PRIVACY MODE FOR ALWAYS-ON VOICE-ACTIVATED INFORMATION ASSISTANT

A user device and method discriminately provides audible responses to a voice command received by a user device that supports voice activation. The method includes detecting a first pre-established, audible activation command that activates the user device. In response to detecting the first pre-established, audible activation command, the method includes producing a first audible acknowledgement within loudspeaker proximity of the user device and then monitoring for detection of at least one second, audible acknowledgement produced by another user device within a pre-set time interval, which detection would indicate that the other user device is also responding. The method includes processing and responding to a received audible command in response to not detecting. However, in response to detecting, the method includes triggering entry into a privacy mode of audible command input and producing a privacy mode announcement via at least one of a display and a sound producing component.