Talk to me: Exploring user interactions with the Amazon Alexa

TLDR

Amazon Alexa is a rapidly gaining voice‑controlled application, yet more work is needed to determine whether users view it as an information retrieval system, leisure tool, smart‑home controller, or toy. We examined user interactions with Alexa, focusing on task types requested, variables affecting behavior, and alternatives offered by other assistants. Usage data were collected from 19 participants through online questionnaires and diary methods over several days. Across all age groups, Alexa was mainly used for weather checks, music, and device control, with higher weekend use that declined over time; users reported satisfaction even when Alexa failed to provide information, and many also used Siri or Google Now for similar tasks except device control.

Abstract

Amazon Alexa is a voice-controlled application that is rapidly gaining popularity. We examined user interactions with this technology, and focused on the types of tasks requested of Alexa, the variables that affect user behaviors with Alexa, and Alexa’s alternatives. The data about Alexa usage were collected from 19 participants via the online questionnaire and diary methods over the course of several days. The results indicate that across all age groups, Alexa was primarily used for checking weather forecasts, playing music, and controlling other devices. Several participants reported using Apple Siri and Google Now applications in addition to Alexa for similar purposes except for controlling other devices. Alexa uses over the weekends were more frequent than on weekdays, but its overall usage tended to decrease over time. The users reported being satisfied with Alexa even when it did not produce sought information, suggesting that the interaction experience is more important to the users than the interaction output. More work is required to understand whether users treat Alexa and similar voice-controlled applications as primarily a traditional information retrieval system, a casual leisure system, a control interface for smart home devices, or, simply, a new toy.