Are you a Python coder looking for a simple way to dip your toes into the artificial intelligence waters? A new open source virtual assistant project may be just what you're looking for.

Rather than plug into an existing system, he rolled his own by combining open source packages for controlling his various smart devices with the aptly named SpeechRecognition library for Python.

A virtual assistant performs administrative tasks like scheduling and handling communications from a remote location. Here's how to become a virtual assistant.

The responses from virtual assistants are far more human than most of us assume. In fact, every response is carefully crafted by a person or a team of people.

A virtual assistant followed this daily routine to earn $9,000 a month and scale her business to $1.1 million in sales.

A virtual assistant is generally a contractor who is hired to complete administrative tasks for a small business.

A key component to the beginning of this professional relationship is to establish open communication with your virtual assistant.