Shouting at Siri:
How Often Do We Argue with Virtual Assistants?

Oh, virtual assistants… Where would we be without the helping hand of tools like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, Bixby and Hound?

Well, probably with a lower heart rate and fewer stress rashes on our necks, because a whopping 64% of Americans find themselves frustratingly yelling at their virtual assistant from time to time. That’s according to an independent survey by Gameland.gg among 2,000 US residents across the country. Hey Google, can you share some more of the findings?

Shouting at Siri: How Often do we argue with virtual assistants gameland.gg infographic

The study shows:

• Women tend to snap at their virtual assistants more often than men do, with percentages of 62% and 53%, respectively.
• Among all virtual assistants, users of Amazon’s Alexa clash the most with their device.
• A whopping 77% of Wisconsin residents occasionally yell at their virtual assistant, making it the highest percentage in the country, while Oregon, on the other hand, is the calmest with only 17%.
• Nearly 1 in 3 Americans (32%) admit to arguing with their virtual assistant on a weekly basis.

From checking the latest weather report to reminding you to rescue that bubbling lasagna from the oven on time – virtual assistants do it all. No wonder they’re inseparable from our daily lives now. In fact, one in three respondents reported using a virtual assistant every day. According to the research, Apple’s Siri is by far the most popular virtual assistant. Amazon’s Alexa takes second place, followed by Google Assistant. But do we see these clever helpers as a blessing or a curse?

Siri-ously?! 2 in 3 Americans shout at their virtual assistant

Ever find yourself launching into a full-blown rant when your virtual assistant fails to grasp your simple request? Well, rest assured, you’re not alone. A whopping 64% of Americans admit to yelling at their virtual assistant at times. And it seems women are more vocal about their frustrations, with 62% of them confessing to this. Among men, it’s a slightly lower 53%.

Alexa gets yelled at the most

We also dug into which virtual assistants are most likely to trigger a verbal outburst. Turns out, Alexa is the reigning queen of frustration, with 70% of her users admitting to yelling at their device. Samsung’s Bixby isn’t far behind, with 60% of its users giving it an earful. That puts Bixby just a notch above Siri, where 57% of users have raised their voice at their device. Among the most widely used virtual assistant tools, Google Assistant stands out with the lowest percentage of users yelling at it, at 53%.

Wisconsin leads in virtual assistant frustration

Out of all the states, Wisconsin tops the list with 77% of residents admitting they occasionally shout at their virtual assistant. That’s over three-quarters of users clashing with their robot helpers at some point. Texas isn’t far behind with 71%, securing the second place, followed by Ohio, where 68% of users have also lost their cool. Meanwhile, Oregon seems to be the most patient state, with only 17% admitting to lashing out at Siri and company.

“I’m not sure I understand”

When asked what the main cause of conflicts with virtual assistants is, the answer is crystal clear: for a significant 77%, assistants not understanding commands top the list of frustrations. Unexpected answers also stir up annoyance (10%), while 8% get particularly irked when virtual assistants provide incorrect responses.

Whether your relationship with your virtual assistant is smooth sailing or not, conflicts are there to be solved. But what do you do when Alexa and the gang fail to grasp your question or command? Persistence pays off, according to 39% of respondents. They keep repeating their request until the assistant gets it right. Nearly the same number, 38%, try rephrasing their query in hopes of clarity. Meanwhile, 13% give up, 5% seek refuge with a different assistant, and a respectable 4% opt to bypass the virtual assistant altogether and handle the task themselves. But that doesn’t make the assistant any more beloved. In fact, 51% of respondents say that miscommunication with their virtual assistant leads them to use it less frequently.

Methodology

In June 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 2,000 US residents, asking about their use of virtual assistants. The average age of respondents was 37 years old. The representative sample was 53% female, 46% male and 1% non-binary.

Reposted with permission. 
Please visit gameland.gg for infographic.