With the increasing maturity of speech recognition and AI technology, this feature is now fully popular on mobile phones.
Editor’s note: This article is from WeChat public account “雷 科技” (ID: leitech ), Editor: Chong Jia.
Since Apple integrated Siri on the iPhone 4S in 2011, voice assistants have appeared on smartphones for almost a decade. With the increasing maturity of speech recognition and AI technology, this feature is now fully popular in mobile phones and extended to smart TV, smart home and other fields, and its future prospects are infinitely promising.
In fact, the functions brought by the speech AI technology are no longer limited to simple virtual assistants, and more practical applications such as speech input and speech translation have been developed. It has penetrated into every aspect of our lives.
Voice Assistant is standard on mobile phones, but you may not want to use it
When Apple’s voice assistant Siri was just launched, it caused a big wave. At that time, even folk developers produced a corresponding Cydia plug-in, so that iOS devices without official support can also use the voice assistant function after jailbreak.
The voice assistant implements human-computer interaction through voice, and has the function of a virtual assistant. This form was very novel at the time, and it suddenly aroused the curiosity of many users.
With the start of Apple, coupled with the strong drive of market demand, other technology manufacturers have also launched voice assistant functions. In 2011, Google added a voice search function to the search engine of the Chrome browser to meet the needs of users’ voice input.
In 2013, Microsoft’s voice assistant Cortana went live on Windows Phone. Cortana shows the technical advantages that Microsoft has accumulated in the field of speech recognition for many years. As far as the user experience is concerned, the voice effect of “Xiao Na” is very close to the voice of a real person.
At the same time, domestic voice AI companies are also actively launching similar products. For example, HKUST Xunfei has launched a voice assistant app, and it is also a partner of domestic mobile phone manufacturers such as Meizu and OPPO. Many users’ voice assistants or smart assistants use HKUST Xunfei’s voice recognition technology.
However, as the voice assistant quickly became popular on mobile phones and matured, everyone ’s enthusiasm for it seemed to be slowly receding. As far as my personal experience is concerned, it is rare to see someone using a mobile phone’s voice assistant function in public, although more and more manufacturers are greatly increasing the priority of voice assistants, such as adding independent AI physical buttons, Put the switch of the AI voice assistant on a conspicuous position on the desktop, etc.
Many people, including myself, do n’t like using voice assistants, either because it ’s not easy or not convenient. At present, the speech recognition capabilities of mainstream voice assistants are generally relatively strong, but rollovers still occur, especially when the environment is noisy and the speech semantics are ambiguous (it may also be inaccurate pronunciation of Mandarin). In many cases, direct manual operation is more convenient than calling out a voice assistant.
It’s easy to understand. Using voice assistants in public, on the one hand, you must overcome the shame of speaking into the phone in the public, and on the other hand, you may have to take into account your privacy.
As of now, smart phones are quite popular. We are very proficient in the operation of such necessities, and often do not need the interactive form of voice to realize various functions. In this case, the voice function on the mobile phone sometimes does give people a more tasteless feeling.
A private environment is the high-frequency use scenario of voice technology?
Voice function shines in IoT
Voice AI technology does not stop at smartphones, but extends to other products. Now, whether it is a smart speaker, a smart TV, or a variety of smart hardware products emerging, as long as it is crowned the “smart” title, voice control is indispensable.
Interestingly, in a home environment, the advantages of voice AI technology seem to beWas released more fully. In more private scenarios, our willingness to use voice interaction is greatly enhanced. In a relatively closed environment, users do not need to worry about privacy issues, their psychological precautions will be reduced, and the possibility of naturally attempting voice interactions will also increase.
For products like TV speakers, traditional control tools are nothing more than physical buttons or remote controls. In contrast, the advantage of voice is that it frees the user’s hands. In the home environment, users can directly use voice commands to implement functions such as audio and video playback and home control in scenarios such as chores that are unavailable, which undoubtedly greatly improves efficiency and further enhances the user experience.
