Final answer:
Carrie is using a device based on artificial intelligence technology, specifically featuring voice recognition capabilities. This represents a broader integration of smart devices into our daily lives, where they serve as personal assistants and raise ethically important considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The device that Carrie interacts with by saying "Alexa, what's the weather today?" is based on artificial intelligence technology. After Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007 and sparked a revolution in the smartphone industry, technology has rapidly progressed. By 2015, these devices began to incorporate voice recognition capabilities, an important feature of artificial intelligence. We are now living in an era of technophilia, where smart devices are seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, becoming akin to personal companions that assist, suggest, and interact with us in various ways.
These advancements in technology are not just limited to convenience but also raise questions about ethical considerations and the responsible use of AI. People like Genevieve Bell have highlighted the importance of considering human-scale technology and the implications of integrating AI into our social fabric. Apple's iPhone and voice-activated devices like Alexa represent a significant shift in how we interact with technology—as tools that both serve our needs and learn from us, becoming nearly indispensable in our social lives.