ChatGPT as a Voice Assistant: A Glimpse into the Future of AI Adoption
We’ve been talking about AI integration for years—how it will fit into daily workflows, how it will change how we work, and how organizations can prepare. But sometimes, change happens not in big announcements, but in small shifts—like this one.
ChatGPT can now be set as your default voice assistant on Android. It’s a small change on the surface, but it points to something much bigger: AI interfaces are evolving, and how we interact with them will shape their adoption.
For the past decade, voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa have set the standard for what we expect—quick searches, setting timers, controlling smart devices. Useful, but transactional. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is built for conversation. It understands context, follows up on previous queries, and can engage in more nuanced discussions. That’s a fundamental shift in how AI assistants work.
What This Means for AI Adoption
When I work with organizations on AI change management, one of the biggest challenges isn’t the technology itself—it’s how people interact with it.
Adoption happens when AI fits naturally into workflows. If an AI tool requires people to completely change their habits, adoption slows down. A voice assistant that can hold deeper conversations rather than just execute single commands? That’s a usability shift that could drive faster AI adoption.
Familiar interfaces lower resistance. People are already comfortable using voice assistants on their phones, so swapping in ChatGPT feels like a natural next step. The less friction, the easier the change.
AI is becoming a true assistant, not just a tool. This is where things get interesting. A voice assistant that remembers context, refines responses, and learns from past interactions starts to resemble something closer to a real assistant—not just a voice-controlled search bar.
The Missing Piece: AI in Organizations Needs More Than Just Features
While this update is exciting, it highlights a bigger reality for AI in the workplace—adoption isn’t just about what AI can do, but how people experience it.
This is where organizational change management (OCM) comes in. Companies rolling out AI tools—whether it’s Copilot for M365, Azure OpenAI, or custom AI assistants—need to think beyond features and focus on:
How does this AI fit into daily work? Does it complement existing workflows or require a major adjustment?
What support systems need to be in place? Training, guidance, and AI literacy programs help users feel confident in using AI, not just aware of its existence.
Where does AI provide real value? If AI doesn’t make work easier, people won’t use it—simple as that.
From Novelty to Necessity
Right now, ChatGPT as a voice assistant is a cool experiment. But it won’t take long before these small shifts lead to bigger ones—where AI moves from being a separate tool to an integrated part of how we work, communicate, and make decisions.
And when that happens, organizations that have been intentional about AI adoption—focusing on change strategy, usability, and human-centered design—will be the ones who see the biggest benefits.
The question isn’t whether AI will become more embedded in our workflows. The question is: How are we preparing for it?
I’ll be testing out ChatGPT as my voice assistant over the next few days—curious to see how well it works in real life. What do you think? Are voice assistants finally evolving into something useful, or is this just another tech experiment?
setting ChatGPT as default digital assistant
