[gervase]

I completely agree.

To make this useful, perhaps you could set up some kind of saved preferences. For example, let's say I'm setting up a business trip. I like hotels that are within 1 mile of the conference center, and they have to be at least 3.5 stars and up. Provided they meet those criteria, the cheapest option is acceptable. I also need a plane flight that has no more than 1 layover, and that layover cannot last longer than 90 minutes or less than 45. I am willing to pay up to 25% more for a nonstop flight. The flight must arrive the day before the conference, but it can depart on the day the conference ends.

Setting up those criteria for each individual search would be irritating and a waste of effort, as they don't change from trip to trip. However, if I could say something like "Let me tell you about my criteria for choosing a location for a business trip.", and then go into detail once, that might work. Hell, I'd be perfectly happy setting up the details on a website. Then, the next time I said "I need to set up a business trip", all it would need to ask is the conference center and the dates of the conference.

Until it supports these kinds of detailed requests, it doesn't make sense to use these kinds of services in the way they market them - you'll end up using it in the same limited way you could use Siri. For example, if you've already decided what restaurant you want, you might say "Make me a reservation at Dorsia for 7:30 this evening" instead of the examples you provided.

Just my 2 cents.

[vidarh]

A lot of it is simply about learning when you know enough and when you need more information through the interactions themselves. If you have to "set things up" it seems tedious. If it's just conversing with you about the information it needs, and gradually learning your preferences, that's different.

I used to fly in to the Bay Area very often on business. At first the office manager arranging things would ask me details about which airline and which flights I'd prefer after listing the options, and which hotels, describing address and location and how near they were the office. Possibly e-mailing me a bunch of links for me to look at. But after just a few trips it was down to "is flying out on the 2.30 on Wednesday and returning on the 3.15 the following Thursday, ok? [she know when I preferred to fly, and she'd implicitly have ensured they were the right code to maximize my chance of an upgrade] Your usual hotel is full, is the Sheraton ok?" [no addresses necessary - we'd boiled it down to 2-3 preferred hotels within walking distance of the office].