Shhhh, they're listening: Inside the voice-profiling revolution: World expert shares insights with BizNews community

Loading player...
Thanks to the public’s embrace of smart speakers, intelligent car displays and voice-responsive phones – along with the rise of voice intelligence in call centres – marketers say they are on the verge of being able to use AI-assisted vocal analysis technology to achieve unprecedented insights into shoppers’ identities and inclinations, says world authority on media systems and industries, Professor Joseph Turow of the University of Pennsylvania. He sets out the implications of his in-depth research which finds that not only can people be profiled by their speech patterns, but they can also be assessed by the sound of their voices. Alexa, Siri and other voice-activated technologies could be used to spy on you for advertisers and even governments. According to some researchers, your voice is unique and can reveal feelings, personalities and even physical characteristics. He spoke to Jackie Cameron, for BizNews, about why we should be worried about the latest advances amid a podcasting revolution - and think twice about joining groups like Clubhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 May 2021 1AM English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

Best of 2025: Miningweb Weekly with Peter Major

Relive the highlights from Miningweb Weekly with mining guru Peter Major, including insightful discussions on South Africa’s mining decline, exploration challenges, and the critical role of capital allocation.
22 Dec 2025 4AM 18 min