Vesper grabs $15M to build a durable low-power mic that listens forever

Technology improvements are good, but all these sensors in devices scare me, especially in network-connected stuff. Let's say someone exploits and modifies the firmware to trigger on the word "confidential" and then upload the recordings to some server of the attackers choice. Or hides a modified device in someones office/home/etc.

Of course, that's not at all specific to IoT or voice-triggered microphones. Laptops and phones have large batteries and are regularly recharged so they could be exploited as well.