ABI Expects Regular Voice Users to Reach 1 Billion by 2021
The number of consumers who engage with voice functionality on a monthly basis will grow to more than 1 billion by 2021, representing an 80 percent compounded annual growth rate, according to a report by ABI Research.
"Smartphones are usually the first devices people think of in relation to voice input and recognition," said Eric Abbruzzese, senior analyst at ABI Research, in a statement. "But growth in smart glasses and smart home devices will fuel this trend going forward."
Within enterprises, ABI Research predicts that natural language processing will prove particularly beneficial to industries that demand hands-free functionality, such as in healthcare, oil and gas, factory floors, and construction. Enterprise voice adoption often requires customized dictionaries, applications, and tools.
Among consumer uses of the technology, voice control and conversational interaction is a natural fit for both smart glasses and AR devices, the report concludes. Smart home devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home and artificial intelligence-powered personal assistants will drive consumer use cases, it says.
The report identifies Apple, Google, and Microsoft as the main players in this space, with each company pushing its voice platforms heavily. It notes, however, that Amazon, through its involvement in automotive and the rapid sales of its voice-supported Echo and Fire devices, could see tremendous growth.
"Conversational interaction is receiving investment as the next frontier for consumer control, beyond search and social," concludes Sam Rosen, managing director and vice president at ABI Research, in a statement. "Development of artificial intelligence and transactional commerce will enable conversations such as ordering a pizza or using a virtual travel agent. We expect this to drive the next wave of digital monetization of the service world."