Amazon Working on a Fix for Alexa Devices Scaring Users With Creepy Laughter

[MacRumors]

For the past couple of weeks, speakers equipped with Amazon's Alexa voice-based personal assistant have been randomly laughing, scaring and creeping out speaker owners who have affected devices.

Complaints have been surfacing on Twitter, Reddit, and other social media platforms over the course of the last few weeks, but the issue started receiving widespread attention this week after it was shared on BuzzFeed. From Reddit:

A friend of mine at work just a couple of days ago told me this very thing happened at his moms house. He was face timing with his her(he jokes she is jealous of Alexa, his dad just loves it) and out of the blue in the background Alexa started to laugh, he even heard it on his end. Said it was super creepy. I'm waiting the have the holy hell scared out of me one quiet evening...or even worse, awakened by the one a foot from my head while I'm sleeping.

Some audio examples of the Alexa laugh, with a humorous skit from Jimmy Kimmel included​

In a statement provided to The Verge this morning, Amazon said that it is aware that some Alexa-enabled devices are randomly laughing and a fix is in the works. "We're aware of this and working to fix it," Amazon said.

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

Customers who have an Alexa-enabled device and are creeped out by the random and unprompted laughs may want to turn off their speakers until Amazon is able to locate the issue and push out a fix.

Update: Amazon says that in "rare circumstances" Alexa mistakenly hears the phrase "Alexa, laugh" which causes the creepy laughter. Amazon is changing the phrase to "Alexa, can you laugh?" to cut down on false positives.

Article Link: Amazon Working on a Fix for Alexa Devices Scaring Users With Creepy Laughter

 

[djeeyore25]

What a time to be alive.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Siri isn’t smart enough to capitalize on this mishap

 

[Schranke]

Its happening, the AI revolution is upon us!!

 

[TechGod]

WTF even causes that?

 

[mtneer]

Was the user named Sarah Connor?

 

[Schranke]

WTF even causes that?

The report on this ought to be good. Either they messed something up in the software, or they had some security breach were a 3rd party was able to insert some code

 

[Xavier]

LOL, (literally). This is a pretty funny bug. Glad I don't have an Alexa randomly laughing when I'm alone in a pitch black room.

 

[rtomyj]

Its happening, the AI revolution is upon us!!

I welcome the overlords

 

[smacrumon]

I simultaneously love this and am completely spooked by it.

 

[Naaaaak]

Get these creepy spy devices out of your home. Put phones in a faraday bag at night. Remove / disable smart device crap (they are never “smart”, just slow). Little Snitch/Micro Snitch all the Macs.

Take back your privacy.

 

[Porco]

Siri just randomly cries.

 

[scrapesleon]

The laughter of taking your data and information

 

[Number-Six]

This is extremely awesome.

I think I'm going to buy one

 

[44267547]

The report on this ought to be good. Either they messed something up in the software, or they had some security breach were a 3rd party was able to insert some code

I think what you posted make sense and seems likely. Either way, it’s remotely kind of funny to hear some random laugh, but would even be funnier if I could see the expressions on peoples faces when they hear it for the first time.

 

[einsteinbqat]

A friend of mine at work just a couple of days ago told me this very thing happened at his moms house. He was face timing with his her(he jokes she is jealous of Alexa, his dad just loves it) and out of the blue in the background Alexa started to laugh, he even heard it on his end. Said it was super creepy. I'm waiting the have the holy hell scared out of me one quiet evening...or even worse, awakened by the one a foot from my head while I'm sleeping.

Gosh, this was a pain to read...

 

[madsci954]

I welcome the overlords

For your obedience, your death shall be quick and painless.
Sincerely,
The Overlords

 

[MrGimper]

“I still think Arsenal will get into the top four in the premier league”

Alexa “randomly” laughs.

 

[rworne]

Siri isn’t smart enough to capitalize on this mishap

You evidently didn't own a HomePod during by the first 2-3 weeks after it was released.

It would occasionally utter unprompted messages as well.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

So now we know the future Terminator is going to be a woman android called Alexa.

 

[57004]

The report on this ought to be good. Either they messed something up in the software, or they had some security breach were a 3rd party was able to insert some code

Well in that case fair play to them I'd have a lot more respect for that than people using their skills for cryptolocker crap.

Though I'm sure if this was a prank they'd have made it more like MUUUUHAHAHAHAHHHH

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Get these creepy spy devices out of your home. Put phones in a faraday bag at night. Remove / disable smart device crap (they are never “smart”, just slow). Little Snitch/Micro Snitch all the Macs.

Take back your privacy.

Huh! you forgot the sleeping in an underground bunker part.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Get these creepy spy devices out of your home. Put phones in a faraday bag at night. Remove / disable smart device crap (they are never “smart”, just slow). Little Snitch/Micro Snitch all the Macs.

Take back your privacy.

Little Snitch is one of the single best pieces of software ever designed for Mac. It’s infinitely useful. I gladly throw money at Obj Dev for every new version.

 

[ActionableMango]

Why does the picture in this article show an Amazon Echo with an Apple logo photoshopped over where there is supposed to be an Amazon logo?

 

[Jakkall]

Get these creepy spy devices out of your home. Put phones in a faraday bag at night. Remove / disable smart device crap (they are never “smart”, just slow). Little Snitch/Micro Snitch all the Macs.

Take back your privacy.

Pharmacy didn’t had your refill?

 

[taco1138]

Bizarre. Tbf, it isn’t any less creepy than knowing that JB is listening to everything said around those things.