Abstract: An example process includes: while displaying a portion of an extended reality (XR) environment representing a current field of view of a user: detecting a user gaze at a first object displayed in the XR environment, where the first object is persistent in the current field of view of the XR environment; in response to detecting the user gaze at the first object, expanding the first object into a list of objects including a second object representing a digital assistant; detecting a user gaze at the second object; in accordance with detecting the user gaze at the second object, displaying a first animation of the second object indicating that a digital assistant session is initiated; receiving a first audio input from the user; and displaying a second animation of the second object indicating that the digital assistant is actively listening to the user.

Abstract: An appliance can include a microphone transducer configured to receive sound from an environment and to convert the received sound into an audio signal. The appliance can be configured to receive an input audio signal via the microphone transducer, responsive to an activation input. The appliance can be configured to initiate a bi-directional, wireless communication connection with an external device in parallel with receiving the input audio signal, and responsive to the activation input. The appliance can be configured to transmit an output audio signal corresponding to the input audio signal over the communication connection when the wireless communication connection is established. Related aspects also are described.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating a digital assistant are provided. An example process for determining a response includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory, receiving a spoken input including a request, performing a semantic analysis on the spoken input, determining, based on the semantic analysis, a likelihood that the electronic device requires additional contextual data to satisfy the request, and in accordance with the determined likelihood exceeding a threshold, enabling a camera of the electronic device and determining a response to the request based on data captured by the camera of the electronic device.

Abstract: An appliance can include a microphone transducer configured to receive sound from an environment and to convert the received sound into an audio signal. The appliance can be configured to receive an input audio signal via the microphone transducer, responsive to an activation input. The appliance can be configured to initiate a bi-directional, wireless communication connection with an external device in parallel with receiving the input audio signal, and responsive to the activation input. The appliance can be configured to transmit an output audio signal corresponding to the input audio signal over the communication connection when the wireless communication connection is established. Related aspects also are described.