Voice assistants are “having a moment” during the pandemic. As Millennials continue to work from home during COVID, smart speakers and displays have seen an “increased usage and experimentation.” According to Park Associates, 41% of broadband households in the U.S. own a smart speaker or display, and YPulse research found that a third of 13-36-year-olds owned a smart speaker in 2019. With more time at home, their use of the devices is shifting: NPR/Edison Research found that 52% of 18-34-year-old smart speaker owners are listening to more music and entertainment post-COVID, while news consumption and recipe use are also growing. The majority (71%) of smart speaker owners with kids have also considered buying another speaker for other rooms to entertain their children. Many brands are tapping into voice marketing amid the spike. (Protocol)
