Smart speaker 1, assailant 0 or how a smart home device disarmed a dangerous situation

Smart speaker 1, assailant 0 or how a smart home device disarmed a dangerous situation

Tijeras, town in New Mexico. One Eduardo Barros has allegedly beaten up his girlfriend, mother of a child, and was threatening her with a gun. In the midst of horrible situation, Barros asked ”Did you call the sheriffs?”. Woman’s response is unknown, but we do know that the question was heard by a smart home device (specific type of the device is also unknown). Device misinterpreted the question as a command and called 911. Soon, police arrived at Barros’ homestead and, after a few hours of negotiations, managed to resolve the situation.

Phew… while the device did not do what it was intended to, one can only be thankful for its malfunction. Here is what Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III told told ABC News in an interview some time later:

” The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life. This amazing technology definitely helped save a mother and her child from a very violent situation”.

One could argue that no one actually asked the device to call the cops, but one cannot argue with the end results – advanced home appliance have possibly saved one or more lives.

Eduardo Barros is now under arrest, and awaits a trial for aggravated battery against a household member, aggravated assault against a household member, illegal possession of a firearm and more.

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