PETER HITCHENS tries out Amazon's 'personal assistant'

She sits patiently in millions of homes, an unremarkable cylinder commonly referred to as Alexa. But Amazon's new'virtual assistant' has been touted as nothing short of technological revolution. In response to spoken commands, she answers questions which previously required an internet search, can perform mundane domestic tasks such as turning on lights, and makes online purchases – through Amazon, obviously. Can it all be as innocent as it seems, particularly in an age rife with internet snooping? Some users have even reported'bone-chilling' cackles emanating from their speakers at random moments.