this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023
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I ask Siri to make phones calls and set a timer. I know these companies wanted us to use voice assistants more often but for me it was always faster to pick up my phone and do it myself. This reminds me of last year when articles were circulating about Amazons Alexa costing the company $3bn in the first quarter of 2022.
I tried using Bixby to set a calendar entry in 30 days and it spiraled into the question when the entry should be set. After 3 minutes trying everything I could think of (explicit date/time etc) I stopped and created the entry within seconds manually..
These assistants are interesting, when they work properly.. :/
Yeah true but I was curious what it could do. As it turned out.. Not that much.
Ok Google, set an alarm for X minutes, or take me home. Those are literally the only two commands I've ever used I think. When I first got the phone I may have asked it to call my contacts a handful of times.
Well assistant now has something stupid where "take me to" will open an app if it's the same or similar name to where you're going
On what dumb AI hellhole earth is "take me to" a substitute for open?
Yeah I've tried them but everything is easier to just do yourself. I also feel dumb half-yelling into the air and maybe having it registering that I'm talking to it.
It's very much Star Trek stuff, and until you can simply say "Computer, do X" in a normal room volume conversation tone it'll just be a novelty.
True that. I think it's also due to the wakeup command you constantly have to say before stating what needs to be done. "Ok Google", "Hey Bixby" etc aren't that natural as just speaking.
But having voice controlled assistants who constantly listen to what you're saying and act accordingly is another nightmare itself..
Cortana was pretty good at understanding me. Was much faster to use my voice than touch, for stuff like setting reminders and alarms. Or starting music (it understandably sucked at changing tracks, unless you had headphones).
I was excited for what else they would make it do. But it became clear MS only goal with it was to advertise stuff. And to US only. And when they failed that, they ripped out any useful features from it.
Yeah I tell Google Assistant "Wake me at 8:30AM" or "navigate to 123 Fake St" and it does a good job. I can also tell it "send email to myself" since I made an address book nickname in my own entry called "myself." Otherwise it never worked.
I mostly use Siri to send my wife texts while I'm driving. And it fucks up half the time.