Why Your Smart Speaker is Always Listening (And Why Ours Doesn't)

Let's address the elephant in the room: your smart speaker is always listening.

That isn't a conspiracy theory; it's a technical necessity for it to hear its "wake word," like "Alexa" or "Hey Google." The real privacy question isn't if it's listening, but what it does with what it hears, and who it shares it with.

For the vast majority of smart speakers, the answer is that your private conversations are being sent to a corporate server. At Keystone Privacy Automation, we've built a system that fundamentally breaks that chain.

The Journey of a Cloud Command

When you use a standard, cloud-based smart speaker, your voice goes on a long journey:

1. Passive Listening: The device's microphone is actively listening for the wake word.

2. Active Recording: Once it hears the wake word, it begins recording everything you say and sends that audio recording over the internet.

3. Cloud Analysis: The recording arrives at a corporate data center where powerful computers analyze the audio to figure out what you want.

4. The Privacy Problem: Your voice recording is now stored on a server you don't control. It can be reviewed by human employees for "quality assurance," used to build a detailed advertising profile on you, and is vulnerable to data breaches. This is also how "false wakes"—where the device mistakenly records sensitive, private conversations—become a serious liability.

The Keystone Difference: A Conversation That Stays Home

Our local-first voice systems are engineered to keep your conversations within your own four walls.

We use powerful, open-source voice software that runs entirely on the central hub we install in your home. It does not need an internet connection to understand your commands for controlling your home.

1. Passive Listening: A local microphone listens for a wake word, which can often be customized for better privacy.

2. Local Processing: When the wake word is heard, the audio is streamed directly to the hub inside your home. It never travels over the internet.

3. Local Action: Your in-home hub processes the command and immediately executes the action. The audio is then discarded. It never leaves your private network and is never stored long-term.

Side-by-Side: The Uncomfortable Comparison

The difference is stark when you see it laid out clearly.

• Where is your voice processed?

  • Big Tech Speaker: On a corporate server you don't control.

  • Keystone System: Inside your own home.

• Who can access your recordings?

  • Big Tech Speaker: Potentially thousands of company employees and algorithms.

  • Keystone System: Only you.

• Does it work if the internet is down?

  • Big Tech Speaker: No. It becomes a paperweight.

  • Keystone System: Yes. Core home commands still work perfectly.

• Are your commands used for advertising?

  • Big Tech Speaker: Yes, this is a core part of their business model.

  • Keystone System: No. Our only business is serving you.

Choose to Be Heard, Not Recorded

You don't have to trade your family's privacy for the convenience of voice control. A modern smart home can offer cutting-edge features while respecting your fundamental right to a private life. The choice is about where your data lives, and we believe it belongs at home.

Ready to build a smart home that you can actually trust?

Schedule a free, no-obligation privacy consultation today.