It’s So Hard to Get Good Digital Help These Days!

You don’t have to be a CEO to have an executive assistant anymore. Meet Siri, Alexa, Jibo, and Cortana, just four of the new artificially intelligent digital assistants from prominent technology companies designed to make your life easier. By a simple voice command they will answer your every question, restock your groceries, order lunch, remind you of your next appointment, and fire up the latest episode of your favorite TV show.

But before you welcome them into your home, you might want to ask where that friendly (why do they all tend to be female?!) voice is really coming from. Behind this technology are companies vying to bring you into the conversation age. Whoever succeeds will know us more intimately than ever before—our needs, thoughts, and desires—allowing them to exert even more influence over our lives. Which begs the question: will they help keep our secrets? 

On June 8th Future Tense discussed the technology behind our new helpers and their cultural implications for society. 

Panelists included Will Oremus, Senior Technology Writer, Slate and Brigid Schulte, Director, Better Life Lab Program and The Good Life Initiative at New America; Author, Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time. Moderated by Alexandra Petri, Opinion Writer, The Washington Post.