There’s nothing like losing control over 50 million users’ data to screw up the product launch of a video camera-enabled smart device that tracks people in their homes and listens constantly.
Facebook was supposed to launch Portal, its four-microphone, always-listening-for-voice-triggers gadget, at its F8 developer conference back in May. But then…. things happened. Things like, for example, Cambridge Analytica-associated user data privacy challenges.
Never fear, though: Facebook is now back on track, making a beeline for your kitchen counter or your living room or your anywhere.
The company announced on Monday that if you live in the US, you can now pre-order the $199 Portal and the $349 Portal+, which has a bigger screen and a pivoting display, designed to help you feel closer to the important people in your life and make video chats feel less like a call, and more like you’re actually in the same room. Friends on Messenger and Facebook may feel like they’re in the same room, but this first-ever Facebook-manufactured hardware will actually be in the same room with you, which may or may not make you want to hide under your bed.
If you like the thought of a Facebook speaker sitting on your kitchen counter, you can look forward to Portal’s artificial intelligence-(AI)-powered smart camera and smart sound keeping an eagle eye on you, swiveling, panning and zooming in to watch you as you cook, clean or to include anybody who walks into the room, minimizing background noises to boost the sound of whoever’s talking, no matter where they go.
Facebook says: “It’s like having your own cinematographer and sound crew direct your personal video calls”.
Portal not only gives you hands-free voice control, enabling you to get its attention by saying “Hey, Portal,” and then telling it who to call, but it’s also integrated with Amazon’s Alexa. That means you can check the weather, control smart home devices or even order groceries.
But what about voice-activated home speaker glitches recording everything they hear, even when their owners tell them not to, as happened with Google’s Home Mini?
Facebook has emphasized that Portal was built “with Privacy + Security in Mind.” That means that the camera and microphone can be disabled with a single tap, that it’s got a built-in camera cover, and isn’t grabbing the content of your calls to crunch on its servers:
Facebook: “Facebook doesn’t listen to, view, or keep the contents of your Portal video calls. Your Portal conversations stay between you and the people you’re calling. In addition, video calls on Portal are encrypted, so your calls are always secure”.
Facebook states that AI technology only runs locally on the Portal, not on its servers. Nor is its camera using facial recognition, it says, so it doesn’t identify who you are. Like other voice-enabled devices, Portal only sends voice commands to Facebook servers after you say, “Hey Portal.” Plus, you can delete your Portal’s voice history in your Facebook Activity Log at any time.
With Portal being integrated with Alexa, it’s pretty clear that it’s going to be in direct competition with Amazon’s Echo.
How many shopping days left till Christmas? Enough to ponder whether you might want a Portal and its always-listening, AI-powered, camera-eyes-are-following-you-everywhere smart device in your home.
I’m guessing this will be a much sought-after gift this holiday season.
