The kids were excited when they got their new voice assistants but a week later — and for ever after — they merely used it as an alarm clock.
A new survey from YouGov reveals what people do with their voice assistants. Answer: Not much. They mostly use it to check the weather (59%), play music (51%), or search the Web for an answer to a question (47%). About 40% use it to set a timer.
But with smart watches, smart phones, computers, tablets and even smart glasses, consumers have plenty of ways to check the weather.
Additionally, for all these typical tasks the underlying technology is identical. Every device checks the same weather source and uses the same method of setting a timer, for example.
One of the problems 27 percent of users have with their assistants is that their requests aren't understood and 12 percent said responses were not accurate.
Voice assistant makers like Google, Amazon, and Apple plan to add AI to their devices. Makers hope that if AI takes up residence in voice assistants that might help.
Generative AI, like that powering ChatGPT or Amazon's planned, Alexa+, (set for release in 2025), enables more conversational and complex interactions. For example, instead of just saying,, It's 75'F,, the assistant could offer,, It's 75'F, but there's a 40% chance of rain, so you might want an umbrella for soccer practice.,
AI could also make the devices proactive by reminding users that, if it is going to snow tomorrow, then they might want to leave erarly.
One TikToker recently made headlines after she built a huge following by claiming ChatGPT was helping to raise her daughter, run her house, and make decisions for her. She is now selling her AI prompts.
It could be that voice assistants with AI could make a household smarter and better run. Or maybe just something else to do.
