A year ago, right after Google I/O 2015, I was struggling with the idea of migrating to the just-announced Google Photos in exchange for "free" unlimited storage. I use scare quotes because I'm fully aware that I'm the product in this transaction. Nevertheless, I tested it for a few months, slowly adding more and more photos until I eventually pulled the trigger and committed to the service — as have 200 million other people.

Now, thanks to Google I/O 2016, I'm faced with a new conundrum: Google Home.

Do I really trust Google enough to place its data-gathering appliance in my living room, where it'll always be on and always be listening?

The risk is theoretical, the benefit is real

I still have my reservations with Google Photos, but the service is so damn good compared to everything else in its class that I'm willing to risk exposure in exchange for the value I receive. After all, the risk is theoretical, but the benefit of using the service is real. It's just that now I'm at Google's mercy to secure my photos from hacks, and to not use them, or the data it gleans, in nefarious ways. I'm sure I'll rationalize the purchase of an AI-driven personal assistant in the same way.