Adding random, short expressions of understanding in a conversation may turn smart speakers, such as Alexa and Siri, into robot therapists that allow people to open up more without violating their privacy, according to a team of researchers.

In a study, the team programmed a smart speaker to respond with backchannels — short words and non-words, such as “hmmm,” “right” and “uh-huh” — intermittently during chats with users. These utterances served as the sonic equivalent of head nods and facial gestures leading users to think that the virtual assistant was actually listening to them — or active listening — and prompted more emotional disclosure, said the researchers.

Read more:

Swayne, M. (2022, December 16). People open up more to smart speakers that listen actively. PennState News. https://www.psu.edu/news/institute-computational-and-data-sciences/story/people-open-more-smart-speakers-listen-actively/