Google has been very open about everything they know about you and has done a great job at allowing you to control it:

https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard

https://adssettings.google.com/

This is more than what any other company does.

You can choose to trust another company. I choose to trust Google.

(Disclaimer: I worked at Google several years ago, and my trust in the company has only increased after my time there.)

"You can choose to trust another company."

Voice recognition can and should only happen locally via open software, like keystrokes (which Google also thinks they have a right to), then no one has to be trusted.

Wow, that’s awesome that I can turn off all the creepy features! They should put this button on the homepage ;-)

It is, "Privacy", bottom-right corner.

They'll do it eventually. It's too tempting not to. First they have break the barrier by getting a physical presence. They can slowly get to their main objective by rolling it out piece by piece. (Most) People won't even see it happening.

They are addicted to data because it pays and they're willing to do anything to get it. They dumped wireless data when doing Streetview photography even when they didn't have a reason. They captured location data from Android users without consent and secretly uploaded if later when they had connectivity. They have no credibility left in my opinion.

Wait for super accurate per person voice recognition and imagine the profiles they'll build.... Better ask your friends before you visit their place to switch off the telescreen!

Well, do you have proof that Google/Apple/Nokia/etc. isn't already doing that with your phone?

If you're going to be super distrustful of closed source stuff by companies with an interest in gathering user data and assume guilt before innocence is proven, that's fine. But you can't do it selectively!

The difference is that these are powered by the mains and you wouldn’t see battery drain. With a phone they’d have to give up battery life - from my understanding more than any phone currently could give up and be usable - to be constantly listening. My phone is only really on power when I’m asleep, but this would always have power and be able to listen without me knowing.

Not making accusations but I do think there’s a real difference between a microphone I’m always using and see and care about the battery drain of, and one plugged into the mains with no battery concerns.

Well, Google’s their business model actively encourages using this data for advertising or analytics.

The incentives for Apple to do this are relatively minimal and Google has a track record of hoovering up information on you to target advertising.

Almost as if it’s their entire business...

I'd say the incentives for Apple APPEAR minimal, but in reality you don't have any way of knowing what they're doing or plan on doing long term.

Good enough. Occam's razor applies.

Except Apple is ran by bean counters these days. I mean, they now have “enhanced” the terrible App Store search with terrible ads that regular people confuse with legitimate results.

Heck, Face ID is the perfect ad technology. They can charge based on attentiveness now.

I run on the assumption that anything and everything with a mic is probably recording me. If everything is or can listen to me, I may as well just take advantage of that where I can.

> Downvoters: I presume you have evidence that Google won’t use your interactions

That's a shifting of burden of proof. Do you have evidence that HomePod won't be listening in on you and share your data with advertisers?

I think you just happen to prefer Apple over Google. Nothing wrong with that, just be upfront with where that preference comes from.