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An Amazon Echo Dot owner claims that the device's Alexa smart assistant has started calling him a "sh**head" every time he asks it to play him some music.

Michael Slade, 29, was reportedly shocked when Alexa began to swear at him the day after he called Amazon to cancel his Prime subscription.

"I tried to cancel my subscription and had a short conversation with someone in customer services and the next day my Alexa is calling me names," Mr Slade told The Sun .

When he later asked Alexa to play him some music, the personal assistant reportedly responded: "Sure, here's your playlist sh**head on Amazon music. Sorry something went wrong."

(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

"I couldn't believe it," said Mr Slade from Cwmbran, South Wales.

"I've spoken to technical support and they've never heard of this happening before.

"The technical team couldn't believe it. They kept saying sorry but they didn't know what had happened."

(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Software is available for the Echo Dot speaker that can make Alexa swear, but Mr Slade insists he hasn't done anything to the device.

"Hand on heart I haven't made it say it, or know why. Nor do any of my housemates," he said.

"I've never made a playlist. When I ask it to play music, it would say 'here’s something you might like' and it's normally some pop or student favourites."

Amazon has offered Mr Slade gift cards to the sum of £255 and a year of free Prime membership in compensation.

The company has also asked him to provide access to the logs of his Alexa account, to find out what went wrong.

"Customers are able to personalise their Alexa experience, including playlist names," Amazon said in a statement.

"Alexa would not respond in this way without some customisation from the user."