How to Analyze Stocks Using Smart Speakers (Alexa/Siri)

1. Introduction & Motivation

Smart speakers are shifting stock analysis from a screen-centric workflow to a conversational model. For visually impaired users, this change is more than convenience—it is a path to independence. The aim of this paper is to define a robust, repeatable, voice-first analysis framework that yields actionable insight with minimal reliance on visual charts. We emphasize accessible design, explainable outputs, and auditability.

Voice analysis succeeds when answers are: correct, contextual, comprehensible, and confirmable.

2. Capabilities of Alexa & Siri for Market Analysis

2.1 Common Capabilities

• Real-time or delayed quotes and daily change
• Company facts and summaries (sector, HQ, brief profile)
• News headlines and market briefings
• Reminders and alerts for price thresholds or events
• Routines and Shortcuts that chain multiple queries

2.2 Alexa Strengths

• Skills ecosystem enabling custom market skills
• Rich routines combining skills, news briefs, and custom responses
• Smart displays (Echo Show) for optional low-vision support

2.3 Siri Strengths

• Deep integration with iOS apps (Reminders, Calendar, Shortcuts)
• On-device privacy defaults and rapid hands-free invocation
• VoiceOver synergy for fully non-visual flows on iPhone

3. Setup & Device Accessibility

3.1 Accessibility on Mobile

• Android: Enable TalkBack; configure voice typing; optional Braille keyboard.
• iOS: Enable VoiceOver; configure Siri; set rotor actions for quick navigation.

3.2 Smart Speaker Setup

• Alexa: Link your Amazon account; enable preferred finance/news skills; set market brief.
• Siri: Create Shortcuts for recurring market queries; allow “Always Listen” if needed.

3.3 Safety Defaults

• Disable voice purchases or add a PIN confirmation where supported.
• Use private spaces or headphones for sensitive portfolio readouts.
• Limit third-party skills to reputable providers with clear privacy policies.

4. Voice Analysis Workflows (Query → Context → Compare → Decide)

4.1 Price & Movement Triage

Objective: rapidly understand what moved and why, using short voice exchanges.

• “What is the price and day change for HDFC Bank?”
• “Summarize top gainers and losers today.”
• “Read the latest news headline for Reliance Industries.”

4.2 Fundamentals Snapshot

Objective: get a spoken summary of valuation and financial health.

• “Give me a fundamentals summary for Infosys: P/E, EPS growth, ROE, and net debt.”
• “Explain the last quarter’s results for TCS in one minute.”

4.3 Context & Comparison

Objective: compare peers and benchmarks without a screen.

• “Compare HUL and Nestlé India: revenue growth and margins.”
• “Is SBI outperforming Nifty Bank over the last 6 months?”

4.4 Event Awareness

Objective: anticipate catalysts.

• “When is Bajaj Finance’s next earnings date? Add to calendar.”
• “Set an alert for ITC ex-dividend date one day before.”

4.5 Risk Prompts

Objective: surface risks in speech.

• “Has the company increased debt-to-equity significantly this year?”
• “List regulatory or litigation headlines for today.”

4.6 Portfolio Voice Brief

Objective: daily or weekly spoken portfolio report.

• “Read my portfolio summary and top risk this week.”
• “Has my diversification improved? Summarize sector weights.”

5. Data Sources, Skills & Shortcuts Design

5.1 Data Quality

• Prefer official filings, exchange feeds, or well-established financial APIs.
• Ensure disclosures about delays and data coverage are voiced.

5.2 Alexa Skills

• Design intents: GetQuote, GetNews, GetPeers, GetEvent, GetFundamentals.
• Output rules: concise, structured, optionally verbose on request.
• Session memory: remember last ticker until changed, with confirmatory prompts.

5.3 Siri Shortcuts

• Create Shortcuts that call URLs or finance apps, parse responses, and speak a summary.
• Bundle a morning “Market Brief” Shortcut: index move, top mover, one portfolio risk.

5.4 Accessibility & Localization

• Offer Hindi and local language versions of core prompts.
• Use consistent terminology and slow speech rate for clarity if needed.

6. Privacy, Security & Ethical Guidance

• Do not speak OTPs or passwords; disable sensitive actions by voice if not needed.
• Review the privacy policy of any third-party skill or data provider.
• Prefer on-device processing where available; minimize storage of queries.
• Provide spoken disclosures: “Data may be delayed”, “Source is X”.

Convenience without consent is not accessibility; it is risk. Build consent into the conversation.

7. Limitations & Workarounds

• Complex charting and multi-panel analysis remain screen-centric—work around with spoken comparisons and scheduled audio briefs.
• Ticker disambiguation can fail; use ISIN or exchange suffix where possible.
• Regional coverage varies; supplement with trusted podcasts and AI summaries.

8. Evaluation Framework & Metrics

• Accuracy: correct quotes, events, and ratios.
• Comprehension: user can restate insight in plain language.
• Time-to-insight: seconds from question to usable answer.
• Confirmability: ability to verify source and meaning via follow-up prompts.
• Safety: absence of sensitive data spoken in unsafe contexts.

9. Roadmap (2025–2030)

1. Standard voice intents for finance across ecosystems.
2. Context memory across sessions with explicit consent.
3. Explainable AI layers that justify spoken recommendations.
4. Certified accessible finance skills with periodic audits.

10. FAQ

Can I analyze fundamentals fully by voice?

Yes for summaries and comparisons; deep modeling is better via AI summaries plus spreadsheets.

Do I need a broker account linked?

No for public data; yes if you want portfolio-specific readouts inside a broker’s ecosystem.

Is this safe for private data?

Use headphones, restrict skills, and avoid speaking sensitive identifiers aloud.

11. References & Further Reading

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (India, 2016)
• General guidance from securities regulators on investor disclosure and access
• Accessible UX patterns for voice interfaces (industry best practices)

Appendix A: Sample Commands & Routines

A.1 Alexa Sample Routine (Morning Brief)

1. Index move and volatility note
2. Top mover in your watchlist
3. One portfolio risk prompt and upcoming event

A.2 Siri Shortcut (Ticker Snapshot)

1. Input: ticker
2. Actions: fetch quote → fetch news → speak concise summary
3. Optional: add alert or calendar event

Appendix B: Glossary

• Intent: A named voice action understood by a voice platform.
• Slot: A variable in a voice command (e.g., ticker symbol).
• VoiceOver/TalkBack: Screen readers on iOS/Android.