How many users use voice search?
Voice search technology has rapidly gained popularity in recent years. With the proliferation of smart speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, more and more users are adopting voice assistants for search queries instead of typing them. According to research, nearly 50% of adults and 55% of teens in the US are now using voice search on a regular basis. As voice interaction becomes more natural and personalized, voice search adoption is projected to continue growing. This poses major implications for how businesses connect with customers in an increasingly voice-driven world.
Voice Search Usage Over Time
Voice search has seen significant growth in adoption and usage since its introduction in 2011. According to Semrush, in 2020 50% of US consumers reported using voice search every day, up from 29% in 2016. Additionally, DemandSage reports that 58.6% of US consumers have used voice search as of 2022.
Globally, voice search usage has risen from 55 million users in 2015 to an estimated 125.2 million users in 2023, representing over 6x growth according to Yaguara. Factors driving this growth include proliferation of smart speakers and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as advancements in natural language processing and speech recognition technology.
Overall, voice search has seen rapid adoption since its inception about a decade ago. With technology improvements and consumer comfort levels rising, voice is becoming an increasingly popular search modality alongside text-based search.
Voice Search User Demographics
Voice search usage varies across different demographic groups. According to statistics from Demand Sage, 41% of American adults use voice search daily. However, usage is higher among younger generations. Over half of teens in the U.S. use voice search every day.
There is also a gender divide in voice search adoption. A Google Mobile Voice survey found that 52% of men perform voice searches compared to 48% of women. However, the gap is closing over time.
Geographically, voice search usage tends to correlate with smartphone penetration. Developed countries like the United States, Canada and Western Europe have some of the highest usage rates globally. However, developing countries are quickly catching up as smartphone access expands.
Most Popular Voice Assistants
According to data from Insider Intelligence, the most popular voice assistants based on user base in 2022 are Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, and Microsoft’s Cortana. Amazon Alexa currently holds the largest market share of any voice assistant platform, with over 60 million active users in the United States as of June 2022. Google Assistant has the second largest market share, with over 50 million monthly active users. Apple’s Siri comes in third place with around 40 million users, followed by Microsoft’s Cortana with around 9 million users.
Globally, it’s estimated that Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are still the top two voice assistants by market share. However, the competitive landscape varies across different regions and countries. For example, in China, Baidu’s DuerOS voice assistant leads with around 400 million users due to the popularity of Baidu’s products and services in the country.
Top Voice Search Categories
Voice search queries vary in topic and intent, but some of the most common categories include weather, directions, music, and general information. According to recent voice search statistics, the categories that see the highest volume of voice searches are:
- Weather – People frequently use voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google to check the weather and forecasts.
- Navigation/Directions – Drivers often rely on voice assistants to provide turn-by-turn directions and find points of interest along their route.
- Music – Commands to play music, identify songs, and create playlists are very common with smart speakers.
- General Information – Voice search is widely used to look up quick facts, definitions, calculations, translations, and more.
Other top categories beyond these include local business searches, sports scores, news updates, smart home device controls, and general search assistance. As voice search continues to grow, usage patterns across categories will likely evolve and expand over time.
Voice Search on Mobile vs Desktop
According to Source, voice searches on mobile are three times more likely to be for local information than text searches. On Windows 10 desktops, 25% of searches are voice-initiated. But mobile clearly dominates when it comes to voice search usage.
Source indicates that nearly all voice search performed, about two out of every ten searches in the world, is carried out by voice on mobile devices. Smartphone assistants like Siri and Google Assistant make it extremely convenient to use voice commands rather than typing searches.
Overall the data shows that the majority of voice searches happen on smartphones, while desktop/laptop voice search usage still lags behind. As mobile continues to command greater overall search market share, its lead in the voice search space will likely persist.
Future Voice Search Growth
Voice search usage is projected to continue growing rapidly over the next 5-10 years. According to Synup, voice search is expected to drive over $40 billion in sales by 2023, up from just $2 billion in 2016 (Synup). By 2025, it’s predicted that half of all searches will be done by voice (SEMrush).
A key factor driving voice search growth is the proliferation of voice-enabled devices and smart speakers. As more consumers adopt these devices in their homes, cars, and on their bodies, voice search adoption will rise. Finances Online predicts there will be over 1 billion voice assistant devices by 2024, up from under 200 million in 2018 (Finances Online). The convenience and hands-free nature of voice search makes it ideal for use cases like driving, cooking, exercising, and more.
As natural language processing and speech recognition technology continues to improve, voice search accuracy will increase as well. This will boost user trust and satisfaction, further accelerating adoption. Over the next decade, voice search will likely become a primary search mode alongside text-based search.
Driving Factors in Growth
There are several key reasons behind the growth in voice search adoption:
– Convenience. Voice searching allows for a hands-free experience, making it easier to multitask or access information quickly. Many people find it natural and convenient to ask for information vocally rather than typing a query (Source).
– Widespread smart speaker adoption. The growing popularity of smart speakers and assistants like Alexa and Google Home in homes is making voice search readily accessible (Source). Many ask questions directly to their smart speaker.
– Advances in natural language processing. Voice recognition technology continues to improve, allowing users to speak queries conversationally. This enhances the voice search experience (Source).
Challenges & Limitations
While voice search usage continues to grow, it still faces some key challenges and limitations:
Accuracy is a major issue. Voice recognition technology still makes errors, so searches may not always return the desired results. According to Luigi’s Box, top challenges include search misunderstandings and difficulty ranking well in voice search.
Privacy is another concern. Over 41% of users worry their devices are listening and recording conversations without consent, according to Yaguara. This causes discomfort with the technology.
Discovery remains a challenge. Without a screen to browse, many users struggle to think of the best queries. This inhibits them from finding new content or exploring search options. There is also no easy way to refine or filter voice search queries on the fly.
Overall, while adoption grows, accuracy, privacy, and discovery issues persist. Addressing these limitations will be key for voice search to reach its full potential.
Conclusion
We explored voice search usage and adoption across platforms, devices, and demographics. The data indicates steady growth and rising adoption of voice search, with mobile spearheading the growth. Smart speakers and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are also playing a pivotal role in the voice revolution. While search, directions, and music dominate current voice queries, we may see expansion into new categories as technology advances. Key challenges like privacy concerns and query limitations will need to be overcome. Overall, the voice search trajectory points toward strong continued growth, as more intuitive AI, expanding voice interfaces beyond mobile, and cultural adoption drive this fundamental shift in how people access information.