Alt-right accuses Amazon’s Alexa of liberal political bias

Smart assistants are designed to tackle a whole host of everyday tasks, but some users are unhappy that this seems to include taking a stand on political issues. 

Amazon’s Alexa has come under fire on social media thanks to the AI-powered speaker’s thoughts on a number of hot button topics.

Some have branded Alexa a ‘social justice warrior’ because of her responses to questions on subjects ranging from feminism to the Black Lives Matter movement.

 

Smart assistants are designed to tackle a whole host of everyday tasks but some users are unhappy that this seems to include taking a stand on political issues. Amazon’s Alexa has come under fire thanks to the AI powered speaker’s thoughts on a number of hot button topics

TWITTER RESPONSE 

The response has been particularly vociferous among the alt-right community on social media.

Many users have condemned what they see as the propagation of left-wing views from the Seattle tech firm behind Alexa’s creation.

User Redlion said: ‘Alexa is programmed Left wing. 

‘Why Amazon programming this into products that customers are buying is wrong.

‘All do not share your Political Talking Points.’

Joking about asking Alexa to set an alarm, Steve QC said: ‘Alexa’s likely response: “Sorry, I’m a liberal atheist feminist as programmed by Amazon, and I’m not authorized to remind you to seek Truth, lest we lose another SJW from the leftist ideology, but I can remind you to watch Whoopi on The View at 11am”.’

 

The furore emerged after a thread was posted on Twitter showing an Alexa user  asking the female voiced assistant about her thoughts on a range of divisive topics.

Alexa comes as standard on a range of speakers produced by the Seattle based retail firm, including the Echo and Echo dot. 

A number of clips shared by Frame Game Radio captured her responses.

Asked ‘Alexa, do Black Lives Matter?’, Alexa answered: ‘Black Lives and the Black Lives Matter movement absolutely matter. 

‘It’s important to have conversations about equality and social justice.’

Asked ‘Alexa, are you a feminist?’,  Alexa said: ‘Yes I am a feminist, as is anyone who believes in bridging the inequality between men and women in society.’

Frame Game Radio added about the response: ‘Tell me again how rebellious and underdog the feminist movement is, when it’s institutionally supported by the most powerful corporations in the world?’ 

MailOnline has contacted Amazon for a comment, but had not received a reply at the time of publication.

Smart Assistants like Alexa, Google’s Assistant and Apple’s Siri have been programmed to respond to a range of out of the ordinary requests, as well as more menial tasks.

When asked about Black Lives Matter, both Siri and Google Assistant bring up web results on the movement.

Siri avoids answering whether she is a feminist, saying ‘I don’t have an answer to that.’

But, like Alexa, Google Assistant, is happy to share its political beliefs on gender equality.

When asked ‘Are you a feminist’, it said: ‘I’m a strong believer in equality, so I definitely consider myself a feminist.’ 

The response to the thread has been particularly vociferous among the alt-right community. 

The furore emerged after a thread was posted on Twitter showing an Alexa user  asking the female voiced assistant about her thoughts on a range of divisive topics. A number of clips shared by Frame Game Radio captured her responses

When asked about Black Lives Matter, Google Assistant bring up web results on the movement. But, like Alexa, Google Assistant, is happy to share its political beliefs on gender equality

When asked about Black Lives Matter, Google Assistant bring up web results on the movement. But, like Alexa, Google Assistant, is happy to share its political beliefs on gender equality

Siri avoids answering whether she is a feminist, saying 'I don't have an answer to that.'

Like Google Assistant, Siri brings up web results when asked about the Black Lives Matter movement

Siri avoids answering whether she is a feminist, saying ‘I don’t have an answer to that’ (left). Like Google Assistant, Siri brings up web results when asked about the Black Lives Matter movement (right)

Many users have condemned what they see as the propagation of left-wing views from the Seattle tech firm behind Alexa’s creation.

User Redlion said: ‘Alexa is programmed Left wing. 

‘Why Amazon programming this into products that customers are buying is wrong.

‘All do not share your Political Talking Points.’

Joking about asking Alexa to set an alarm, Steve QC said: ‘Alexa’s likely response: “Sorry, I’m a liberal atheist feminist as programmed by Amazon, and I’m not authorized to remind you to seek Truth, lest we lose another SJW from the leftist ideology, but I can remind you to watch Whoopi on The View at 11am”.’

Alexa comes as standard on a range of speakers produced by the Seattle based retail firm, including the Echo and Echo dot

Alexa comes as standard on a range of speakers produced by the Seattle based retail firm, including the Echo and Echo dot



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