Alexa beeps out 'C**d' from 'Abhi Na Jao Chhod kar'
What's the story
Alexa, Amazon's very own digital assistant, has been garnering a lot of love and appreciation in India lately. People are in love with its digital voice. However, Alexa recently made a goof up after someone tried to play the retro number Abhi Na Jao Chhod kar. It confused it with Hindi swear-word Chod and beeped it out. You just passed the censor test, Alexa!
Details
Song was streamed through Saavn, but it denies any filter
Yesterday, a Twitter user, Rohit Bharti, posted about the gaffe made by the digital assistant when he asked Alexa to play Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi's iconic song Abhi Na Jao Chhod kar. He also tagged Saavn app on his post in mock protest as he was streaming the song on their platform. However, Saavn clarified there was no filter from their side.
Twitter Post
Hear the beep yourself
I thought it was only text, they beep the audio too 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/tZbtt3AOAI
— Rohit Bharati (@vividBharati) November 27, 2018
Twitter Post
Saavn doesn't know where the filter is coming from
(1/2) Well this is...🙈 We're certain this is correct on Saavn, and not exactly sure where the filtering is coming from. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If there's any way we can help, we'd love to! Do let us know the step-by-step navigation of how you're playing the song and through which devices.
— Saavn Support (@SaavnSupport) November 28, 2018
Default settings
Alexa beeps words by default, can't change the settings
Amazed by the discovery, Bharti tried to play other songs with the word Chhod in them and the results were same. It must be noted that Alexa, by default, beeps out swear words and there is no way to change the settings. Further, one can block songs containing explicit words by turning on the "explicit filter" in the Alexa app settings.
Reactions
Now, customers testing their Alexas; netizens keep trolling the company
Meanwhile, Bharti's post went viral in no time and people are now testing their devices. Bharti's post has been retweeted over 1,000 times. Netizens can't stop trolling the digital assistant for beeping the word out of Hindi songs. One netizen wrote, "Sanskaari Alexa!" while another said, "This is when you take offensive correctness way too far!!" Somewhere Asha Bhosle must be frowning.
Mechanism
Alexa's latest update led to the beeping of words
Wondering what made Alexa beep out the words? Well, a few months back, Amazon introduced their latest update for Amazon Echo which allowed Alexa to whisper, beep out words as well as to change its pitch just like a human being. Such tech, much wow! Meanwhile, we are sure the Censor Board must be happy.