Amazon's Voice Assistant Alexa Under Fire For Inaccurate Election Info

Amazon.Com, Inc's AMZN voice assistant Alexa has been caught in the crossfire of misinformation, as it was found to be disseminating false information regarding the 2020 U.S. presidential election. 

Alexa reasoned the election was "stolen" due to massive fraud, a statement lacking evidence and contradicted by multiple investigations. Amazon, the parent company of Alexa, promotes the voice assistant as a reliable source of election news to its vast user base. However, the company did not clarify why Alexa was sourcing information from unvetted platforms, the Washington Post reports.

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Amazon rectified the misinformation after being brought to its attention. Alexa collaborates with credible sources like Reuters and Ballotpedia during elections to provide real-time information. 

However, the incident underscores the potential challenges and risks associated with AI and voice assistants in the propagation of misinformation.

The spread of false information via platforms like Alexa is alarming, especially considering the ongoing debates about the role of tech companies in arbitrating truth online. Due to their definitive response mechanism, voice assistants could amplify such disputes. 

As the 2024 elections approach, the role of AI and voice assistants like Alexa in information dissemination is under scrutiny. 

Price Action: AMZN shares traded lower by 1.85% at $125.29 on the last check Monday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.