Entertainment, Music — Not Smart Home — Top List of Voice Control Uses, Says Argus Insights

Entertainment and music are the top uses for Amazon Echo and Google Home, said an Argus Insights blog post Monday based on consumer reviews of the devices Nov. 1-March 31. Entertainment was mentioned by well over 30 percent of voice assistant users, followed by music, with nearly 35 percent of Alexa users using Echo devices for music and just over 25 percent of Google Home users summoning music on the device. Weather reports came in third for both devices at just over 10 percent of Echo users and just over 5 percent of Google Home owners. Smart home device control -- led by light and fan control -- was fourth. Smart home adoption is “not yet the killer app” for voice control, said Argus. As consumers start to ask more of the assistants, it’s logical that smart home experiences need to tie into the ecosystems, it said, “within reason.” Users wouldn’t want a thief to be able to open a door lock or turn off the security system by voice, it said.