At the moment, hospitality, retail, and even QSR brands are examining the role that voice-activated assistants could play in complementing service and sales staffs at their respective hotels and stores.

But those categories are also likely to be influenced by the use of voice-activation in entertainment, automotive, and consumer electronics to improve and differentiate their product offerings, notes Dina Abdelrazik, Research Analyst, at Parks Associates.

“In the auto industry, voice assistants are not only a consumer-play in allowing for more human engagement and interaction with the driver but it’s also a safety play,” Abdelrazik says. “Voice commands help consumers keep their hands on the wheel instead of reaching for their smartphone or in-vehicle infotainment system.”

From the article "Apple Preps Amazon Echo Rival – Is This The Connected Intelligence Moment?" by David Kaplan.