Hello,
Today we are looking at: The Current State of Voice-Activated AI Technology
Imagine you’re chatting with your smartphone, just like Captain Kirk from Star Trek, or perhaps you’re trying to get your virtual assistant to respond as quickly as HAL 9000 (minus the drama, of course). The future is now, and with AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode, Google’s Gemini Live, and Microsoft’s Copilot, you can talk to your phone or computer and have it talk back!
But as futuristic as this sounds, there are a few quirks I noticed while spending the last two weeks putting these AI voice assistants to the test. Here’s what I found:
- For example, Google’s Gemini Live usually pauses correctly, but ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot can sometimes keep talking like that one friend who just won’t let you finish your sentence. It leads to choppy conversations that feel more like a broken record than a natural interaction. Hopefully, smoother conversations are on the horizon.
- Google’s AI takes it a step further by offering up phone numbers for restaurants, though it can’t make reservations (yet). This gives Gemini Live an edge, especially for people who rely on local tips when they’re on the go. Meanwhile, ChatGPT and Copilot could take some pointers here—what’s the use of an assistant if it can’t help you find a good pizza joint?
- For example, none of the AI assistants could tell me what my upcoming appointments were or help with personal reminders like, “Remind me to buy flowers for Mom’s birthday.” Without the ability to dive into personal data (securely, of course), these AIs feel like they’re missing a major opportunity to truly be helpful.
So, what are these voice-controlled AIs actually good for? Right now, they’re pretty great at providing general knowledge, brainstorming ideas, or giving you that extra push of motivation. You can ask them for random trivia, like, “Tell me about the history of martial arts,” or engage them in discussions about your hobbies—whether it’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or photography. For example, I asked ChatGPT about BJJ techniques and it surprisingly nailed some pretty detailed descriptions. Copilot was also spot on, while Gemini sometimes strayed into the realm of fantasy with a few hallucinations (sadly, no, I can’t learn a flying armbar from my couch).
In terms of how they respond, ChatGPT’s swirling orb interface feels the most interactive and human-like. It pulses when you talk, making it feel like it’s listening. Meanwhile, Gemini’s dark screen with a glowing dot feels a bit more distant, and Copilot, though functional, doesn’t quite have the same level of visual feedback.
The dream of a voice-activated AI that seamlessly blends into our lives is closer than ever, but there’s still a ways to go. Until Siri’s big upgrade or Apple Intelligence hits the market, we’re left with voice AIs that do some things well, but fall short in the areas that would make them true virtual companions.
Be seeing you…
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