Americans Would Pay $120 a Year for a Reliable and Smart Voice Assistant

New research from PYMNTS found that Americans would pay $120 a year for a reliable and smart voice assistant.

The same research, based on a survey of more than 3,000 consumers, found that one of the primary reasons consumers prefer voice technology over other methods is its ability to complete tasks faster, easier, and more efficiently. Fifty-eight percent of consumers said using voice technology is easier and more convenient, while 54 percent said they appreciate its speed compared to typing or using a touchscreen. Additionally, 20 percent of consumers said voice technology is more secure, further enhancing its appeal.

Additionally, consumers are increasingly drawn to the humanness of voice technology, with some believing that voice assistants will eventually possess the same level of intelligence and reliability as humans. According to PYMNTS' data, more than 60 percent of U.S. consumers trust that voice assistants will reach this level of sophistication, with 46 percent believing it will happen within the next five years.

Drilling down, the data showed millennials exhibit the highest level of optimism regarding the future capabilities of voice technology; 57 percent of millennials said they think voice technology will match human intelligence and reliability within five years, and 11 percent said it already has.

On the other hand, baby boomers and seniors are more skeptical, with 18 percent doubting that voice assistants will ever reach that level of sophistication.

Optimism for voice assistants is not limited to mere belief, as 30 percent of Americans expressed a willingness to pay a monthly fee for a reliable and intelligent voice assistant.

Among millennials, this figure rose to 43 percent, while only 5.8 percent of baby boomers and seniors shared the same sentiment. Higher-income consumers also displayed a greater inclination to invest in voice assistants, with 31 percent of them willing to pay more than $10 per month.