Gig Economy Sparks Virtual Assistant Boom

If you’re like most people in the tech industry, the term “virtual assistant” probably conjures up thoughts of Siri bungling an iPhone search or chatbots helping you order Taco Bell. But long before the advent of A.I.-powered help desks, real-life human beings were working as virtual assistants—administrative professionals who work remotely, typically as independent contractors, from anywhere in the world.