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Siri

This shows an Amazon Alexa echo dot with its mute button on

·April 18, 2022·5 min read

Stopping Smart Devices From Spying on You

Researchers have developed a new AI algorithm that prevents smart devices such as Alexa or Siri from correctly hearing your words 80% of the time. The algorithm is a step toward providing personal agency in protecting the privacy of their voice in the presence of smart devices.

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·January 18, 2022·7 min read

“Hey, Alexa! Are You Trustworthy?”: The More Social Behaviors AI Assistants Exhibit, the More We Trust Them

People tend to think voice-user AI interfaces such as Siri or Alexa are more competent and emotionally engaging if they exhibit social cues.

This is a cartoon of a robot and a cactus

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·September 13, 2021·6 min read

Do Alexa and Siri Make Kids Bossier?

A new study shows how sophisticated social awareness in children can be in the transference of behavior.

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·February 28, 2020·4 min read

‘Surfing attack’ hacks Siri, Google with ultrasonic waves

Ultrasound can propagate through solid surfaces and activate voice recognition systems, allowing the person who initiates the attack to also hear the phone's response. Out of 17 different phone models tested, 15 were vulnerable to ultrasonic wave attacks.

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·August 17, 2019·2 min read

Are Siri and Alexa making us ruder?

In a world of digital assistants, are we forgetting our manners? Not yet, researchers say. Using Siri and Alexas is not making adults rude. However, this may not be the case for children. Fortunately, digital assistant service provides are taking steps to reward children for general politeness.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 1, 2018·4 min read

Familiar Voices are Easier to Understand, Even if We Don’t Recognize Them

Researchers report familiar voices are easier than those of a stranger to understand, even when the familiar voice is manipulated and the listener can not identify the voice.

Image shows a person talking to their phone.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·June 20, 2017·5 min read

Human Voices Are Unique, But We’re Not That Good at Recognizing Them

When it comes to recognizing different human voices, people often have a very hard time, researchers report.

Image shows the eye tracking software on a computer.

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·April 11, 2016·4 min read

Using Eye Tracking to Study Linguistics

Researchers use eye tracking to examine the differences behind how English and bilingual speakers process nouns.

Image shows location of right superior temporal gyrus in the human brain.

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·January 11, 2016·6 min read

Meeting of Minds: Will Computers Ever Truly Understand What We’re Saying?

A new study reports our current computer systems will never truly understand what we're saying because they are unable to take into account the context of a conversation.