Amazon’s Astro, a small home robot combines the technologies of robotics, home-monitoring autonomously and natural language processing (NLP). Its estimated price is $1000, but is likely to fall. It is in the shape of a dog, say a robo-dog. It is expected that it will establish the acceptance of AI-based home monitoring. Astro is equipped with a camera and chugs around the premises on three-wheels. The camera uses facial recognition software to locate people on the premises. It can be ordered to take a cone of ice cream to an inmate of the house in the bed-room. The camera comes to its rescue to identify the inmate and bring the cone to him.
As we are aware, the face recognition software has proved controversial. There could be resistance to the puppy-like robot being used at home. Though there is acceptance among population for the use of such face recognition software for policing, the implications of the broad term are not fully appreciated. There is component of facial verification, say when we unlock the smart phone. Another component is real time face recognition, say spotting a face in a crowd. There are different privacy nuances in both these components. The public considers verification of faces harmless. It could be potentially harmful in other areas.
Astro has been vested with the privacy protecting features. Its camera can be turned off. Its mike can be muted. Its software processing could be restricted — it is processed on the device itself. No images are transmitted to Amazon’s servers. Amazon is taking efforts to address the privacy issues while designing the product.
Still there are larger issues — what happens when the device is stolen or hacked? It will give away the co-ordinates of the space it moves around and the digital map. It will leak good amount of video footage. Law enforcement agencies could acquire Astro though a court order, and that would provide them huge information.
Amazon treads on the privacy minefield.