A virtual assistant is a software agent that can perform tasks or services for an individual. These tasks or services are based on user input, location awareness, and access to information from a variety of online sources (such as weather conditions, traffic congestion, news, stock prices, user schedules, and retail prices).
The first virtual assistant was developed in the 1960s. It was a computer program called ELIZA that could simulate a conversation with a human. ELIZA was not very sophisticated, but it was the first program that could pass the Turing test, a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. In the 1970s, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a speech recognition system called Harpy. Harpy was able to recognize over 1,000 words, and it was the first system that could be used to control a computer with voice commands.
Today, virtual assistants are a common feature of smartphones, smart speakers, and other devices. They are used to perform a variety of tasks, such as setting alarms, playing music, and getting directions. Virtual assistants are also being used in a variety of other applications, such as customer service and healthcare. The field of virtual assistants is constantly evolving, with new technologies and platforms emerging all the time.