From simple chatbots designed to solve specific problems, digital assistants are evolving into indispensable advisers and interlocutors who can help solve almost any problem.
Humans may no longer be the main species of intelligent beings inhabiting our planet: according to the forecasts of the British consulting company Ovum, by 2021 the number of digital assistants in use will exceed the total population of the Earth. According to the Voice Report study published by Microsoft in April 2019, 72% of people in countries such as the US, UK, Canada, etc. have used virtual assistants for voice search on the Internet at least once, 25% they help make purchases. According to Nielsen, 24% of US households have a smart speaker (such as from Amazon Alexa). Digital assistants are turning into a kind of genies – some help to choose a product, others advise where to invest money, others take care of the health and psychological state of their owner.
“What started out as blue web links on a search results page is now transforming into something larger in scope and deeper in scope,” Microsoft said in a report. – Blue links disappear. The keywords disappear. Keyboards disappear. What will be left? The age of clicking links as the primary user interface is giving way to a new era of voice and digital assistants.”
According to Microsoft executive vice president Harry Shum, who is in charge of artificial intelligence research at the company, digital assistants will become the highest form of AI. In the company’s research division, employees call these future digital assistants “the closest friends, real second selves.” Experts from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos agree with these forecasts, assuming that digital assistants will develop in the direction of ever greater personalization. For example, the American voice assistant Pillo, in whose development $ 13 million was invested, helps people monitor their health – reminds them of the time of taking medications, gives advice.
Digital assistants are taking on more and more complex functions – no one can be surprised by chatbots advising users in the messenger on simple issues. But psychologists at Stanford University (USA) are already offering the services of a digital psychotherapist assistant Woebot. Its creators expect that patients will answer questions from Woebot more frankly than questions from a human doctor – you can share the most intimate with the robot. Noting that people are already trying to discuss their personal problems with digital assistants, David Mattin, an expert at the British analytical company TrendWatching, believes that smart robots can eventually become real friends for a person.
In any case, dialogues with them will be an important part of our life. Well-known tech journalist, TechCrunch editor Josh Konstin is sure that they will completely change the format of news consumption – a person will stop just watching or listening to the presenters, but will talk with a voice assistant, asking him about what has happened in the world today. You can even see “genies” who help a person: the American startup Magic Leap has developed a virtual assistant Miku. Wearing augmented reality glasses, the user will find a virtual girl next to him, who looks almost like a real person. Over time, Mika will learn to follow the look and facial expressions of the owner, determining what interests him and what mood he is in.
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