The holiday season is here. You're excited to imagine how your life will be made easier with a digital voice assistant when you receive an Amazon device as a gift. Two weeks later, you don't have an Amazon device.
It's a scenario that's growing all too familiar for many people who own an Amazon device, as interest in the voice-assisted speakers seems to fade very quickly after they're installed. According to internal Amazon data obtained by Bloomberg, some years see up to 25 percent of new owners of the device no longer actively using it after two weeks.
The sparkliness of the voice-assisted speaker does not last very long, as I can confirm from owning an echo for more than three years. I thought my quality of life would increase when I received my device, because I could now make calls and grocery lists. In reality, the only things I use my Echo for are to play music, set timers while cooking, and occasionally check the weather.
My experience is not uncommon. Amazon's own documents show that the devices are only used for playing music, setting timers, or turning on connected lights. According to a planning document for the year, Amazon employees say that new owners of the device will discover half of the features within three hours.
Amazon does not deny that its devices are past the growth phase. Kinley Pearsall, a spokeswoman for Amazon, said that the documents were either outdated or inaccurate.
Pearsall wrote that the assertion that growth is slowing is not correct.
Privacy and usefulness are the biggest barriers to growth for Amazon's devices. Many people find it frightening to know that Amazon employees can review audio clips and that the speaker may accidentally send out recordings of private conversations.
I had a particularly nerve-racking experience with my device where I had to wonder if anyone could remotely listen in on my device. Voice-commanded robots shouldn't be heard.
I agree that it's not feasible to use most of the features that are available. It's more annoying than helpful when it comes to Amazon. After I've asked for a weather report from my Echo, it will often suggest book suggestions or shopping ideas, and the best response I've received thus far has been a throaty groan. That's not what Amazon was looking for.
There are still plenty of people who still love it. The tech needs more time to mature, according to Greg Gottesman, managing director and co-founder of investment outfit Pioneer Square Labs. We are still early. Five years from now, 10 years from now, people will be using the service for more than just three things.
I suppose innovation is possible. I'll keep using my voice assistant for everything I think it's good for, including asking "What's the weather?" I'll probably pull the plug on those private conversations.
