stub 7 Key Predictions for the Future Of Voice Assistants and AI - Unite.AI
Connect with us

Artificial Intelligence

7 Key Predictions for the Future Of Voice Assistants and AI

mm
Updated on

We live in an exciting time, especially in innovation, progress, technology, and commerce. Some of the latest tech inventions, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, are making a tremendous impact on every industry.

Voice assistants powered by AI have already transformed the eCommerce trend. The eCommerce giants such as Amazon continue to fuel this trend as they compete for the market share. Voice interfacing is advancing at an exceptional rate in healthcare and banking industries to keep pace with consumers' demands.

Reason to shift towards voice assistants and AI

The crux of the shift towards voice user interfaces is to change the users’ demands. Increased awareness and a higher level of comfort are explained specifically by millennial consumers. In this ever-changing digital world where speed, convenience, and efficiency are continually being optimized.

The adoption of AI in users’ lives is fueling the shift towards voice applications. Various IoT devices such as smart appliances, thermostats, and speakers give voice assistants more utility in a connected user’s life. You can see the usage of voice assistants in smart speakers; however, it only starts there.

According to the report, the voice recognition tech market reached close to 11 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2019 and is expected to increase by approximately 17% by 2025.

Voice apps in this technology are seen everywhere.

Here are 7 Key Predictions of Voice Assistants and AI

1. Streamlined Conversations

Both technology giants, Amazon and Google, announced that their assistants would no longer require the use of repeated “wake” words. Earlier, both assistants were dependent on a wake word such as Ok, Google, or Alexa to initiate a conversation line. For instance, one has to ask, “Alexa! What’s the current weather?” Then, for the next command, “Alexa” again before requesting that the voice assistant set the hallway thermostat to 25 degrees.”

With this new facility, it's more convenient and natural for users. Simply put, you need to say “current weather condition” without requiring the wake word again.

Now users use voice assistants in particular locations, while multitasking and it can either be alone or amongst a group of people. Having devices that can use these contextual factors make a conversation more convenient and efficient. Still, it also shows that developers behind the technology are aiming to provide a more user-centric experience.

2. Voice Push Notifications

Push notifications are about sending a reminder when the due date is near for a task. It is a useful tool to engage users within the application. Since the onset of voice technology, this feature has got a unique touch. Voice push notifications are an effective way of increasing user engagement and retention and reminding users of the app and displaying relevant messages.

Both Google and Alexa allow users to get notifications compatible with third-party apps. Such notifications are related to calendar appointments from the main features.

3. Search Behaviors will change

Voice search or voice-enabled search allows users to use a voice command to search the intent, website, or an app.

  • Voice-based shopping is expected to rise to $40 billion in 2022.
  • The market share means that consumers' spending via voice assistants is expected to reach 18% by 2022.
  • According to Juniper Research, voice-based ad revenues will reach $19 billion by 2022.

After going through all these statistics, it’s clear that there’s an unprecedented rise in mobile devices' voice searches. Brands have transformed from touchpoints into listening points. Organic searches are the primary way for brands to gain visibility.

Therefore, by seeing the popularity and adaptability of voice search, marketers and advertising agencies are expecting more from voice goliaths like Amazon and Google, to update their platforms for paid messaging.

4. Personalized Experiences

The voice-enabled devices and digital assistants such as Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa enable customers to engage through the most natural communication form. The data shows that the online sales of voice-enabled devices grew 39% year-over-year.

Voice assistants provide more personalized experiences while improving the difference between voices. Google Home supports six user accounts and quickly identifies unique voices.

Customers may put queries like “What restaurant has the best lunch in LA?” or “What restaurants are open for lunch now?” The voice assistants are smart enough to specify every detail, like schedule appointments for any individual users. Assistants are enough to memorize even the nicknames, locations, payment information, and other information.

5. Security will be a focus.

According to the report, about 41% of voice devices users are concerned about trust and confidentiality. All you need to make it more secure and convenient for customers to make purchases, Amazon and Google have introduced some security measures such as speaker verification and ID to use voice assistant experience.

Furthermore, if a user books an appointment, reserves a restaurant, finds local cinema time, schedules an Uber, payment concerns, sensitive information, it has become more critical to make it more secure and convenient for customers to make purchases. Speaker verification and ID both are paramount as part of the voice assistant experience.

6. Touch Interaction

A new feature that has been launched by Google in CES2019, which is all about integrating the finest voice and visual display into a seamless experience. It has been illustrated as a link screen. The display can show details like local traffic information or events and weather information. This functionality adds visual and voice capabilities together, which allows users to communicate more with the helper.

7. Compatibility & Integration

Amazon is at the forefront when it’s about integrating voice technology with other products. People who know Alexa must be familiar with the fact that the voice assistants are already integrated into a vast array of products such as Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator. Google also has announced its product named Google Assistant Connect. The underlying idea behind this is for manufacturers to create custom devices that serve specific functions and are integrated with the Assistant.

Speaking about the advancement of voice app development, the global voice eCommerce industry is expected to be worth $40 billion by 2020, according to the report. Not only this, in 2020, it’s expected to see a greater interest in the development of voice-enabled devices. It increases in mid-level devices that have some assistant functionality but are not full-blown smart speakers.

The takeaway

You have gone through a few key predictions of the future of voice assistants and AI. However, several barriers that need to be overcome before voice-enabled devices see mass adoption. The advancement in technology paves the future for voice app development, specifically in AI, NLP (Natural Language Processing), and machine learning.

The AI behind it has to handle better challenges like background noise and accents to build a robust speech recognition experience. Undeniably, consumers have become increasingly comfortable and reliant upon using voice to talk to their phones, smart home devices, vehicles, etc. Voice technology has become a key interface to the digital world, and voice interface design and voice app development will be more significant in demand.

Hardik Shah works as a Tech Consultant at Simform, a leading custom software development company. He leads large scale mobility programs covering platforms, solutions, governance, standardization, and best practices.