• Gestrid
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    8 months ago

    My pastor mentioned a specific verse in his sermon recently. I went to type it in my notes. My phone’s keyboard (Gboard) suggested that specific verse immediately. Not just the book. The chapter and verse numbers, too.

    • Schmoo@slrpnk.net
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      8 months ago

      It’s more likely you’re getting those hyper-targeted ads because of location tracking and relationship tracking than because they’re listening. It’s much cheaper and easier than running voice recognition on shitty audio clips from a mic in your pocket, and honestly much scarier.

      People only ever have anecdotes to support the claim that tech companies are listening in on their conversations, but these companies openly admit to targeting ads based on your location data and specifically who you’ve been associating with.

      It’s more likely that others in your congregation searched for that verse, so it was suggested to you based on your proximity to others who already searched for it.

      • Gestrid
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        8 months ago

        from a mic in your pocket

        It was in my hand. I was taking notes on it. So I doubt the audio was all that bad. My pastor also uses a mic, so his voice is not too quiet for a phone to pick it up.

        because of location tracking and relationship tracking

        I also find this unlikely because of how specific it got. It got the chapter and verse correct. The only input it got from me was my beginning to type out the name of the book of the Bible.

        It’s more likely that others in your congregation searched for that verse, so it was suggested to you based on your proximity to others who already searched for it.

        While that’s possible, I’m not sure it’d work so quickly. I typed the reference in my note-taking app literally as soon as my pastor said it.