AI-infused products so far. An analysis from a design standpoint

Since ubiquitous computing was first defined in 1991, computers have been pervading our everyday life. Nowadays, many AI-infused smart assistants are present in the domestic domain, and even robotslike devices, able to simulate human behavior, entered the market. The contribution aims at analyzing and debating these devices in the design domain, focusing on their characters in terms of appearance, behavior, and interaction abilities. The formal aspect couldn’t be detached from function and the relationship with the context; these devices are designed for home use; therefore, shape, materials and finishing need to be considered. Some devices are mere facilitators for routine activities to be executed with vocal inputs or mediated through apps without exploring all the capabilities they could perform learning through continuous conversations with their owners. From the analysis of products available on the market, the chapter emphasizes an incomplete exploration of the topic from a design point of view: a poor translation of functions into tangible shapes and a lack of interaction design basics, such as input and output modalities, feedback systems, and processes discoverability. The discussion frames the results in a broader review highlighting alternative paths for the design of future home virtual assistants.