voice assistant
The future of virtual assistants might lie in the metaverse![Graphic to symbolise virtual assistant](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Graphic to symbolise virtual assistant](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk//image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1652095867/itpro/2022/May/GettyImages_virtual%20assistant.jpg)
The future of virtual assistants might lie in the metaverse
With the market slumping, could the once ‘next big thing’ be on its way out or will the technology find a way to adapt?
17 May 2022
BT sheds light on the UK's growing e-waste problem![Messy drawer full of wires and cables in a complete disorder](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Messy drawer full of wires and cables in a complete disorder](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk//image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1630408867/itpro/shutterstock_cables_mess.jpg)
BT sheds light on the UK's growing e-waste problem
Research from the company reveals that a third of Brits don't know how to recycle electronic items
31 Aug 2021
Amazon releases trove of Alexa tools to address developer apathy![Alexa speaker sitting on a desk](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Alexa speaker sitting on a desk](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817140/itpro/2019/05/alexa_shutterstock_1097809796.jpg)
Amazon releases trove of Alexa tools to address developer apathy
The company is hoping to find new ways to help users discover skills with the voice assistant
22 Jul 2021
Microsoft retires Cortana mobile app![A screenshot displaying the words "Hey Cortana" on dark screen](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![A screenshot displaying the words "Hey Cortana" on dark screen](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817633/itpro/2019/09/cortana_shutterstock_758004355.jpg)
Microsoft retires Cortana mobile app
Cortana is to continue 'its evolution as a productivity assistant'
1 Apr 2021
What is natural language processing?![A face profile made out of 0 and 1 numbers](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![A face profile made out of 0 and 1 numbers](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817159/itpro/2019/03/natural_language_processing_shutterstock_1214787448.jpg)
What is natural language processing?
Creating systems capable of meaningful conversation is one of the hardest tasks facing AI researchers
12 Mar 2021
Red Box Conversa offers distributed teams platform-agnostic voice capture![Conversa by Red Box logo](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Conversa by Red Box logo](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk//image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1600458786/itpro/Conversa_by_Red_Box.jpg)
Red Box Conversa offers distributed teams platform-agnostic voice capture
This multiplatform voice-capture platform claims to have the flexibility today’s companies need
18 Sep 2020
Android TV may soon recognize individual voices![woman sat on sofa watching catch up tv online](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![woman sat on sofa watching catch up tv online](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk//image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1592250430/itpro/Android_TV.jpg)
Android TV may soon recognize individual voices
Your Android TV may soon be able to tell you from everyone else in your house
15 Jun 2020
Amazon, Apple and Google join forces on voice for smart homes![Google Home and Amazon Echo](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Google Home and Amazon Echo](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816184/itpro/2016/05/google_home_amazon_echo.jpg)
Amazon, Apple and Google join forces on voice for smart homes
Voice assistants from rivals will work across smart home devices thanks to working group from Zigbee Alliance
19 Dec 2019
Why you don’t need 5G – or a phone![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/private/s--wWX5zf8f--/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1571757048/itpro/2019/10/speakers.jpg)
Why you don’t need 5G – or a phone
Could the best way to make calls be to avoid a handset altogether?
20 Oct 2019
Apple axes 300 ‘Siri eavesdropping’ contractors in Ireland ![An iPhone user activating Siri](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![An iPhone user activating Siri](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817606/itpro/2019/08/shutterstock_1465861223.jpg)
Apple axes 300 ‘Siri eavesdropping’ contractors in Ireland
Workers in Cork see contracts terminated after the company pledges changes to the 'grading' project
29 Aug 2019
BBC set to launch “Beeb” AI voice assistant![Remote control flicking through BBC news](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Remote control flicking through BBC news](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816875/itpro/2018/10/bbcnews_shutterstock_797668045.jpg)
BBC set to launch “Beeb” AI voice assistant
Assistant will be trained to recognise a range of UK accents
28 Aug 2019
NatWest trials voice banking in the UK![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817664/itpro/2019/08/google_home_shutterstock_1045003270.jpg)
NatWest trials voice banking in the UK
Customers will be able to use a Google Home to access their accounts
12 Aug 2019
NHS-Alexa deal ‘data protection disaster waiting to happen'![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817227/itpro/2019/07/amazonecho_shutterstock_601257215.jpg)
NHS-Alexa deal ‘data protection disaster waiting to happen'
Health data will feed into Amazon's voice assistant but concerns mount over the fate of patient recordings
10 Jul 2019
The business case for Amazon's Alexa![Alexa speaker sitting on a desk](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Alexa speaker sitting on a desk](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817140/itpro/2019/05/alexa_shutterstock_1097809796.jpg)
The business case for Amazon's Alexa
Amazon's voice assistant isn't just a toy for the home, it's making serious play for the office too
13 May 2019
How is mistake-prone Microsoft still worth so much money?![Photograph of a Microsoft-branded building in daylight](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Photograph of a Microsoft-branded building in daylight](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817071/itpro/2019/03/microsoft_shutterstock_1096870349.jpg)
How is mistake-prone Microsoft still worth so much money?
Cortana looks like an irrelevant sideshow compared to Alexa and Siri
21 Mar 2019
17 hidden secrets of the Amazon Echo![amazon echo](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![amazon echo](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816817/itpro/2019/01/amazon_echo_close_up.jpg)
17 hidden secrets of the Amazon Echo
Amazon’s voice assistant can do a lot more than just play music and tell you the weather.
15 Jan 2019
17 hidden secrets of the Amazon Echo![amazon echo](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![amazon echo](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816817/itpro/2019/01/amazon_echo_close_up.jpg)
17 hidden secrets of the Amazon Echo
Amazon’s voice assistant can do a lot more than just play music and tell you the weather.
15 Jan 2019
Context-aware computing is here – and it's getting smarter![AI](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![AI](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816707/itpro/2019/01/ai_shutterstock_1089540200.jpg)
Context-aware computing is here – and it's getting smarter
Alexa knows when you're getting ill and researchers are listening using vibrations
11 Jan 2019
Is the UK headed towards a voice tech skills shortage?![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816748/itpro/2018/11/shutterstock_1063482653.jpg)
Is the UK headed towards a voice tech skills shortage?
Report predicts voice tech will be integral to future businesses, but firms will struggle to meet rising skills demand
21 Nov 2018
The ethical implications of conversational AI![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570817125/itpro/2018/10/chatbot_shutterstock_1136107499.jpg)
The ethical implications of conversational AI
With chatbots becoming part of daily life, we look at whether the right to data privacy is being impeded
5 Nov 2018
Amazon's APL language will bring Alexa to more displays![Amzon Echo with Alexa](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![Amzon Echo with Alexa](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816051/itpro/2017/09/echo_all_colors_copy.png)
Amazon's APL language will bring Alexa to more displays
New language will enable developers to load products with voice skills
21 Sep 2018
Amazon moves to make Alexa available for all car makers![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816575/itpro/2018/08/shutterstock_316133570.jpg)
Amazon moves to make Alexa available for all car makers
Alexa Auto SDK added to GitHub for developers that want a Knight Rider-style car
10 Aug 2018
Google: um, hang up on the idea of being "human", okay?![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
![](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230330073937/https://media.itpro.co.uk/image/upload/f_auto,t_card-mobile@1/v1570816705/itpro/2018/07/google_assistant_shutterstock_776448397_0.jpg)
Google: um, hang up on the idea of being "human", okay?
Attempting to con people into thinking they're talking to a human is Google's dumbest idea yet
21 Jul 2018