Voice Assistants for Everyday Life

Help Without Touching a Button

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you learned to have conversations with ChatGPT by typing questions. Now you’ll use AI that you talk to out loud — voice assistants that respond to your voice for everyday tasks, completely hands-free.

Voice assistants are especially helpful if you have difficulty with small screens, tiny keyboards, or complicated apps. You just speak naturally, and the AI responds.

The Three Main Voice Assistants

All three do the same basic things. The one you use depends on what devices you already have. Don’t worry about picking the “best” one — they’re all good.

Essential Commands Everyone Should Know

Reminders and Timers

"Alexa, remind me to call the doctor at 2 PM"
"Hey Siri, set a timer for 15 minutes"
"Hey Google, set a daily reminder at 9 AM to take my vitamins"

Reminders announce what they’re for. Timers just beep. Use reminders for tasks and timers for cooking.

Weather and News

"Alexa, what's the weather today?"
"Hey Siri, will it rain tomorrow?"
"Hey Google, what's the news?"

Great for planning your day without having to look at a screen.

Phone Calls and Messages

"Hey Siri, call my daughter"
"Alexa, send a message to John"
"Hey Google, call Dr. Martinez's office"

Hands-free calling is helpful when your hands are busy, your glasses aren’t nearby, or you simply prefer talking to typing.

✅ Quick Check: Why are voice assistants especially useful for people with vision or mobility challenges? Because they require no reading, no typing, and no touching small buttons. You speak naturally and hear the response. For someone who struggles with small phone text, reading glasses, or arthritis in their hands, voice assistants provide full access to information and communication using the most natural interface possible: your voice.

Music and Entertainment

"Alexa, play jazz music"
"Hey Siri, play my favorite playlist"
"Hey Google, read me a book" (requires Audible or Google Play Books)
"Alexa, tell me a joke"

Quick Answers

"Hey Google, how tall is the Eiffel Tower?"
"Alexa, what year did the Beatles break up?"
"Hey Siri, what's 15% of $45?"
"Hey Google, how do you spell 'Mediterranean'?"

Setting Up Your Voice Assistant

Step 1: Place It Somewhere Useful

The best spots: kitchen counter, bedside table, or living room. Put it where you spend the most time.

Step 2: Connect to Your Wi-Fi

Follow the setup instructions that come with the device. If you need help, ask a family member or call the manufacturer’s support line — they walk you through it.

Step 3: Start with Three Commands

Don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick three commands you’ll use daily:

Suggestion for beginners:

1. Weather check: “What’s the weather today?”
2. Timer: “Set a timer for [X] minutes”
3. Music: “Play [type of music]”

Use those three for a week until they feel natural. Then add more.

Step 4: Add Personal Touches

Once you’re comfortable:

• Add your contacts for voice calling
• Set up daily reminders (medication, appointments)
• Connect your streaming music account
• Try asking questions throughout the day

Smart Home Basics (Optional)

Voice assistants can also control smart home devices:

Start simple. Smart lights are the easiest first step — a smart bulb costs $10-15 and can be controlled entirely by voice. No rewiring needed.

✅ Quick Check: Why start with smart lights instead of a full smart home system? Because smart bulbs are inexpensive, easy to install (you just screw them in like a regular bulb), and immediately useful. Turning off lights from bed or adjusting brightness by voice is a simple win that builds your confidence before adding more devices. One success leads to the next.

Key Takeaways

• Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant) let you get help completely hands-free — no screens, no typing
• Start with just three daily commands: weather, timer, and music — add more as you get comfortable
• Reminders announce what they’re for; timers just beep — use reminders for tasks, timers for cooking
• Set up contacts with clear labels so voice calling works correctly on the first try
• Smart home features (lights, thermostat) are optional but easy to start with a single smart bulb

Up Next: You’ll use AI for writing — letters, emails, and messages that sound like you, just written faster and more easily.