Consumers don't fully trust digital assistants

Given recent scares about digital assistants recording conversations, it's perhaps not surprising that levels of trust in these devices are not high.

The latest State of Digital Lifestyles survey from Limelight Networks reveals that adoption of digital assistants is highest in the US where 35 percent of consumers currently own one, however, these consumers still have major trust issues with the devices.

Security and possible hacking into digital assistants is a concern 43 for percent, and 46 percent express concerns about data privacy. When it comes to performing specific tasks, less than a third (31 percent) would fully trust a digital assistant for home automation and only 35 percent would fully trust them for online shopping. More than half (53 percent) of US consumers would only completely trust digital assistants to provide general information.

Globally just 19 percent of consumers own a digital assistant today and 43 percent have no plans to purchase one of these devices.

Among the report's other findings are that 82 percent of US consumers feel that digital technology has positively impacted their lives. However, 87 express frustrations with accessing digital content (music, TV, movies, etc.) -- with the top reason given as content stopping playing or rebuffering (43 percent).

The report's authors conclude, "The security of data being collected by internet-connected devices is a major concern for consumers To increase the adoption of these devices, manufacturers and content distributors need to assure consumers the information gathered as well as sensitive transactional information including passwords and credit card data will be securely stored. A Web Application Firewall (WAF) should be implemented to protect web infrastructure from being hacked and customer information being exposed."

You can find out more in the full report which is available from the Limelight blog.

Image Credit: Lane V Erickson / Shutterstock