Consumers Use Voice to Schedule Doctor Appointments, Restaurant Reservations

PYMNTS Intelligence found recently that 13 percent of U.S. consumers have used voice assistants to schedule doctors' appointments and 11 percent have used it to make restaurant reservations.

The news came as the healthcare sector is projected to nearly double its spending on artificial intelligence next year to 10.5 percent, up from 5.5 percent in 2022. According to Morgan Stanley, while 94 percent of healthcare companies are using AI in some capacity, "it has yet to reach its full potential as a driver of new business opportunities and efficiencies."

However, concerns about personal and financial security remain a top priority for consumers and patients alike, partly because voice technology is largely device-based and lacks seamless integration across multiple devices and applications. To assuage these concerns, advancements in voice operating systems aimed at achieving a fully integrated voice economy will be crucial, the PYMNTS Intelligence study stated.

This restaurant reservation findings, meanwhile, are particularly relevant as foodservice outlets struggle with ongoing labor and margin challenges. Many eateries are looking to automate wherever possible, and by going after these voice-engaged consumers, restaurants can remove work from the reservation-taking process on their end, PYMNTS said.