But for many households, smart speaker adoption hasn't been planned. It's also followed a different trajectory than other gadgets like a new tablet or smartwatch, which you may hear about, read a few reviews on, and then decide to purchase yourself. In a survey conducted by Scripps Networks Interactive, many people said they ended up using smart home technology--in particular smart speakers--because they received them as gifts. While Scripps Networks' survey didn't detail the exact percentage of those who were gifted a smart speaker, the item was a hot topic in gift guides and buying guides this holiday season. One publication even called it "the best last minute gift you should buy."