Contents


Preface

Intelligent machines and computers have been developed to reduce time consumption and human efforts, improve safety, and increase the quality of products. Having virtual assistants (VAs) can play a critical role in using intelligent machines practically to complete projects efficiently. With the fast-growing technologies in the field, we have finally reached a stage where almost all the people living in developed and developing countries have access to these high technologies. However, this is just the starting point, and a long journey is ahead because future developments are taking a more advanced route in the shape of artificial intelligence (AI). Intelligent

VAs use AI, and any improvement in AI potentially can develop VA-related

The main reason for using VAs is to replace humans with machines for completing repeatable tasks. This approach can give freedom to people to improve their innovations and find optimum solutions for personal and professional challenges. Previously, machines were doing what they were programmed to do, but now with AI, devices can think and behave like humans. This opportunity can help people to

High-tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Accenture, and IBM are very involved in research to develop the knowledge that has produced the new generation of VAs. Although VAs will form our future, we need to know how they affect our work and lifestyle. Thus, this book gives readers a glimpse of the role

This book contains seven chapters that discuss AI and VAs. Examples and scientific detail support the presented information. The chapters have been drafted to provide

enough technical information for both general and professional readers.

Chapter 1 introduces VAs and includes a review of the scientific background of VA development from 1910 to the present. This chapter contains a detail of interaction methods in VA technology and related services. It also discusses the ethical implications of VA technology and compares notable VAs available in the market and discusses their economic relevance for individuals and enterprises. The chapter addresses security concerns and clarifies the definition of virtual

Chapter 2 is about generating the voice of the interactive virtual assistant (IVA). It presents an overview of the current approaches for generating spoken content using text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) systems and thus the voice of an IVA. The overview builds upon the issues that make spoken content generation a non-trivial task and introduces the two main components of a TTS system: text processing and acoustic modeling. It then focuses on providing the reader with the minimally required scientific details of the terminology and methods involved in speech synthesis, yet with sufficient knowledge to make the initial decisions regarding the choice of

technologies.

trust machines as VAs.

human assistants.

of VAs in shaping the future world.

technology for the vocal identity of the IVA.
