unilad homepage
unilad homepage
    • News
      • UK News
      • US News
      • World News
      • Crime
      • Health
      • Money
      • Sport
      • Travel
    • Music
    • Technology
    • Film and TV
      • News
      • DC Comics
      • Disney
      • Marvel
      • Netflix
    • Celebrity
    • Politics
    • Advertise
    • Terms
    • Privacy & Cookies
    • LADbible Group
    • LADbible
    • SPORTbible
    • GAMINGbible
    • Tyla
    • UNILAD Tech
    • FOODbible
    • License Our Content
    • About Us & Contact
    • Jobs
    • Latest
    • Archive
    • Topics A-Z
    • Authors
    Facebook
    Instagram
    X
    Threads
    TikTok
    YouTube
    Submit Your Content
    These are the eight things you should never say to Siri or Alexa

    Home> Technology> News

    Published 12:58 21 Jun 2024 GMT+1

    These are the eight things you should never say to Siri or Alexa

    Sometimes a job best done is when you do it yourself

    Mia Williams

    Mia Williams

    google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
    Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock /Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Topics: Technology, Apple, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence

    Mia Williams
    Mia Williams

    Mia is an NCTJ-trained journalist at UNILAD with a BA (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism, reporting across breaking news, US politics, entertainment, health, lifestyle, and more. Before joining as a journalist in 2026, she freelanced across the LADbible Group titles for over three years. She is also a documentary producer, having created independent films, and worked as a researcher on series including Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA.

    X

    @miawillsjourno

    Advert

    Advert

    Advert

    Experts have revealed the eight things you should never ask AI assistants like Siri and Alexa.

    Smart assistants are great for certain queries - maybe you’re checking today’s weather forecast, or asking about traffic on the roads.

    But despite tech companies pushing how great their robotic assistants are, it turns out they’re just not that helpful when it comes to the big stuff.

    Perhaps you find someone in a life-threatening situation and can’t remember all the CPR steps you learnt on that random course five years ago.

    Advert

    Your phone is always listening for you to say 'Hey Siri'. (Yana Iskayeva/Getty Stock)
    Your phone is always listening for you to say 'Hey Siri'. (Yana Iskayeva/Getty Stock)

    Ask your AI assistant for some guidance, and they’ll probably hook you up with a link to a website, rather than telling you the simple steps.

    But experts have now released a list of eight things you should never ask Siri or Alexa, because little do you know, they’re always listening.

    They kind of have to, to be able to hear you saying their name…when you think about it!

    Play doctor

    You should never ask your smart assistant for health advice.

    Perhaps you can get away with it for a cold, but anything you are seriously worried about needs to be checked out by a doctor.

    Trusting the opinion of a smart assistant might just put you off booking an important appointment .

    How to hurt someone

    Kind of questionable if you’re thinking this anyway. However, if you’re just venting and saying something radical in the moment, don’t bring it up with Siri.

    Those chats with your assistant could come back to bite you if you end up on the wrong side of the law.

    Anything that could be against the law

    If you’re trying to locate the nearest place to buy things you shouldn’t be, or anything else suspicious, don’t turn to Alexa to help you out.

    Like asking your smart assistant how to hurt someone, these types of questions could be used against you.

    What you say to AI assistants is recorded. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
    What you say to AI assistants is recorded. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

    Be your telephone operator

    When it comes to calling people, it’s far easier to find the number and ring them yourself.

    It seems to be a lot of faff doing it though an assistant, and they have a good habit of ringing the wrong person or place.

    Deal with your money

    Although voice assistants can connect to your financial apps, there are many security issues with voice data.

    Cyber criminals can record your voice and use it to their advantage.

    Just contact the bank yourself, it’s a lot safer and risk free.

    “Will I die if I eat this?”

    If you find yourself in a rural spot, questioning whether you should eat those berries on the branch, the answer is just probably not.

    And even if Siri says otherwise, you’re probably best steering clear.

    Asking them to delete things

    Not only is there a chance that the command will not be followed, you also risk assistants deleting the wrong stuff.

    Smart assistants record everything

    You can switch off those features if you don't want tech companies getting their virtual ears on what you say.

    It’s always best to stay smarter than your smart assistant!

    Choose your content:

    3 days ago
    6 days ago
    8 days ago
    9 days ago
    • Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
      3 days ago

      OpenAI names 22 industries at risk of job losses as it proposes four day week

      Two new reports suggest AI might be coming for your job - but you could also get a three day weekend

      Technology
    • Kayla Bartkowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images
      6 days ago

      Congressman Tim Burchett claims he has seen UFO footage that ‘defies logic’

      Tim Burchett says he has seen UFO footage that couldn't be man made - and he wants answers from the government

      Technology
    • NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
      8 days ago

      NASA's Curiosity rover makes groundbreaking discovery that suggests Mars can support life

      An expert has claimed the new reveal 'increases the prospect that Mars offered a home for life in the ancient past'

      Technology
    • John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
      9 days ago

      Bill Nye issues stern warning to Trump over concerns he could 'end NASA'

      Bill Nye the Science Guy revealed that Donald Trump's NASA proposal is a 'huge mistake'

      Technology
    • Neurologists warn that you should never ignore these eight symptoms
    • Expert warns of the five surprising things you should never say in a job interview
    • Expert shares three jobs young people should start training to do now to beat AI in the future
    • Amazon boss slammed for 'ridiculous' email sent to employees about AI taking their jobs