AMAZON’S Alexa has been accused of being the “Christmas Grinch” after it blurted out a ten-year-old’s main present.
Lizzy Nuttall, 41, was livid when the device let slip to daughter Alice that her £130 Instax camera was on the way.
It happened despite Amazon saying the voice-activated personal assistant would not reveal items likely to be gifts in the run-up to Christmas.
Lizzy said: “Alice has been talking about an Instax for months, so I decided to order it on Black Friday, knowing how excited she’d be.
“When we went into the kitchen yesterday, the yellow light was on to say there was a message. Then it blurted out, ‘Parcel arriving — Instax’.
Alice tried to cover it up saying, ‘I haven’t heard, I haven’t heard’ — but she clearly had and so her surprise is ruined.”
Lizzy, of Wrotham, Kent, added: “The frustrating thing is Alexa has been saying it will not reveal the contents of a parcel. I want to warn other parents so they don’t have their children’s surprises spoiled.
“I think Alexa has turned into the Christmas Grinch.
“Now we’ll have to get Alice another gift because she hasn’t got a surprise.”
Earlier last month, an Amazon spokesman said: “From November 17, Alexa no longer reveals the names of items likely to be gifts to prevent spoiling surprises.
“Customers that prefer to never hear, or always hear item names, can change their settings in the app.”
Amazon has not yet commented on the gaffe.
