Watch Out, The Virtual Assistants Are Coming!

I haven’t measured the response precisely, but I’d estimate that, having introduced myself as a Virtual Assistant, about 1 in 5 ask me if that means I’m some kind of robot.

Whilst I may wish in that moment I was Virtually There, I do reassure them I am as much a robot as the one shown earlier in the year on Russian state television.

Is Skynet really coming?

Whilst we may be safe from the robots for now, it seems that ‘Virtual Assistants’ are moving in on things. Internet giants such as Google and Facebook have launched experiments, using Artificial Intelligence to provide true virtual assistance.

From the few examples out there, it’s genuinely impressive. You can watch Google’s Duplex at work yourself , which can book a restaurant or haircut for you.

However, as the AI tools are finding out, we humans are complicated beasts. Despite firms spending years on research, as well as millions of dollars, AI is still struggling with the nuances of how we tick. Besides, an automatic phone call is great, but would you trust a computer to choose the right restaurant to impress a first date, or best client?

So there are holes to be picked. A high profile example in October was when Amazon had to close down their “sexist” recruitment AI tool designed to pick the best candidates, but ended up only choosing men.

Amazon aren’t alone, with Facebook shutting down ‘M’ earlier this year; their text-based Virtual Assistant which used humans to train their AI system seemingly proved to be too much work to roll-out.

Are we the problem?

Undoubtedly, technology still has a way to go, but it’s the building of trust in allowing computers to handle our personal data and make decisions on our behalf which will always prove the biggest hurdle.

Here I find some compassion for my artificial rivals. I too face hurdles – how can I be trusted to work efficiently if I can’t be checked up on? Could I be working slower, just so I can charge more?

For small business owners, their business is their baby, and they have every right to keep tabs. That’s just as long as they don’t allow that oversight to turn into an obsession, which stops businesses from growing.

As a business owner myself, it’s all too easy to get stuck in the hamster wheel and forget there’s a wider world out there. We’re currently in uncertain times, with Brexit causing people to tighten their belts. Just take a look at the restaurant sector , where insolvency has jumped up by a quarter during 2018.

Whilst there are multiple reasons for this, it’s interesting to note how the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats are growing, leaving restaurants to lose margin whilst paying for wages and expensive rent in the best locations.

This is of course a threat for any business. If sales are lower than expected, it’s not easy to simply downsize your workforce and offices. Moreover, that could be a mistake if – in 3 months time – you find you need those staff or that space back.

Arise, Virtual Assistants

This is the scenario where Virtual Assistants provide value: they’re real people, providing real service, but without the overheads or headache of employment. Just as flexible hours and working from home are useful ways of maximising resources, so is the use of a Virtual Assistant.

Google’s Duplex software may be capable of doing a Google search for you, attempting to find a recommended restaurant, but does it know your friend needs a vegan menu? Would it think to ask for a bigger table, so you can spread out some paperwork? It wouldn’t, but in fairness, neither would a rubbish admin assistant on minimum wage.

The advantage of being a Virtual Assistant is personal assistant duties are what I do all day, every day – I’ve gotten pretty good at it! From getting quotes for insurance, to planning an awards night, I know the right shortcuts and the right people to get the job done better, and faster. There’s nothing virtual about that!

I run Miss MPS , a team of Virtual Assistants based in East Malling in Kent, helping growing businesses in Kent and beyond. Connect with me on LinkedIn by visiting my profile.