🎙️ “Hey Siri, What Can You Do?”
Voice Assistants Explained (And Why You Might Actually Love Them)
Oliver Jones
May 09, 2025
Let me ask you something: Have you ever seen someone talk to their phone like it's a real person... and it actually responds?
No, they’re not losing the plot — they’re using a voice assistant. And here’s the truth: while it might feel a bit silly at first, these little digital helpers can make your life a whole lot easier.
Today’s newsletter is all about voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant — how they work, what they’re good for, and why you don’t need to be “techy” to use them.
So grab a cuppa ☕ (or whatever you fancy), and let’s dive in.
🧠 What Even Is a Voice Assistant?
A voice assistant is basically your smartphone or speaker's way of saying, “I got you.” You speak — it listens and responds. No typing, no swiping, no squinting at a tiny screen.
The big players are:
Siri (Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs)
Google Assistant (on Android phones and Google Home/Nest speakers)
Alexa (Amazon Echo speakers and smart displays)
You activate them with a wake word like “Hey Siri,” “Okay Google,” or simply “Alexa.” From there, it’s just like chatting with a helpful robot — minus the creepy sci-fi vibes.
🛠️ Getting Started (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Here’s how to wake up your assistant:
On an iPhone:
Open Settings
Tap Siri & Search
Enable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” and “Allow Siri When Locked”
You can also press and hold the side or home button
On Android:
Open the Google app
Tap your profile > Settings > Google Assistant
Enable “Hey Google” detection
Long-pressing the home button also works on older phones
For Alexa:
Just say “Alexa” to an Echo speaker or Fire tablet
Not sure if she’s listening? Ask: “Alexa, are you on?”
Pro tip: Try it now. Say “What time is it?” Your phone’s probably already ready to help — and that’s kind of magical.
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💬 15 Everyday Things You Can Ask
Once you get over the “talking to my toaster” feeling, you’ll realize just how useful these things are.
Try saying:
“Set a timer for 15 minutes.”
“What’s the weather this weekend?”
“Play Elvis Presley.”
“Remind me to water the plants every Wednesday.”
“Call Margaret.”
“Text Sarah: ‘I’m running late but I’ve got biscuits.’”
“What’s 18% of £72?”
“How do I spell ‘restaurant’?”
“Tell me a joke.”
“What’s on my calendar today?”
“What’s the capital of Canada?”
“Read me the news.”
“Turn off the living room lights.” (if you’ve got smart bulbs)
“How do I get to the post office?”
“Add eggs to my shopping list.”
You don’t need to speak robotically. These assistants are surprisingly good at understanding natural language — you can say things how you normally would.
🧓 “But I’m Not Great with Technology…”
Neither is my Uncle Bill, and now he uses Siri more than his remote.
Voice assistants are perfect because they don’t require screens. If typing feels clumsy or looking for that one app is a hassle, you can just… speak.
Here’s a real quote from one of our readers:
“I set my reminders by voice now. Pills, appointments, birthdays — it’s like having a personal secretary in my pocket.”
⚙️ Customize It to Work for You
Not everything has to be loud or flashy. You can tweak settings like:
Voice speed — slow things down if the responses are too fast
Voice gender — choose a male or female voice (or even a British accent!)
Daily briefings — get weather, calendar, and news each morning
Voice match — your assistant can recognize your voice for personalized results
And yes, you can mute the microphone or disable the assistant entirely if you’d rather keep things quiet.
🛡️ “Is It Always Listening to Me?”
A common concern, and a fair one!
The answer: Sort of — but not like you think.
Your assistant is in “sleep mode” until it hears the wake word (“Hey Siri”, “Okay Google”, or “Alexa”). Only then does it start recording what you say, and usually just for a few seconds so it can understand and respond.
You can always:
Review what was recorded
Delete your voice history
Turn off the assistant completely if it gives you the creeps
Just check your device’s privacy settings for the voice assistant section.
🧠 Tech Term of the Day
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
This is what makes voice assistants smart. It’s how they understand different accents, phrases, and even slang — like when you say “call my better half” and it rings your spouse.
🎉 Fun Feature Friday
Did you know Siri can flip a coin or roll a die?
Try saying:
“Hey Siri, flip a coin.”
or
“Alexa, roll a 20-sided die.”
Perfect for indecisive moments or playing board games.
📬 In the next issue...
“Online Shopping 101: How to Spot Scams, Track Parcels, and Buy Like a Pro”
We'll teach you how to shop confidently — and avoid shady sellers and sneaky charges.
✨ Final Thought
The first time you use a voice assistant might feel awkward. But the second time — when it reminds you of an appointment you totally forgot about — you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
So go ahead. Ask your phone something silly.
Ask it something useful.
Just ask — and see where it takes you.
Until next time,
Oliver - Your tech guide.
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