Patent published on July 27, 2023

Apple Introduces Improved Virtual Assistant with Automatic Deactivation Feature

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and felt like it was dragging on and on? Apple has recently unveiled a new patent that might help you in such situations. The patent, US20230236676A1, provides systems and processes for an intelligent automated assistant capable of detecting when the user is not interested in the conversation, and automatically end it before a pre-set time.

The patent is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/836,907 entitled “ATTENTION AWARE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT DISMISSAL”, filed on Jun. 9, 2022. It is aimed at providing efficient dismissal of intelligent automated assistant sessions. With its help, Apple could potentially revolutionize how we interact with our digital assistants such as Siri.

An intelligent automated assistant is a digital assistant that helps us interact with our electronic devices. It can be used for a variety of tasks such as setting reminders, playing music, and much more. However, these conversations can sometimes become tedious, and it can be difficult to disengage from them. This is where Apple’s new patent could come in handy.

The patent provides systems and processes that allow the assistant to detect when the user is not interested in continuing the conversation. It can then automatically end the session before a pre-set time. This way, the user can avoid having to continue an unwanted conversation. It also has the potential to save time and energy for the user.

The patent also mentions that the assistant can detect changes in the user’s attention and end the session early if the user is not interested in continuing. This could be done by monitoring the user’s facial expressions and body language. It could also detect if the user has stopped responding to the assistant’s prompts.

The patent also states that the assistant can end the session at the pre-set time even if the user is interested in continuing. This is to ensure that the user does not spend too long on the conversation and is able to move on to their next task.

The patent could potentially have a wide range of applications. It could be used to improve the user experience when interacting with digital assistants such as Siri. It could also be used to help people finish conversations more quickly and efficiently.

Although the patent has been unveiled by Apple, there is no guarantee that it will come to the market anytime soon. The technology mentioned in the patent might not be feasible or might not be deemed useful by Apple. Nevertheless, it is an interesting concept and could be a game-changer if it is implemented.

In conclusion, Apple has recently unveiled a patent, US20230236676A1, that provides systems and processes for an intelligent automated assistant which can detect changes in the user’s attention and end the session early if the user is not interested. Although there is no surety whether this patent will come to the market or not, it could potentially have a wide range of applications and revolutionize how we interact with our digital assistants.

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