Voice Assistant: Voice of Present and Future

Whether it’s Amazon, Apple, Google, or Microsoft, each big tech giant wants to claim the highly competitive voice assistant market. The annual sales figures show that technology is becoming more and more relevant for us. It is speculated that language technology will become the future user interface. 

The question arises as to whether we will still need physical input devices to operate a computer or other electronic devices and what challenges language assistance technology will have to overcome.

Development of user interfaces for computers and applications, it can be seen that the operation of technical devices is being adapted more and more to our human interaction: computers were initially so abstract in use that they could only be operated by experts, but this has changed this through the introduction of compact PC systems and new input and output devices. The first computer mouse 1968 made desktop computers accessible to a much wider audience.

Language is the next level of operation.

The current development of touchscreens goes one step further: they already react to natural gestures such as tapping or swiping. Isn’t it a logical consequence that language follows as the next step on the ladder to even more intuitive use and control of electronic devices and applications?

The result would be a mix of augmented reality, gestures, and voice commands designed to help us more efficiently control devices. 

Security Concerns of Users

Speak instead of entering the input into the device via touchscreen – this is far more intuitive for the consumer and usually faster. However, there is still a balancing act that users have to perform: On the one hand, there is a great desire for the digital assistant to offer tangible help and make everyday life easier – and for this, it has to understand the user well.

To ensure this, however, the user must disclose information about themselves, which the voice assistant processes with the help of artificial intelligence to be able to learn from it.

Overcome gender stereotypes

Alexa, Siri, and Cortana – the best-known and most popular language assistants all have female voices and are perceived as female. According to a recent UNESCO report, this reinforces outdated role models in their role as always patient, submissive helpers who unquestioningly obey orders.

It is highlighted as particularly precarious that the language assistants usually react indulgently or even flirtatiously to sexual innuendos or insults.

Here it becomes clear that artificial intelligence is not neutral but strongly influenced by the data with which it is trained. This is how artificial prejudices and discrimination are transferred to the digital helper.

The manufacturers are therefore faced with the great challenge of breaking down existing gender prejudices in their systems to ensure equality and to offer a good user experience for all users – regardless of gender.

Use in public places.

Another challenge yet to be sufficiently discussed is using a spoken user interface in public spaces such as trains or restaurants. In such a scenario, others’ voices could overhear. In this way, personal information would be passed on to the addressee and all people in the immediate vicinity.

Another point that plays a role in the assertion of speech as an input mode is the aspect of noise pollution. For example, if an entire train compartment were to speak loudly to their voice assistant instead of typing or swiping on their smartphone or tablet, there would be a massive increase in noise levels.

Speech recognition still needs to be improved.

In recent years, language development has improved exponentially, and manufacturers are working feverishly to advance the technology continuously.

However, the word recognition rate still needs to be 100 percent. It becomes even more complicated if the person tries to speak to the language assistant in a dialect. Consumers confirm this impression.

Mainly used in smart homes and cars.

Even if the use of language assistants as a user interface is predicted, there are still a few hurdles to be overcome so that the user perceives this as a natural enrichment. Nevertheless, language systems are getting better and better and are conquering more and more areas of life.

A significant advantage over typing is that your hands are free. This is also why voice input has mainly been used in the smart home area. Another area that is being conquered is the car.

The advantage here is obvious: the driver can have the news read out to him and use the assistant with further spoken instructions – while his hands remain on the steering wheel.

From this, language assistants are gaining ground wherever we are mostly busy with other things or need both hands for a specific activity.

The operation of technology is becoming a minor matter, but it is not expected that it will completely replace the smartphone soon. However, they have the potential to change how we deal with technology fundamentally.