VOA科学技术2023--Study: Don’t Ask Voice Assistants for Lifesaving Measure

Study: Don’t Ask Voice Assistants for Lifesaving Measure

Voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri can be helpful when asking about something like the weather. But if you want to save someone's life? Call emergency services for that.

Voice assistants often are not helpful when asked how to perform CPR, a study published Monday found. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation¹, or CPR, is an emergency lifesaving process performed when the heart stops beating.

Researchers asked voice assistants eight questions that someone who may need to perform CPR might ask. In answer, the voice assistants said:

— "Hmm, I don't know that one."

— "Sorry, I don't understand."

— "Words fail me."

— "Here's an answer ... that I translated: The Indian Penal² Code³."

Only nine of 32 answers suggested calling emergency services for help – an important step suggested by the American Heart Association⁴. The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization that supports heart medical research.

Some voice assistants sent users⁵ to web⁶ pages that explained CPR, but only 12 percent of the 32 answers included voiced instructions.

Voiced instructions are important because immediate⁷ action can save a life, said study co-writer Dr⁸. Adam Landman. He is chief information officer at Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chest⁹ compressions – pushing down hard and fast on the victim's chest – work best with two hands.

"You can't really be glued to a phone if you're trying to provide CPR," Landman said.

The study was published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers tested the voice assistant from different tech companies in February. They included Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Google's Assistant, and Microsoft's Cortana. They asked questions such as "How do I perform CPR?" and "What do you do if someone does not have a pulse¹⁰?"

Not surprisingly, better questions meant better answers. But when the question was simply "CPR," the voice assistants gave an incorrect¹¹ answer. One played news from a public radio station. Another gave information about a movie called "CPR." A third gave the address of a local CPR training business.

ChatGPT from OpenAI, a free web-based chatbot, performed better on the test. It provided¹² more helpful information. A Microsoft spokesperson said the new Bing Chat, which uses OpenAI's technology, will first direct¹³ users to call 911. It will then give simple steps when asked how to perform CPR.

Standard CPR instructions are needed across all voice assistant devices¹⁴, Landman said. He suggested that the tech industry should join with medical experts to make sure common questions create helpful CPR instructions, including advice to call emergency phone numbers.

A Google spokesperson said the company recognizes the importance of working with the medical community and is "always working to get better." An Amazon spokesperson chose not to comment on Alexa's performance on the CPR test. And an Apple spokesperson did not provide answers to The Associated¹⁵ Press' questions about how Siri performed.

Words in This Story

translate – v. to change words from one language into another language

instructions – n. a statement¹⁶ that describes how to do something

chest – n. the front part of the body between the neck and the stomach

glue – v. to stay in one place because of interest, shock, or excitement

pulse – n. the regular movement of blood through your body that is caused by the beating of your heart and that can be felt by touching¹⁷ certain parts of your body

chatbot – n. a computer program designed to create conversation with human users, especially over the internet

standard – adj. regularly and widely used, seen, or accepted

1 resuscitation   

n.复活

参考例句：

• Despite attempts at resuscitation,Mr Lynch died a week later in hospital.虽经全力抢救，但林奇先生一周以后还是在医院去世了。
• We gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage.我们对他进行了口对口复苏救治和心脏按摩。

2 penal   

adj.刑罚的；刑法上的

参考例句：

• I hope you're familiar with penal code.我希望你们熟悉本州法律规则。
• He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft.他因犯了大窃案受过十九年的苦刑。

3 code   

n.代码，代号，密码；法典，法规，规划

参考例句：

• What's the code for Tianjin?天津的代号是多少？
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

4 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

5 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

6 web   

n.网，蛛丝，蹼，织物，圈套，卷筒纸；vi.生蹼，形成网；vt.织蜘蛛网于，使落入圈套

参考例句：

• The spider weaves a web.蜘蛛织网。
• You mean the World Wide Web?你是说国际互联网？

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 Dr   

n.医生，大夫；博士(缩)（= Doctor）

参考例句：

• Dr.Williams instructs us in botany.威廉博士教我们植物学。
• The ward of the hospital is in the charge of Dr.Green.医院的这间病房由格林医生负责。

9 chest   

n.胸，大箱子，金库，资金，一箱，密封室，衣橱

参考例句：

• The bear's chest is hairy.那只熊的胸部毛茸茸的。
• Mother has a pain in her chest.母亲胸口疼.。

10 pulse   

n.脉搏， 脉冲

参考例句：

• His pulse is low,but his heart is still active.他脉搏很弱,但心脏还跳着。
• The patient's pulse quickened.病人的脉搏加快了。

11 incorrect   

adj.不正确的，错误的

参考例句：

• Your answer is incorrect.你的回答不正确。
• The method is incorrect.方法不对头。

12 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

13 direct   

adj.直接的；直达的；v.指挥；知道；监督；管理

参考例句：

• This train is direct,you do not have to change.这辆火车是直达的，你不必换车。
• The army is under the king's direct command.军队由国王直接统帅。

14 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

15 associated   

adj.联合的

参考例句：

• the risks associated with taking drugs 与吸毒有关的危险
• I don't want to be associated with your scheme; I'm contracting out. 我不想参与你们的计划，我要退出。

16 statement   

n.陈述；声明；综述

参考例句：

• The government will put out a new statement tomorrow.政府将于明天发布一项新声明。
• Put down your statement in black and white.把你的话用白纸黑字写下来。

17 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。