The Alexa Conference 2018 and 20 Voice-first Conferences to Add to Your Calendar

Check out the Voice First Events of 2019 right here.

This year has been deemed the year of voice by experts spanning a plethora of industries. In a short amount of time, researchers, analysts, the c-suite, and even grandparents have been exposed to the power of voice-first technology. As the march of voice continues, there are a number voice first conferences available to get involved with throughout the year.

Whether you’re a developer, a UX designer, founder of a voice-first company, or new to the voice landscape, attending a few voice-first conferences and events – in this particular year – is likely to benefit you for years to come.

We experienced these benefits of attending voice first conferences a few weeks ago in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when John and I attended The Alexa Conference hosted by Score Publishing. The audience varied from independent skill builders, voice app agencies like VoiceXP and RAIN , to a more technical presence with speakers from SoundHound, Skuid, and us. A few noteworthy topics covered were how Alexa will impact the classroom, interactive storytelling, and the role of voice in healthcare.

We also had the opportunity to get a glimpse into what to expect with the rise of voice overseas, from a presentation by a German-based firm 169 Labs. And industry leader Brian Roemmele, from Multiplex, and Witlingo CEO, Ahmed Bouzid, provided thought-provoking commentary on the future of voice along with behavioral and psychological considerations.

Aside from the generous agenda and the numerous takeaways, we were most impressed with our voice-first peers. Meeting a good portion of our Twitter followers and fellow Alexa Slack group members face to face was the highlight of the week. The information exchanged between attendees created a palpable and positive experience, and the connections made are likely to last beyond the first few years of the voice-first movement. And we can’t wait to work together in the future.

Although technology is seen by some as disconnecting from others, this voice-first conference has brought together a smart and passionate group of people with the goal to connect people through voice. We encourage you to take a look at these upcoming voice-first conferences and get involved.

While most of these conferences have registration fees, check your local Meetup groups and get involved for free. There are quite a few active voice-first groups in Seattle, Paris, Berlin, London, San Francisco, St Louis, Arizona, Columbus, Texas, and Washington, D.C.