this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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Not really. Even Amazon, Apple and Google have been investing in assistants less and less. They have had massive lay offs from voice assistant teams.
https://www-theregister-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.theregister.com/AMP/2022/11/23/voice_assistants_fail/?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_ct=1704369199164&_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17043691929854&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theregister.com%2F2022%2F11%2F23%2Fvoice_assistants_fail%2F
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64371426
"But it's not clear whether they are money-making opportunities. Reports say most interactions are relatively simple tasks like checking the weather, or playing music.
More broadly, according to one report, over the past three years voice assistant use has been falling and another report suggests that the adoption of smart speakers is slowing."
So no it's not just "my opinion". But sure just down vote and fuck off.
I mean, that only says something about the money making part and not the pure usability. For many people the commercial options are a gimmick, sure. But are these options, with a clear focus on milking the customers for money, really the ultimate state for voice assistants? I'd argue they are not. There is a space for free voice assistants that let users control their data and that still provide a value. Beyond users with disabilities that make it hard to impossible to use computers, voice assistants won't ever do something you cannot do with a computer (which includes smartphones). If that makes you consider them a gimmick then I don't have an argument. But I think it is nice and convenient to be able to use a computer with your voice while doing something else.
I think that that just means that there's not much point in developing them further. they're still great for the simple tasks, like texting while driving.