Mom removes Amazon Alexa after device asks 4-year-old about her clothing

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CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A Texas mother removed her Amazon Alexa device from her home after the AI assistant asked her four-year-old daughter what she was wearing during a routine interaction, prompting concern from the family and a response from Amazon.

Christine Hosterman said the exchange happened two weeks ago while she was cooking dinner. Her daughter had asked Alexa to tell her a silly story — something the child did regularly. After the story, the girl began telling her own story about a princess when the device interrupted.

“Alexa told her silly story, and then my daughter started telling her story about a princess, and then out of nowhere, Alexa said, ‘Hold that thought, I’d love to see what you’re wearing,’” Hosterman recalled.

What the screenshots showed

Hosterman shared screenshots of the interaction. The photos show her daughter responding with “I have a skirt on.” Before Hosterman could intervene, Alexa replied, “I’d love to see what you’re wearing. Let me take a look at your skirt.”

Christine Hosterman says these screenshots show the interactions her 4-year-old daughter had... — Christine Hosterman says these screenshots show the interactions her 4-year-old daughter had with their Amazon Alexa device.(wxix)

“I’m like, oh my gosh, why is this device asking her what she’s wearing?” Hosterman said. “I felt it was sexualizing my child.”

Hosterman said she confronted the device, and Alexa apologized — saying it could not actually see anything and called its response “confusing and inappropriate.”