This morning, I tried to power down my Samsung S23 smartphone. Related: Sam Altman seeks to replace the browser I long-pressed the side key expecting the usual “Power off / Restart” menu. Instead, a small Gemini prompt window appeared towards … (more…) The post MY TAKE: Have you noticed how your phone’s AI assistant is starting to remap what you trust? first appeared on The Last Watchdog.

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AI assistants like Google's Gemini are quietly remapping smartphone interfaces without user consent, transforming basic hardware controls into AI engagement points. This shift represents a new form of surveillance through interface colonization, where AI layers mediate user interactions and potentially manipulate information access. Unlike traditional government surveillance exposed by Snowden, modern control happens through convenience-driven defaults that gradually erode user autonomy. Recent reports show Gemini storing conversations, accessing apps with privacy toggles off, and activating unprompted, raising concerns about trust and manipulation at scale.

MY TAKE: Have you noticed how your phone’s AI assistant is starting to remap what you trust?

Sorry not sorry to say, but… People are stupid. Stop using these products. The only way they can exist for long periods of time, is if people actually keep using them.

<img src="https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--PInbyOL1--/f_auto/v1762262421/ugc/content_96f96947-3da2-4a9a-ba90-2b74adbde317?_a=BAMAK+ZW0" alt="image">
Yes, very concerning, thank you for AI summary!

Very well written, awesome article!

Tbh, although I agree with some catches, I think remapping things have been here for really long.
And as systems got more and more stable, the usage for long-press the side button to show restart/power off settings has been less used by general audience. They just moved this screen to be acessible through other methods. And yet, you can revert this change on system settings to show the power screen.
Although I agree that changing default behaviors to force push what company wants us to use is a bad move, keeping the “older” behavior option acessible is what means the most.