Nightmare at Christmas! Mother is left outraged after Alexa blurts out her daughter’s present – and she says it has ‘ruined the surprise’
- Lizzie Nuttall, 41, of Wrotham, was livid when Echo dot ruined Christmas surprise
- She explained she had bought a £130 InstaX camera for her daughter Alice, ten
- But the Christmas magic was ruined when Alexa blurted out ‘parcel arriving’
Amazon’s voice activated digital assistant Alexa has been very naughty in the run-up to Christmas.
Lizzie Nuttall, 41, from Wrotham, Kent, said she was livid when her Echo Dot revealed her daughter Alice’s main present was on the way, in front of the little girl, ten.
Lizzie had decided to treat her girl to an £130 InstaX camera this Christmas, and had been excited to surprise Alice, who had been talking of little else.
But Alexa, the digital assistant from Amazon, ruined the surprise when she blurted out ‘parcel arriving, InstaX’ in the kitchen, where Lizzie and Alice were sitting.
MailOnline contacted Amazon for comment.
Lizzie Nuttall, 41, from Wrotham, Kent, said she was livid when her Echo Dot revealed her daughter Alice’s main present was on the way, in front of the little girl, ten. Pictured: a woman with Alexa, stock image
The mother was less than impressed that the device ‘spoiled’ Alice’s big surprise.
‘Alice tried to cover it up saying, “I haven’t heard, I haven’t heard” — but she clearly had and so her surprise is ruined,’ she told The Sun.
The mother went on to say she was even more disappointed because Amazon had guaranteed its assistant would not reveal items that were likely to be gifts in the run-up to Christmas.
‘I think Alexa has turned into the Christmas Grinch,’ Lizzie joked.
Amazon had guaranteed Alexa would not reveal items likely to be presents in the run up to Christmas. Pictured: Amazon Echo Dot, stock image
‘Now we’ll have to get Alice another gift because she hasn’t got a surprise,’ she added.
In early November, a spokesperson for Amazon said: ‘From November 17, Alexa no longer reveals the names of items likely to be gifts to prevent spoiling surprises.’
‘Customers that prefer to never hear, or always hear item names, can change their settings in the app,’ they added.
‘If an item is marked as a gift during checkout, Alexa will never reveal order details.’
In spite of the blunder, the digital assistant is getting in the Christmas spirit as well.
It was announced this weekend that children asking Alexa how many days there were until Christmas would get a special message from none other than Santa.
Feeling festive! It was announced this weekend that children asking Alexa how many days there were until Christmas would get a special message from none other than Santa
People who ask the device ‘how many days until Christmas?’ will be told the answer and then asked by Alexa: ‘Would you like to hear an update from my good friend Santa?’
A message from the big man himself then plays with a jolly tone that is sure to build festive spirit over the next four weeks.
In the message he promises future updates and explains how he is preparing for his busiest day of the year.
A different message is delivered each day thanks to the Alexa Christmas Countdown skill.
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