Apple added its Siri assistant to the iPhone 4S model in 2011, giving users a hand-free way to schedule appointments, play music, look up information and perform other basic tasks. Less than a decade later, digital assistants are in a plethora of digital devices, including computers, smart speakers, dashboards and watches, and they can help you ease into the day and keep the household running smoothly.

While the assistants can make life more efficient, it can take time to learn all their abilities. If you received a smart speaker as a gift and don’t know where to start, or you’ve just dabbled with the assistant app on your phone and want to make it useful, here’s a quick introduction to life with a digital companion. Also, we have some pointers for protecting your privacy.

Step 1: Choose Your Helper

Your first assistant is likely to be the one that came with your phone, tablet or computer, like Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft’s Cortana or Samsung’s Bixby. If your assistant isn’t already on, you’ll need to enable it in the device settings and do a few exercises so the software learns your voice.