Americans like to talk. A lot. So much so that chatting with their AI tech now beats tapping or typing.
According to the AI Gap Study by Iris Flex, U.S. consumers are now twice as likely to speak to their smart home devices and car dashboards (56%) than poke at them with their fingers (31%).
Voice interaction isn’t just winning in cars and kitchens, it’s closing in across the board. Nearly four in 10 Americans are comfortable chatting with apps (37%) or typing (40%) to get things done. For them, voice is no longer a novelty; it’s becoming the default.
The real winners are the advertisers, device makers, and publishers who can keep up.
While only 18% of U.S. adults trust AI-powered ads overall, that skepticism fades when voice is in the mix. Among those who talk to their car dashboards, nearly two-thirds respond positively to AI-driven ads. The numbers remain high for those using voice with smart home devices and apps, where more than half are open to AI-powered promotions.
This shift is creating new opportunities in the audio world, where voice-command tech is making it easier than ever to play podcasts, switch stations, or follow spoken instructions, often without lifting a finger. For audio publishers, especially those targeting smart speaker and in-car audiences, it’s a game-changer.
Advertisers, too, can seize the moment. Voice-led experiences allow for instant action. Picture a podcast listener hearing a call to action like, “Say ‘Order Now’ to buy,” and actually doing it. That kind of seamless interaction shortens the path to purchase in ways traditional ads can’t match.
And as voice becomes more integrated into daily life — whether in hotel rooms, stores, airports or healthcare settings — brands that optimise for these voice-first environments stand to gain both reach and relevance.
If you’re still designing for fingers, you might be missing the point. Voice isn’t just the future, it’s already in your living room, your car, and your pocket.