The problem is that it's not actually a conversation. To significantly improve it, you'd want to:
- identify users by voice
- ask them clarifying questions
- remember the answers on a per-user basis
- understand "no, that was the wrong answer"
If you're going to provide a formal interface to the computer, you also have to provide teaching in that formal interface, which is far more of a burden to the user than the cost of the device. And we've completely moved away from that model (not necessarily a good thing, but that's what the market has chosen).
Calling it a burden is an assumption that ignores and belittles the end user. Sure, there are people who won't want to train their personal ai.
But I imagine there are significantly more who would appreciate clarifying requests by a teachable assistant capable of interacting with the entire digital world on their behalf, efficiently and intelligently.
I think you're right. There are glimpses of this in the voice interfaces right now. For example, Alexa will distinguish between voices and preferentially take actions for me, saying "Play Music" plays Spotify, and for my kids, it plays Amazon music.
- identify users by voice
- ask them clarifying questions
- remember the answers on a per-user basis
- understand "no, that was the wrong answer"
If you're going to provide a formal interface to the computer, you also have to provide teaching in that formal interface, which is far more of a burden to the user than the cost of the device. And we've completely moved away from that model (not necessarily a good thing, but that's what the market has chosen).