Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
An intelligent personal assistant is software that interacts with a person to answer questions, hold a conversation, or help complete tasks. People may use one by speaking or typing; a phone, smart speaker, or computer can provide access, but the device is not the assistant itself.
What does “intelligent personal assistant” mean?
The term describes software, or a software-enabled service, designed to interact naturally with an end user. It can respond to questions, follow a conversation, and help accomplish tasks. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre uses “virtual assistant” as an umbrella term and treats “intelligent personal assistant” and “digital assistant” as alternative names in its 2022 report.
In ordinary usage, “intelligent personal assistant,” “virtual assistant,” and “digital assistant” overlap. They do not have one universally fixed boundary, so a source may use one label where another source uses a different one.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How do you interact with one?
Voice is a familiar way to make a request, but assistants are not necessarily voice-only. Depending on the software, a person may also type a question or use other forms of input. A European Commission publication describes voice and text as ways users can interact with virtual personal assistants; a broader definition in EU legislation also covers audio, visual and written input, gestures, and motions.
#1 Best Overall
- MEET ECHO SPOT - A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound. Ready to help you wake up, wind down, and so much more.
- CUSTOMIZABLE SMART CLOCK - See time, weather, and song titles at a glance, control smart home devices, and more. Personalize your display with your favorite clock face and fun colors.
- BIG VIBRANT SOUND - Enjoy rich sound with clear vocals and deep bass. Just ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiobooks. See song titles and touch to control your music.
- EASE INTO THE DAY - Set up an Alexa routine that gently wakes you with music and gradual light. Glance at the time, check reminders, or ask Alexa for weather updates.
- KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE - Control compatible smart home devices. Just ask Alexa to turn on lights or touch the screen to dim. Create routines that use motion detection to turn down the thermostat as you head out or open the blinds when you walk into a room.
These descriptions refer to different contexts: the Commission report explains the general category, while the legal text sets out a formulation for its legal context. Neither means that every assistant accepts every input type.
What can an intelligent personal assistant do?
Its tasks depend on the particular system and what services or devices it can access. It may answer a question, carry on an exchange, connect the user to another service, or control a connected physical device. The EU legal definition includes providing access to other services and controlling connected devices, but those capabilities should not be assumed for every assistant.
Rank #2
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
The European Parliament describes a virtual assistant or intelligent personal assistant as a software agent that can perform tasks or services. Its 2019 briefing also notes that “chatbot” is often used when virtual-assistant services are accessed through online chat. A chatbot is therefore often an interface to assistant services, rather than a precise synonym for every kind of assistant.
Is the assistant the same as a smart speaker or phone?
No. The assistant is the software service; a speaker, phone, tablet, or computer is a device through which a person may use it. The European Data Protection Supervisor distinguishes a smart speaker’s physical hardware, including its microphone, from the virtual assistant software that interprets a voice request and responds in its 2019 explanation of smart speakers and virtual assistants.
Rank #3
- Powered by a 47% faster processor, the next-gen dual-tweeter acoustic architecture produces detailed stereo separation while a 25% larger midwoofer deepens the bass.¹
- Place this speaker anywhere and everywhere you want to listen. The compact design fits beautifully on your bookshelf, kitchen counter, desk, or nightstand.
- Stream from all your favorite services over WiFi. Pair a Bluetooth device with the press of a button. Connect a turntable or other audio source using an auxiliary cable and the Sonos Line-In Adapter.²
- Go from unboxing to unbelievable sound in just a few minutes. Simply plug in the power cable, connect your phone or tablet to WiFi, and open the Sonos app.
- With a tap in the Sonos app, Trueplay tuning technology analyzes the unique acoustics of your space and optimizes the speaker’s EQ. So all your content sounds just the way it should.
Products may package the software and hardware together, which can make the distinction easy to miss. A smart speaker is one possible voice-access device, not a requirement for having or using an intelligent personal assistant.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are all intelligent personal assistants built or powered the same way?
No single architecture, AI technique, or method of processing requests defines the category. The term describes the kind of interaction and assistance offered; it does not establish whether a particular system processes requests locally or remotely, which services it connects to, or how it handles each request. Those details vary by product and are not settled by the general definition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Rank #4
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
