The future is now

11 examples of how voice assistants are reshaping the way we communicate

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For millions of people around the world, voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become part of daily routines, but they are also quietly changing the way we speak. From how we phrase questions to the words we choose, these digital helpers are introducing subtle changes in everyday language. As our use of these devices increases, the amount of time we spend talking to them will likely increase as well. Here are 12 ways voice assistants are influencing the way we communicate.

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The first and probably most noticeable example of how voice assistants change the way we speak has to do with the shift to more imperative sentences when making requests.

For example, instead of saying, "Can you please set a timer for me?" people now tend to default to concise, direct commands like, "Set a timer for 10 minutes." We use imperative sentences rather than polite or indirect forms.

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Since voice assistants are, essentially, robots that break up commands into simple concepts to process them effectively, we tend to simplify and rephrase the way we speak by using key terms the assistant is more likely to understand.

For example, instead of saying, "Can you put on something jazzy?" people often default to a concise command like, "Play jazz music."

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Another common trait when speaking to machines is that we tend to repeat similar structures, since voice assistants do not handle follow-up context as well as humans do.

For example, someone might say, "What’s the weather today? What’s the weather tomorrow?"

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This is possibly one of the most positive effects on the list. When speaking to a voice assistant, people tend to slow down and articulate more clearly, a habit that sometimes carries over into their regular speech.

For example, someone might deliberately separate words, saying, "Call… Mom," for a clearer enunciation.

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Wake words—those commands used to "wake up" a voice assistant, such as "Hey Siri" or "Alexa"—are increasingly entering casual conversation and humor.

For example, people might jokingly say, "Okay Google, make me a sandwich," to someone, or, "Hey Siri, can you take the dog out for a walk?"

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Another notable language shift is the tendency to use more formal, literal phrasing when speaking to machines, a habit that sometimes carries over into everyday conversation.

For example, someone might say, "Give me the details," instead of the slangier, "Gimme the deets," when interacting with a voice assistant.

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Even though artificial intelligence is making machine speech more natural, voice assistants do not always accurately interpret the exact meaning of our commands. As a result, people tend to adopt more mechanical, concise speech patterns to communicate more efficiently with these devices.

For example, someone might say, "Add milk to the shopping list," instead of a longer phrasing like, "Can you remind me to buy milk later?"

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Voice assistants typically use a neutral tone, without regional accents. As a result, people with strong accents or regional dialects may adjust their speech toward more "standard" English to be understood.

This can involve modifying pronunciation or vocabulary—for example, saying "elevator" instead of "lift" in certain regions.

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In line with some of the previous situations, the simplification of commands encourages the removal of hedges and conversational words in favor of more precise, direct questions.

For example, instead of saying, "Do you know how tall Mount Everest is?" someone might simply ask, "How tall is Mount Everest?"

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People have learned to anticipate how machines interpret language and adjust in real time, demonstrating a growing linguistic adaptability fostered by our interactions with voice assistants.

For example, someone might start by saying, "Call Sam," but then change it to, "Call Samantha, mobile," when they realize the assistant may not understand the initial command.

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While casual conversations with humans often rely on pronouns and shared context, voice assistants require more explicit information. Users tend to over-specify to compensate for the assistant’s limited contextual memory.

For example, someone might say, "Send message to John: I’ll be late," instead of the more natural, "Tell him I’m running late."

COMIC RELIEF

10 Hilarious Quotes from Celebrities That Will Crack You Up

As the famous old saying goes, "A day without laughter is a wasted day," and we couldn’t agree more. In a world where humor is often overshadowed by seriousness, people with the ability to laugh at themselves and the silliness of life are like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day.

Here we gathered 10 moments of comedic brilliance from the mouths of celebrities, writers, and scientists.

"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense."

—Tom Clancy

A world-acclaimed writer of many espionage novels and military thrillers, Tom Clancy offers us a humorous insight into the chaotic nature of reality and the difficulties of storytelling. Certainly, reality is always stranger than fiction!

"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."

—Terry Pratchett

The late Terry Pratchett, the beloved author of the Discworld fantasy series, delivers here a witty remark typical of his irreverent writing style. An open mind is a gift, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be wary of what you let others put into it.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe."

—Albert Einstein

Besides being a Nobel laureate and renowned physicist, Albert Einstein was known for his characteristic dry humor and his sarcastic observations about the world. Human nature is paradoxical, we can solve the most complex problems, yet we never seem to completely free ourselves from the yoke of stupidity.

"I’m not offended by blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb…and I also know that I’m not blonde."

—Dolly Parton

The iconic country music star playfully addresses stereotypes about blonde women in this witty retort. Though Parton has nothing to prove, she shows us with charm and flair that humor and self-awareness are always the best defense against insult and prejudice.

"A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it."

—Bob Hope

Legendary comedian Bob Hope offers a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the absurd quirks of bank logic. And surely... what good does a loan to the already rich do?

"Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read."

—Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx, the comedic genius behind the Marx Brothers, delivers here one of his hilarious yet absurd jokes. Humor can certainly be found in the most unexpected places, even inside the belly of an unsuspecting dog!

"Life isn't a fairytale. If you lose a shoe at midnight, you're drunk."

—Darynda Jones

American novelist Darynda Jones offers a humorous twist on the classic Cinderella story by comparing it to reality. We would only like to add that if your Uber also looks like a pumpkin carriage, you might be better off just walking home.

"I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not quite sure."

—Tommy Cooper

Tommy Cooper was a master of slapstick comedy and absurd humor, and this quote attributed to him encapsulates his personality perfectly. Jokes aside, having a good sense of humor can actually help indecisive people gain more confidence in themselves!

"I can resist everything except temptation."

—Oscar Wilde

This famous quip of Oscar Wilde captures the essence of his playful yet thoughtful philosophy. Besides making you laugh, hopefully this quote can help lighten up a bit those moments when we feel like we aren’t living up to our expectations—like when you can’t help buying a ton of ice cream right after starting a new diet.

"When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick."

—George Burns

Legendary comedian George Burns offers a humorous reflection on the passage of time with this amusing remark. Unfortunately, he might be right, as the Dead Sea is actually shrinking at a swift pace.