I would love to think that animated speculation on the breathtaking suite of abuses an always-listening in-home web appliance invites was one of the first reaction to Echo and Allo of most HN readers. It certainly was among my coworkers.

The list of horrors just starts writing itself.

Is that a reason to not pursue the technology?

Normally I'd say 'of course not, but let's keep such possibilities front and center...'

In this case, my gut instinct is to say 'not in my home!'... not until we have some frank and detailed consensus on safeguards against abuse.

The words blackmail, gag orders, backdoors, 'anonymized'-that-isn't... they are all blinking red around me.