#Technology: Critical Insights from the New Siri

‘What can I help you with?’

‘Siri, when did you become such a jerk?’

‘About two seconds ago when I downloaded all of those compromising texts and photos to your spouse’s phone and posted them on Facebook.’

Want a phone with attitude? Apple’s got your back…the tech giant is in the process of developing Siri’s new personality. This serves up four critical observations for businesses serious about success in 2013 and beyond.

The results of a phone survey published by the Huffington Post show that 57% of users ‘felt a personal connection’ with their phones. 60% enjoyed having a ‘matter-of-fact’ intelligent personal assistant, while 30% would like their digital VA to be sassier.

Whether this is really a smart business move will be seen, but there are certainly concerns with Hyundai revealing it would incorporate Siri into its vehicles at CES 2013 and the road rage that could ensue if Siri gets a little too cheeky. This is especially true considering how reliant Siri has become on the awful Apple Maps versus Google.

Here are four lessons from the latest tech invasions:

1. We are growing ever more out of contact with other humans; live answers from your call center phone agents or front desk staff make even more of a difference.

2. Personalization is clearly more critical than ever, at least until it becomes dangerous, though most don’t really seem concerned about the invasion of their privacy, yet.

3. Even the largest and most successful tech firms recognize the need for great freelance writers.

4. Given how these assistants operate and Facebook’s new moves it is more important than ever to get in and stay locked into consumer’s personal circles or be blocked from marketing to them.

Perhaps this is all a smart business tactic to get more users to smash their phones and make them upgrade to the newest device every six months? However, with increased competition from Google Now, Google FieldTrip, and Samsung’s S Voice it is time to act to stand out.

© Remy Levine | Dreamstime.com