The relationship between the MarTech industry and artificial intelligence (AI) is basically a sci-fi romance right now, with the entire industry delighted by robots in much the same way Joaquin Phoenix fell for his operating system in the movie Her. Amidst predictions that AI could generate $3.5-$5.8 The average consumer's perception of AI seems to range somewhere from thinking its "creepy" to fears that children's playthings are spies. Yet, paradoxically, consumers actually seem to enjoy the ways that AI improves their communication with brands. Most are pretty comfortable talking to Alexa and even prefer a chatbot on Facebook Messenger if it means faster, more effective service.

The relationship between the MarTech industry and artificial intelligence (AI) is basically a sci-fi romance right now, with the entire industry delighted by robots in much the same way Joaquin Phoenix fell for his operating system in the movie Her. Amidst predictions that AI could generate $3.5-$5.8 The average consumer's perception of AI seems to range somewhere from thinking its "creepy" to fears that children's playthings are spies. Yet, paradoxically, consumers actually seem to enjoy the ways that AI improves their communication with brands. Most are pretty comfortable talking to Alexa and even prefer a chatbot on Facebook Messenger if it means faster, more effective service.

It's no surprise by now that voice assistants like Google Home and Amazon Echo were some of the biggest sellers of the latest holiday season. In addition, people are using Siri on their Apple iPhones to ask questions and receive answers. And some people now prefer to ask Google questions directly with their voice while working on a laptop or desktop rather than type in a question. So how can you get out in front of this voice search trend? Your first step should be to think in terms of the long tail keywords that people are actually using in their voice queries.

As Sonos stock changed hands on NASDAQ Thursday, during its first day as a public company, I spoke with the company's vice president of product management, Chris Kallai, about where the company is headed. Kallai oversees the entire product development process at the speaker manufacturer, working in conjunction with its software engineers and lead designers, as well as Sonos Sound Experience Leader and record producer Giles Martin (son of the late George Martin, the famed Beatles producer). We eased into the interview with a question about Sonos' latest product, the Sonos Beam. "It really hit our goals that we were trying to develop," Kallai said. He was especially pleased about the level of user enthusiasm for the new product.

The fintech industry has been revolutionizing the sector in the past few years, with disruptive technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, social data intelligence and blockchain, which are proving to be enablers in solving critical business problems. According to fintech experts, robos are already doing 75 percent of the distributor's job. For instance, these automated advisers ask you your age and a few questions about risk, goals and your time horizon. Then the platform runs your choices through their algorithms. Next, you are assigned a risk level ranging from conservative to aggressive.

The U.S. installed base of smart speakers has hit 50 million, according to a new report released today by research group CIRP. Amazon invented this market in 2015 and still has a majority market share: 70%, according to the study. Google, however, which has seen sales leadership in some quarters, has 24% market share. And Apple, which launched HomePod earlier this year, now has 6% of the market, according to CIRP. One caveat: the CIRP study is small, only 500 households.

Google Assistant could finally arrive on Sonos speakers in time for this year's holiday shopping season, the company's CEO said. "We're working as hard as we can and so is Google to get it ready for that time," Patrick Spence told The Verge. Additionally, he noted Sonos is considering a partnership with the likes of Tencent or Baidu to bring a Chinese-language voice assistant to the speakers. Spence also discussed the potential effect of US trade tariffs, as its speakers are built in China. He noted that if tariffs come into play, consumers will likely have to pay a little more to offset those costs.

Jefferson Graham offers tips on how to listen to the Talking Tech podcast via apps, speakers, TVs and the car. On this page, you'll find quick links to all of our shows. In August, so far, we've covered everything from how to stop Spotify from snooping on you, a preview of a pricey new $800 Samsung tablet to thoughts on how Apple got toa Wall Street valuation of one billion dollars. We've got some special guests coming in August and other surprises as well. Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and "Favorite" us on Stitcher to help Talking Tech reach a wider audience.

Anyone who uses a smartphone can attest to the incredible power of real-time, in-the-moment discovery that leads to decisions and outcomes. But, now in an age of voice-assisted devices, we are further empowered to command information or purchase on-demand. "OK Google, Alexa, Hey Siri, what are the best bluetooth headphones for me?" Or, "Please reorder groceries from last week for delivery tomorrow afternoon." Like mobile shopping, voice-assisted behavior is also becoming second-nature. Brands must now reimagine the customer journey and design for always-on, continuous and assistive engagement...dedicated for voice and mobile screens.

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. While we've seen this model new for $100 as recently as last week, this is a new low, admittedly in refurbished condition, on the Echo Spot in black or white. We think we're going to see regular drops on this item, and for some it may be advisable to wait on the next sale for the new one or deeper refurb discounts, but if you need one now this is a solid option. The Amazon Echo Spot is our clock radio pick in our guide to Amazon's line of Alexa-enabled speakers.