virtual assistantn.
/ˌvəːtʃʊəl əˈsɪst(ə)nt/, /ˌvəːtʃ(ᵿ)l əˈsɪst(ə)nt/, /ˌvəːtjʊəl əˈsɪst(ə)nt/, /ˌvəːtjᵿl əˈsɪst(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌvərtʃ(əw)əl əˈsɪst(ə)nt/ 1. A program (or device running a program) that can respond to commands or questions and perform tasks electronically; = digital assistant n. 2.
ΚΠ
1995 B. Svedberg in Engin. Managem. Jrnl. 5 47/2 We've all heard of virtual reality, and virtual networks—personal communications will eventually give users a virtual assistant, to provide intelligent support for all such functions.
2011 N.Y. Times 12 Oct. (Late ed.) b4/2 Siri is billed as a virtual assistant: a crisply accurate, astonishingly understanding, uncomplaining, voice-commanded minion.
2019 D. Thomas Fashionopolis x. 241 Echo Look connects Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa; takes full-length pictures or six-second videos of you in your clothes; and builds a library of looks.
2. A (typically self-employed) person who provides professional assistance with administrative or technical tasks while working remotely.
ΚΠ
1998 T. J. Leonard & B. Laursen Portable Coach iv. 58 Because we work together exclusively over the Internet (which is very efficient), I call my administrative jack-of-all trades my virtual assistant.
2007 Vanity Fair Oct. 248/1 Shopping online may soon be just as quaint, given the fast-rising ‘virtual assistant’ industry; for between $20 and $45 an hour, you can hire someone to do your online shopping and bill paying for you.
2015 J. L. Ferry How to start Home-based Senior Care Business (ed. 2) xi. 109 Many administrative support specialists advertise themselves as virtual assistants or VAs.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1995