Anonymized Siri Voice Clips Stored by Apple for Up to Two Years

[ThunderSkunk]

My only question is why especially since its anonymized - what benefit is there to Apple?

Improving voice recognition algorithms.

Having a large, growing pool of random audio samples from actual users in all their voices and languages and accents to analyze, over and over again as the algorithm is improved, is a huge part of how Siri improves.

Apple doesn't need to know who you are, or care what you're saying, but they and everyone else in voice recognition, have a long way to go improving this functionality yet.

 

[3282868]

We're that much closer

 

[samcraig]

They now know what some of you have said to Siri late at night. Under the covers. And all those dirty websites you asked Siri about. All those escort services you search for...

 

[GoCubsGo]

This is kinda scary I guess but all companies do this. I'm sure even iMessage is store indefinitely. Google, Amazon are no different. OH and definitely FaceBook!

So this is the news you want, eh?


I don't care what they store. We're all out in the open as long as we're using technology.

 

[BrentD]

I don't see what value there is in keeping all of the clips for "analysis". How does analyzing them do any good? There's never any confirmation or not from the user that Siri actually interpreted what they said correctly (most often not, in my experience), so analyzing audio against what was interpreted by Siri doesn't seem useful if no one confirms it was ever right in the first place. So when it analyzes someone saying "A case of constipation" that it interpreted as "AK's and consternation", is that really helpful?

 

[rdas7]

No, I definitely feel more comfortable just typing in everything I need on the internet into google. They only use that information for good… </sarcasm>

 

[ThunderSkunk]

LOL... how different would this thread be if the title was:
"Anonymized Google Now voice clips stored by google for two years"
You guys would be flipping out!
LOL... too funny...

That's because with google, it wouldn't be anonymous, and it'd be sold to advertisers with all your online history, and presented to the gov for their legal scrutiny with a friggin bow on it.

 

[rdas7]

LOL... how different would this thread be if the title was:

"Anonymized Google Now voice clips stored by google for two years"

You guys would be flipping out!

LOL... too funny...

First of all, google wouldn't anonamize it. Secondly, they'd be selling that information to anyone willing to pay, for profit.

 

[iGrip]

Why is Apple always on the news for privacy when other companies (Google) have shadier dealings and rarely get called ou?t :-/

Because Apple is a victim! Its not FAIR!

<stomps widdle footsies as panties collect into a bunch>

 

[paulrbeers]

With available technology of voice biometrics which allows speaker recognition, the clip is about as anonymous as if you had your fingerprint stored with it.

And yet I still couldn't care less. Again, if I had something to hide, I certainly wouldn't use anything that requires a backend server to process or anything that backs up my data to a server (cloud). But maybe I'm just smarter than your average thug/felon/etc.

 

[rtomyj]

well this is MacRumors. They should be more concerned about Apple privacy.

I mean in general. All you see is Apple privacy!!! Never, "Google, giving user info to developers for every Google Play purchase." :-/

 

[Amazing Iceman]

There's way too much paranoia going on.

People worry too much that the government and companies like Apple and Google may be invading their privacy, while carelessly uploading their photos and videos to Facebook and YouTube, downloading viruses and trojans on their computers, logging into porn sites they pay with their credit cards.

There's no such thing as privacy. You could be sunbathing in the buff in your private Yacht or patio, while there are satellites taking pics and videos of you for who knows what purpose. Or a police drone or a kid's drone is flying around taking videos.

So, instead of panicking, move on, and worry about stuff that really matters, such as making sure your children are not chatting to weirdos, playing grossly violent video games or planning to hijack their own school.

 

[Shrink]

Happily, I only use Siri to set the timer so I can know when my espresso machine has heated up so I can make an espresso.

OMG...that means Apple knows how much espresso I drink!!!

Seriously, I'm never happy when any personal data is stored by anyone without my permission.

Good luck with that idea...

 

[BJMRamage]

so, now that we all know this...

why not F--- with Siri and Apple and start sending lots of strange things their way.

Or start to test & build Siri out. ask all sorts of questions to help Siri.

 

[GenesisST]

So they will find my "no, Joy division, not One Direction, you stupid b....!"...

 

[SeattleMoose]

Agree that coming clean with SIRI "usage policy" should be clearly spelled out in the FAQ section. If you are upfront about it nobody can accuse you of hiding anything. Of course whether one agrees with the stated policy (or not), is another matter.

I guess the only thing I cringe at here is all the times I have verbally abused SIRI....

 

[Macman45]

If Apple want to know how often I order fried chicken then I really couldn't care less....

 

[BMNB1tch]

I want royalties for keeping mechanical sync copies of my voice

where's the RIAA ?!

 

[lkrupp]

So what?

Is there any value, privacy-wise, to "honey, I will be late"?

There are more paranoid, conspiracy theory types out there than you might expect. My recently departed from this earth brother-in-law was one of them. These types go bonkers over this sort of thing.

 

[Plutonius]

I hadn't used Siri lately but, I found that it's working much better now then 6 months ago as far as recognizing speech. If collecting speech data improves Siri, then I'm all for it.

 

[Shrink]

If Apple want to know how often I order fried chicken then I really couldn't care less....

But if your Docs find out...!!

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Happily, I only use Siri to set the timer so I can know when my espresso machine has heated up so I can make an espresso.

OMG...that means Apple knows how much espresso I drink!!!

Seriously, I'm never happy when any personal data is stored by anyone without my permission.

Good luck with that idea...

I would really like Starbucks to know how much Expresso I drink, so they would send me some coupons and freebies!

 

[Terrin]

My only question is why especially since its anonymized - what benefit is there to Apple?

The benefit is Apple can use the voice clips to improve Siri's voice recognition. I read an article that said Google uses Google voice for a similar purpose.

People can't expect the software to get better if Apple can't use the data to improve its services.

----------

I hadn't used Siri lately but, I found that it's working much better now then 6 months ago as far as recognizing speech. If collecting speech data improves Siri, then I'm all for it.

Bingo!

 

[Amazing Iceman]

So what?

Is there any value, privacy-wise, to "honey, I will be late"?

If she knows where you are, she will thrust you; there's nothing to worry about.
Just make sure Find my Friends is enabled on your iPhone, so she can track you.

 

[leman]

First of all, google wouldn't anonamize it. Secondly, they'd be selling that information to anyone willing to pay, for profit.

Sorry, this is BS and you know it. Samples that google collects are anonimized. And they don't sell them. Actually, I can imagine them making those pubic access, just as they did with their N-gramm corpora. It would mean a lot for speech recognition science.