In the News
Virtual assistants continue to increase in popularity as their technologies become more advanced. In Google Home can now handle three queries at once, Sarah Perez discusses the most recent update on Google Assistant which lets users ask up to three queries in one prompt as long as each is separated by the word ‘and’. Perez states that this is a new multitasking tool similar to one released in February which allows users to create a routine triggered by a phrase, such as a string of commands set to go off after one states “I’m home.”
Our Take
Virtual assistants complete simple tasks that can often feel tedious to a busy individuals, and multitasking updates such as the one created by Google assistant aim to increase the productivity and usefulness of virtual assistants. However, it’s worth remembering that virtual assistants retain information heard from users–sometimes including snippets of conversation in which they incorrectly heard their call name.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information with a virtual assistant listening?
- Manage the settings on all smart devices to restrict the amount of information the device listens for and retains
- Secure your home network and change default passwords on your routers and smart devices to ensure that outside parties cannot access your virtual assistant
- Make sure to purchase verified and well-known smart products to ensure that your information remains as safe as possible