The impact of the physical and social embodiment of voice user interfaces on user distraction

•Comparing distraction in a cognitive task across voice-only, physical embodied, and social embodied voice user interfaces (VUI).•Social embodied VUI caused most distraction but was also most liked.•Voice-only VUI caused the least distraction but was also least liked.•Physical embodied system was overall preferred and received highest ratings in perceived calm, but caused some distraction.