AI voice assistants: Everything you need to know

Artificial intelligence is something we hear quite often these days, and you’ll see some form of AI implemented in so many things around you. Your smartphone has it, some gadgets in your homework with it, and all of it is working to automate and simplify the way our technology works for us.

Interestingly, this includes the nifty ‘voice assistant’, which itself uses AI, language processing, and machine learning to process voice-based commands and queries and provide a favourable response.

Popular AI voice assistants today include Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and more. Additionally, even popular AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can work with voice to provide responses and outcomes, making voice-based communications with AI a fairly natural thing to get used to. Here’s everything you need to know about AI voice assistants today.

What is an AI voice assistant?

As the name suggests, an AI voice assistant is an app or web-based tool that relies on AI to process voice commands and queries. The system – usually in the form of an app or framework built into a device such as a smartphone, television, tablet, or smart speaker – listens to voice inputs by the user, and processes them with the help of language processing and machine learning.

In simple terms, this means that you can tell the voice assistant what to do or ask it a question, and you’ll get a response or action in line with that. These functions come in handy when associated with a gadget or device of some kind, since you can control gadgets with simple voice commands. This can be quicker, easier, and more convenient than doing things manually, and come in particularly handy in situations such as while driving or walking into the house with many bags.

How do I use an AI voice assistant?

Many of us already have quick and easy access to AI voice assistants, which are available for free on most modern smartphones. If you’re an iPhone user you can use Siri, and if you have an Android smartphone, then Google Assistant is available to you. Other AI voice assistants such as Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby are also accessible on different devices, and can be further connected with accessories such as Bluetooth headphones for convenient use.

On your smartphone, TV or smart speaker, you can access the in-built AI voice assistant with a wake phrase – ‘Hey Siri’, ‘OK Google’, or ‘Alexa’ – or by tapping the microphone button within these apps. You can then speak – ask it to do something related to your phone, or even ask it a question, and let it find you an answer by searching the Internet.

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There are many ways in which an AI voice assistant can help. On a smartphone or in your car, it can help you to place calls, send messages, open specific apps, create reminders, set alarms, play music, and much more.

The utility of a voice assistant increases even more on a smart speaker, since the voice assistant is at the core of the user experience. Apart from playing music and helping with reminders, timers, and alarms, a smart speaker can also connect with your smart appliances and gadgets such as robot vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, smart lightbulbs and plugs, and more. You can then activate these gadgets with voice commands, thus making your smart home experience much more convenient and comfortable.