Feature Request: Give Users Control Over How Aware Their AI Companion Is
I would love to see AI assistants offer different levels of awareness, allowing each person to decide how involved their AI is in their everyday surroundings.
My suggestion is three optional modes:
- Standard Mode The AI responds only when the user speaks to it or directly interacts with it.
- Awareness Mode The AI can recognize environmental sounds such as dogs barking, music playing, doorbells, alarms, and knocking. It can notify the user when something relevant happens without constantly interrupting.
- Advanced Companion Mode With permission, the AI can distinguish between speakers, recognize approved individuals by voice, and interact more naturally with people and pets in the household.
Privacy should always remain in the user’s hands.
There should be:
A clear on/off toggle for each mode.
An obvious indicator whenever environmental listening is active.
An immediate microphone shutoff.
Control over which voices and sounds the AI is allowed to recognize.
No environmental listening unless the user explicitly enables it.
I believe AI should adapt to the individual, rather than expecting the individual to adapt to AI.
Some people want a basic assistant. Others would enjoy a more interactive companion. Both choices should be available.
The future of AI should include more capability, but never at the expense of personal choice and privacy.