In recent years, both smart screens and high-end TVs of some brands have enhanced the pickup effect of large-screen devices. By adding radio microphones and other methods, users can wake up the TV device as the intelligent control center anytime and anywhere. At present, the industry generally believes that the popularity of 5G and large broadband in the future, and the further development of AI technology, will bring us into an era of Internet of Everything.
After all the electrical appliances and equipment we can access can be connected to the Internet and have intelligent functions, how to easily control them will become the most critical issue. At present, speech is the least expensive and most convenient way to interact.
5G, AI, IoT, Internet of Everything … Regarding the future, a little ambitious technology manufacturers do not want to miss it. Apple, Google, Xiaomi and other companies continue to strengthen the presence of voice AI technology in mobile phone systems. To a large extent It is in advance to continue to cultivate user habits, so that the target group will be unknowingly integrated into the ecosystem established by the manufacturer.
Speech is a revolutionary technology for a specific group of people
In addition, it is undeniable that for some specific groups of people, speech AI-related technologies play a pivotal role in promoting the mobile Internet and smart life.
For many “senior” users, typing on a mobile phone with a virtual keyboard is too expensive and difficult. Because of this, when talking about WeChat, many elders like to send a long and long voice message, which makes many people annoyed, and they want to let WeChat cut off the voice function.
![How bad is the voice assistant? Netizens: I haven't used it after buying it]()
But now, social applications such as WeChat, as well as some third-party input methods, already support voice input functions, which can turn voice into text. Judging from the current technical level, the recognition accuracy and usability of mainstream voice input are already quite high. For small screen devices such as smart watches, voice control is often more convenient than touch control.
In addition, for some visually impaired people, the development of speech AI technology has greatly reduced the threshold for them to use smart devices and enjoy mobile Internet life. We have tested some of the mainstream applications in daily life before. Through voice and physical button interaction, the blind group can also easily complete many operations and use many functions.
The game of privacy and convenience continues
Whether you want to accept it or not, the development of Internet technology in recent years is a process that continuously invades the privacy space of users. Even Apple, which has always advertised respect for user privacy, was exposed to privacy issues in 2019. User voice data uploaded by Siri may be manually obtained and analyzed.
The balance between privacy and technology is also a challenge for companies developing voice AI. In theory, in order to make the voice function more useful and intelligent, the user’s voice data must be analyzed and optimized. The key question is how likely it is that the collected information will be leaked or used illegally.
Last year, consulting firm Accenture conducted a survey of Chinese users. Data show that Chinese users are as satisfied as 97% with their voice assistants, but their trust is still not high. The main concerns of Chinese users about voice assistants are security concerns, user needs not being understood and privacy.
Furthermore, after negative events such as the theft of web cameras and the sale of house opening data, domestic consumers are facingVigilance on private issues is not low.
In 2018, the European Union passed the most stringent personal data protection regulation GDPR in history, clarifying that users have absolute control over personal data, and penalties for corporate violations are extremely heavy, with a minimum fine of 100 billion euros.
From a user’s perspective, this may be a good thing, as it can curb abuse of user data and privacy intrusion by businesses. However, overly restrictive restrictions will also make technology companies face greater difficulties in advancing technology advancements that require big data such as voice AI.
If we take a longer-term view, we believe that in the future of scientific and technological life, the importance of voice in human-computer interaction will be greatly enhanced. It will even become the main operation mode in scenarios such as smart home. However, in the process, we hope that our personal data can also be processed more appropriately.
Voice function shines in IoT
Voice AI technology does not stop at smartphones, but extends to other products. Now, whether it is a smart speaker, a smart TV, or a variety of smart hardware products emerging, as long as it is crowned the “smart” title, voice control is indispensable.
