> Alexa was only the 32nd most popular name in the US for girls.

32nd most popular is not exactly obscure. Why did they have to give the computer a human name in the first place? Probably because it helps people form some sort of parasocial relationship to the product, which is gross, but probably good for business.

I used to work there, after the launch (and therefore, of the name). One of the reasons given was that Alexa was a distinctly suitable word for proper recognition by the ASR model embedded on the device software.

Also probably because it was good for business.

The popularity of the name cratered after launch. That doesn’t signify anything to you?

That anecdote is nice but honestly it sounds like you survived a less frequent and more temporary somewhat similar but much milder version so now you’re stating everyone else needs to get over themselves?

What does it signify? Annoyance? Yes. Harm, such that it required a committee of enlighted priests to have blocked it? Where is the evidence for it?

For illustrative purposes: Dan stop! Dan stop! Dan set timer for 50 minutes. Timer set for 15 minutes. Dan stop! Dan cancel timer! Dan set timer for Fiifttyy minutes” Dan turn off kitchen light” Dan set thermostat to 68. Dan play Music.

Your name is now Kleenexified to mean robotic female servant, no harm!

It doesn’t seem like you googled or looked into how people named Alexa actually feel before pronouncing how they should feel.

This comment chain really shows why these responsibility vetting teams are needed, a lot of corporate workers are not empathetic or considerate beyond their immediate siloed task and assume everyone should react exactly the same as they did to only very tangentially similar experiences.