speaker that can make Alexa curse – but it is unclear whether someone might have deliberately uploaded this to the device.”

Michael says that’s not the case, however.

“I swear I haven’t done anything to it.  Hand on heart I haven’t made it say it, or know why.  Nor do any of my housemates.”

Amazon disagrees, as a spokesperson told The Sun: “Customers are able to personalise their Alexa experience, including playlist names.  Alexa would not respond in this way without some customisation from the user.”

Nonetheless, Amazon offered Slade gift cards and a year of free Prime membership for the diss.

Technology, man.  It’s either going to save us or destroy us all.  Personally, I get a little freaked out by the idea that all my devices may be listening to me, watching me, tracking my activity.  If this really happened the way Slade claims, that’s quite unsettling.

Thoughts?