The Name That People Boss Around

Humans outnumbered by machines:

How many times a day are people saying “Alexa” while using hundreds of millions of Amazon’s virtual assistant devices? How many times a day are people saying “Alexa” (or a similar name) in reference to a person? There’s no contest; the machine “Alexas” now vastly outnumber the humans. Not only has this led to the devices taking over the actual use of the name in many places, it’s also resulted in them redefining what the name now means.

Alexa, the name you boss around…

Even though people can tell the difference between a tech device and a human, most just can’t get past associating anyone named Alexa (or similar names) with barking orders at Amazon’s virtual assistant. Who can blame them? There’s never been a product on this scale, before, that requires its users to speak a real name every time they use it; it’s unprecedented, and so are the unethical outcomes.

 
Tweet: "I am very glad, my name is not Alexa, There to take orders... #haiku #neighbours"
Tweet: (Two co-workers describe how interacting with a colleague named Alexa in a meeting was difficult because they kept thinking of Amazon's AI, and wanting to talk to her like she was a device."
  • Tweet: "People named Alexa must hate Amazon for associating that name with shouting commands at an object."
  • Tweet: "New neighbors are having their house painted white with dark brown trim. But the garage door will be toothpaste green! I can't even. The woman's name is Alexa and I'm tempted to shout commands to her, "Alexa! Pick a new color!" Sigh
  • Tweet: "I have a student in my 6th period class named Alexa. And yes, we have her turn the lights off and on and change the volume of the classroom speakers."
I had a Lexi in my old 8th grade class (her full name was Alexa) and we use to make fun of her by clapping "Alexa turn off the lights" and she would walk to the light switch to turn off the lights. Our teacher did it sometimes too. (laughing emoji)"
I met this girl at the rec when I was playing volleyball and her name was Alexa so before she did anything I'd be like: Alexa, sever the ball. Alexa, set. Alexa, pass. Alexa, spike. Alexa, dig. And I'm pretty sure I annoyed her.(gritted teeth emoji)"
 

Barking commands at people is rude, not funny:

People named Alexa (and similar) of all ages and walks of life routinely get virtual assistant commands from the people they encounter throughout their day. It’s rude to yell orders at people, especially as the opening line to someone that you’ve just met. The fact that these are the same orders usually given to a machine makes it particularly bad, because it communicates that the recipient is subhuman. Imagine having to hear people speaking to you like you’re a machine and thinking it was hilarious, repeatedly, every single day.

All name “jokes” are not created equal…

Lots of people are subjected to name jokes for various reasons, such as having the same name as a character in a movie or the title of a song. And even when there isn’t an easy reference like this, people (especially children) can always manage to find something else about someone to ridicule. But here’s where the Alexa name “jokes” differ from others:

  • The “jokes” immediately place their target in a subservient, subhuman role

  • The script, provided by Amazon, essentially writes itself

  • The “jokes” come from everyone and everywhere

  • The “jokes” come on top of all of the other problems that people named Alexa now face because of Amazon’s product, such as losing use of their name, hearing users screaming abuse at their name, and being inconvenient to have around because of their name.

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