Virtual assistants are one of the most popular products of artificial intelligence. This is because of their versatility, which is reflected in universally useful applications. Applications that they touch an infinite number of fields and that therefore they are of interest to a very broad and multifaceted audience. For these reasons, research and development of virtual assistants is a branch of AI that is increasingly being invested in. An example that we recently discussed is the renewal of the IBM-Tech Mahindra partnership. Collaboration which, among its focuses, has precisely the evolution of virtual care.
Improving these tools means moving forward with machine learning algorithm , with the deep learning, with intelligent automation and therefore with capabilities such as natural language processing. Not to mention data search, collection and processing. Thus the development of virtual assistants is practically cascading all fields of AI. Let's take a closer look at the latest trends shaping the future of virtual assistance.
Content index
Natural Language Understanding and Deep Learning
We just said that Improving virtual assistants involves work on natural language processing and deep learning. The first allows AI models to increasingly better understand the context of conversations. Deep learning, on the other hand, also allows assistants to learn from previous interactions, continuously improving the quality of responses.
The evolution of these two branches, in addition to significantly refining virtual assistants, favors the development of AI models intended for other purposes.
Multimodal virtual assistants
New assistants integrate visual and textual input for greater interaction. The introduction of tools like DALL-E, which combine visual recognition and image generation, is expanding the possibilities. Google is in fact working on assistants that recognize objects via camera, offering more accurate responses. This creates a natural interaction that involves more senses.
The evolution in this field also becomes useful to the development of augmented reality.
Humanization of assistants
Le ability to understand emotions assistants are improving. This thanks to the analysis of tones of voice and expressions. Start-ups like sonantic (bought by Spotify) are developing synthetic voices capable of reproducing emotions. Then Interaction with virtual assistants will become increasingly empathetic, as if you were talking to a real interlocutor.
This could revolutionize sectors such as online therapy and psychological support… but also open the doors to more particular or potentially alienating businesses.
Virtual assistants to automate work processes
Of course virtual assistants help to automate repetitive processes. Microsoft has already integrated Copilot into Teams, using GPT-4 to transcribe meetings, suggest responses, and analyze data. chatbot for customer service, such as those from Zendesk, offer immediate and personalized support, reducing waiting times.
In the future, we expect assistants to be able to handle more complex tasks, such as market analysis and strategic planning.
Big data and ethics in the development of virtual assistants
Virtual Assistants of the Future will increasingly exploit big data. Amazon Alexa, for example, uses usage data to offer personalized product and content recommendations. But the massive use of personal data raises concerns about privacy and transparency.
Vulnerabilities in machine learning algorithms, in fact, can be exploited to manipulate data. Furthermore, introducing bias into algorithms could perpetuate unintentional discrimination.
So the future of virtual assistants, in addition to technological refinement and the evolution of uses, will be determined by the improvement of data security and biases in the programming phase.