• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, April 5, 2017

There are two sides to smart home voice assistants.

While consumers flock to the devices, including Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and the new Bixby, the expected benefits ride along with a bevy of concerns.

The top benefit of smart home voice assistants is the hands-free capability provided while the top concern is a lack of trust in security, based on a new study.

The study by BI Intelligence comprised a survey of 900 millennials and business leaders in a U.S. panel who make strategic decision within their organizations.

A certain number (18%) of people don’t see a reason to have a home voice assistant, but a large majority (83%) do. Here’s what are viewed as the main benefits of a smart home assistant:

• 33% -- Hands-free home control
• 20% -- It’s futuristic and fun
• 15% -- Versatile connected speaker
• 10% -- Perform multiple tasks at once
• 5% -- Other

However, there are a number of potential pitfalls for voice assistants.

For example, many consumers worry about their security. Part of that concern is likely driven by outward security measures, such as a lack of requirement to put in a password or verify identity. Basically, Alexa will communicate with anyone.

In addition, some (19%) consumers see a drawback as an anticipated negative experience due to technology issues.

A small number (11%) of consumers don’t see any drawbacks, but here’s the breakdown of the main perceived drawbacks of a smart home voice assistant:

• 41% -- Don’t trust it to be secure
• 19% - Too buggy
• 12% -- Too expensive
• 9% -- Don’t see a use
• 9% -- Other

Voice assistance continues to improve over time, as does the ‘intelligence’ behind them.

One of the promises of the Internet of Things is the expansion of hands-free interactions. Some of these will be triggered by location sensors and others by gestures or biometric methods.

However, one of the main causes of interactions will be by voice. The smart home voice assistants are the beginning of that.

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Smart home voice assistants will be discussed at the second annual MediaPost IoT Marketing Forum May 18 in New York. Here’s the agenda.