An intelligent assistant computer (4, 6; 20; 160; 750), comprising: a logic machine; a person identifier for recognizing people; a plurality of sensors (102A-102C); and a storage machine holding instructions executable by the logic machine to: recognize another intelligent assistant computer (4, 6, 20; 160; 750) located in a same environment as the intelligent assistant computer; record speech spoken by a first user; determine a self-selection score for the first user based on the speech spoken by the first user; send the self-selection score for the first user to the other intelligent assistant computer; receive a remote-selection score for the first user from the other intelligent assistant computer; compare the self-selection score for the first user to the remote-selection score for the first user; if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, respond to the first user; and if the self-selection score is less than the remote-selection score, do not respond to the first user; characterized in that, the instructions are further executable to, if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, block subsequent responses to said all other users until a disengagement metric of the first user exceeds a blocking threshold, wherein the disengagement metric is raised as the first user disappears from image data, looks away from the intelligent assistant as determined from eye gaze data, and/or performs hand gestures directed away from the assistant. a logic machine; a person identifier for recognizing people; a plurality of sensors (102A-102C); and a storage machine holding instructions executable by the logic machine to: recognize another intelligent assistant computer (4, 6, 20; 160; 750) located in a same environment as the intelligent assistant computer; record speech spoken by a first user; determine a self-selection score for the first user based on the speech spoken by the first user; send the self-selection score for the first user to the other intelligent assistant computer; receive a remote-selection score for the first user from the other intelligent assistant computer; compare the self-selection score for the first user to the remote-selection score for the first user; if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, respond to the first user; and if the self-selection score is less than the remote-selection score, do not respond to the first user; characterized in that, the instructions are further executable to, if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, block subsequent responses to said all other users until a disengagement metric of the first user exceeds a blocking threshold, wherein the disengagement metric is raised as the first user disappears from image data, looks away from the intelligent assistant as determined from eye gaze data, and/or performs hand gestures directed away from the assistant. recognize another intelligent assistant computer (4, 6, 20; 160; 750) located in a same environment as the intelligent assistant computer; record speech spoken by a first user; determine a self-selection score for the first user based on the speech spoken by the first user; send the self-selection score for the first user to the other intelligent assistant computer; receive a remote-selection score for the first user from the other intelligent assistant computer; compare the self-selection score for the first user to the remote-selection score for the first user; if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, respond to the first user; and if the self-selection score is less than the remote-selection score, do not respond to the first user; characterized in that, the instructions are further executable to, if the self-selection score is greater than the remote-selection score, block subsequent responses to said all other users until a disengagement metric of the first user exceeds a blocking threshold, wherein the disengagement metric is raised as the first user disappears from image data, looks away from the intelligent assistant as determined from eye gaze data, and/or performs hand gestures directed away from the assistant.