Voice is being predicted as the next big thing in the computer interaction and perhaps why both Amazon and Google are fighting to take control over our lives with their AI-driven virtual assistants — Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. These voice-based assistants can do a lot of things with just one command: play music, crack jokes; give the weather forecasts; send text messages; set up alarms and reminders; read out the latest news; and control “smart” devices in the home such as thermostats, door locks and bulbs. Interestingly, these virtual assistants become better over time and get to know your habits as you use them more often. I decided to ask Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant 12 questions on the Echo Dot and Home Mini, to determine their intelligence level. These are their responses.
What are the best Hindi songs of 2018?
Google Assistant was the clear winner here. It listed out the top ‘Hindi’ songs trending on the web: Bom Diggy, Dil Chori, and O Saathi. “Good question, I’m looking into that as we speak,” Alexa said. Well, I repeated my question twice, but Alexa gave me the same answer again.
Who wrote The Satanic Verses?
Salman Rushdie is the author of The Satanic Verses. Both Alexa and Google Assistant got it right in the first attempt.
Where can I buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro nearby?
Google Assistant was spot on. The Assistant suggested me to buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro in the area of 6.9km, plus it gave me the name of the shops with exact details. Alexa couldn’t understand the question properly. “Sorry, I don’t know that, I’m still learning about local businesses,” Alexa responded.
How much does an Apple iPhone X cost?
Google Assistant quoted the price of the iPhone X from Time.com. Alexa, on the other hand, found many matching options on Amazon India. It gave me the price of the Silver colour variant of the iPhone X with 256GB storage.
What is the best Chinese restaurant near my location?
Google recommended two Chinese restaurants — Bercos and China Fort in the area of 11km. I got it. But I wasn’t satisfied with the answer. Google neither asked me to reserve the table in any of the restaurants nor it took an action by getting me directions. Alexa just couldn’t understand me.