Are phones listening to us? What they can learn from the sound of your voice

And while many of us are already well aware of privacy issues associated with smartphones an increasing number of people are starting to worry that their smartphone is actually listening to everything they say, writes Ian McLoughlin.

The vast majority of people in developed countries now carry a smartphone everywhere. And while many of us are already well aware of privacy issues associated with smartphones, like their ability to track our movements or even take surreptitious photos, an increasing number of people are starting to worry that their smartphone is actually listening to everything they say, writes Ian McLoughlin.

There might not be much evidence for this but, it turns out, it isn’t far from the truth. Researchers worldwide have begun developing many types of powerful audio analysis AI algorithms that can extract a lot of information about us from sound alone. While this technology is only just beginning to emerge in the real world, these growing capabilities – coupled with its 24/7 presence – could have serious implications for our personal privacy.