this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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    • If your topic is in a grey area, please phrase it to emphasize the fascinating aspects, not the dramatic aspects. You can do this by avoiding overly politicized terms such as "capitalism" and "communism". If you must make comparisons, you can say something is different without saying something is better/worse.
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What do you think, ChatGPT? If it can create almost perfect summaries with a prompt; why wouldn't it work in reverse? AI built into Windows could flag potentially subversives thoughts typed into Notepad or Word, as well as flag "problematic" clicks and compare it to previously profiled behavior. AI built into your GPU could build an behavioral profile based on your interactions with your hentai Sonic the Hedgehog game.

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[–] vinnymac@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

It’ll vary by the software you have, and the phone you have. Many companies have been caught capturing microphone recordings such as Google, Meta and Amazon over the years to name a few.

It also depends on the appliances you own, and how you have them configured. TVs, Alexa, hell we even have refrigerators that have live mics on them now.

I have worked for tech my whole life, this is table stakes for these organizations, ethics be damned.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 months ago (2 children)

My understanding is the mics aren't "live" until the activation phrase is said, then they record and send that data for processing. If someone has proven otherwise I'd love to see their methods.

The scary thing isn't that they're listening, it's that they collect so much other data that they don't have to.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How are they listening for the activation phrase then?

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure you'll find some good explanations online, but there's an "activation" circuit on the device "listening" that then engages the rest of the system when it's triggered. So there's no recording or sending of data until the activation phrase has been said, and the activation phrase detection is done locally on the device.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

This makes sense for devices like Google home where there is only one activation phrase but I don't understand how an IC could exist that can respond to custom activation phrases.

Also are you saying that cellphones have this circuit too? I'm pretty darn sure that's all software based.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

the "it doesnt record you until the software decides so" argument is such a bullshit. does not mke any difference. it listens when it wants, and you cant even verify it