Interestingly, in a home environment, the advantages of voice AI technology seem to beWas released more fully. In more private scenarios, our willingness to use voice interaction is greatly enhanced. In a relatively closed environment, users do not need to worry about privacy issues, their psychological precautions will be reduced, and the possibility of naturally attempting voice interactions will also increase.
For products like TV speakers, traditional control tools are nothing more than physical buttons or remote controls. In contrast, the advantage of voice is that it frees the user’s hands. In the home environment, users can directly use voice commands to implement functions such as audio and video playback and home control in scenarios such as chores that are unavailable, which undoubtedly greatly improves efficiency and further enhances the user experience.
In recent years, both smart screens and high-end TVs of some brands have enhanced the pickup effect of large-screen devices. By adding radio microphones and other methods, users can wake up the TV device as the intelligent control center anytime and anywhere. At present, the industry generally believes that the popularity of 5G and large broadband in the future, and the further development of AI technology, will bring us into an era of Internet of Everything.
After all the electrical appliances and equipment we can access can be connected to the Internet and have intelligent functions, how to easily control them will become the most critical issue. At present, speech is the least expensive and most convenient way to interact.
5G, AI, IoT, Internet of Everything … Regarding the future, a little ambitious technology manufacturers do not want to miss it. Apple, Google, Xiaomi and other companies continue to strengthen the presence of voice AI technology in mobile phone systems. To a large extent It is in advance to continue to cultivate user habits, so that the target group will be unknowingly integrated into the ecosystem established by the manufacturer.
Speech is a revolutionary technology for a specific group of people
In addition, it is undeniable that for some specific groups of people, speech AI-related technologies play a pivotal role in promoting the mobile Internet and smart life.
For many “senior” users, typing on a mobile phone with a virtual keyboard is too expensive and difficult. Because of this, when talking about WeChat, many elders like to send a long and long voice message, which makes many people annoyed, and they want to let WeChat cut off the voice function.
But now, social applications such as WeChat, as well as some third-party input methods, already support voice input functions, which can turn voice into text. Judging from the current technical level, the recognition accuracy and usability of mainstream voice input are already quite high. For small screen devices such as smart watches, voice control is often more convenient than touch control.
In addition, for some visually impaired people, the development of speech AI technology has greatly reduced the threshold for them to use smart devices and enjoy mobile Internet life. We have tested some of the mainstream applications in daily life before. Through voice and physical button interaction, the blind group can also easily complete many operations and use many functions.
The game of privacy and convenience continues
Whether you want to accept it or not, the development of Internet technology in recent years is a process that continuously invades the privacy space of users. Even Apple, which has always advertised respect for user privacy, was exposed to privacy issues in 2019. User voice data uploaded by Siri may be manually obtained and analyzed.
The balance between privacy and technology is also a challenge for companies developing voice AI. In theory, in order to make the voice function more useful and intelligent, the user’s voice data must be analyzed and optimized. The key question is how likely it is that the collected information will be leaked or used illegally.
Last year, consulting firm Accenture conducted a survey of Chinese users. Data show that Chinese users are as satisfied as 97% with their voice assistants, but their trust is still not high. The main concerns of Chinese users about voice assistants are security concerns, user needs not being understood and privacy.
Furthermore, after negative events such as the theft of web cameras and the sale of house opening data, domestic consumers are facingVigilance on private issues is not low.
In 2018, the European Union passed the most stringent personal data protection regulation GDPR in history, clarifying that users have absolute control over personal data, and penalties for corporate violations are extremely heavy, with a minimum fine of 100 billion euros.
From a user’s perspective, this may be a good thing, as it can curb abuse of user data and privacy intrusion by businesses. However, overly restrictive restrictions will also make technology companies face greater difficulties in advancing technology advancements that require big data such as voice AI.
If we take a longer-term view, we believe that in the future of scientific and technological life, the importance of voice in human-computer interaction will be greatly enhanced. It will even become the main operation mode in scenarios such as smart home. However, in the process, we hope that our personal data can also be processed more appropriately.