Google Home breaks up domestic abuse by calling police

Smart speakers are arguably the hottest thing in consumer tech right now, as the likes of Amazon, Google and Apple all tussle it out. Now, Google Home has strengthened its case after it broke up a domestic violence incident.

It seems like an amazing tech miracle, but it was more of a fluke than anything, upon closer inspection.

According to ABC News, Eduardo Barros was house-sitting with his girlfriend and her child in New Mexico when they got into an argument that became physical. It’s alleged that Barros had a gun and threatened to kill her.

“Did you call the sheriffs?” he then asked her. The Google Home speaker, seemingly hearing “call the sheriffs”, did what you’d expect and called the police.

Google Home broke up domestic violence in New Mexico, calling the police during the incident

Police arrived and, after several hours of negotiating with Barros, were able to arrest him and remove the woman and her child from the scene.

“The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life. This amazing technology definitely helped save a mother and her child from a very violent situation,” said a county sheriff in a statement to the website.

Barros is being held without bail on charges of “possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, aggravated battery against a household member, aggravated assault against a household member and false imprisonment”.

It might not be the only smart speaker to save a life, with third-party apps for Amazon Echo giving users CPR instructions.