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Ask Jerry: Is my smartphone or smart home device listening to everything?

What does 'Always Listening' really mean? Let's talk about tech.

(Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)The better answer is to explain how it's supposed to work, according to the people who make the products and those who have tested them. In this case, it uses speech recognition to determine my request, ensures it recognizes a device named "porch light," and then sends a signal to shut it off. I have a first-generation Google Home here that will start playing YouTube videos out of the blue at least three times a week because it thinks I asked it to do it.

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