It is a debate that has raged on for years - which smart AI is the best in the industry? The contenders include among others, Google’s Assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa. They share standard functionality and building principles. Yet, they differ in the ecosystems they are built to thrive in, and the scope of their outreach to serve users.
Virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular among people of all ages. Honed by the AI software, these assistants are capable of accomplishing a huge set of tasks. Want to make a call to your mother? No problem, just tell your assistant to do it for you when you drive your vehicle. Want to order Groceries? Tour assistant will do that too. There are a handful of tasks that AI powered assistants cannot do today.
Smart assistants who can process natural language and return relevant information to the searcher in milliseconds are the future of personalized computing, and searches. This comparison blog aims to help users choose between two of the most popular digital assistants in the market - Google Assistant and Alexa.
GoodFirms looks to uncover their features and benefits to help you choose your assistant and maximize your productivity.
Quick Introduction to Alexa
Alexa originated in Amazon’s highly technology-oriented Amazon Lab126, founded by Gregg Zehr, in 2007, which was originally primed to release hardware for Amazon.
After the launch of the highly successful Kindle book-reader in 2007, the focus shifted to developing devices that users could interact with via voice to accomplish tasks. These devices would house software capable of understanding and executing voice commands. After years of research and prototypes, Amazon finally launched the connected home device Echo with the Alexa Digital Voice Assistant.
The portable speaker module had a computer processor and a microphone that could pick-up commands in spoken English. Alexa was born out of the need to address only voice-commands and execute tasks online without a screen interface.
Introduced in late 2014, Alexa and its supported devices have sold over 100 million in number as of 2020. It is expected to double in sales by the end of the year. With access to Alexa Voice Services (AVS), the real powerhouse behind the voice assistant’s expertise, software developers have sought to expand the capabilities and functionalities of Alexa. They have so far equipped it with over 50,000 unique skills and counting. The digital assistant is also remarkably quick - it has a latency of just 1.5 seconds between receiving a command or query and replying.
Source - Amazon Developers
Quick Introduction to Google Assistant
Google unveiled its latest artificial intelligence creation - the Google Assistant - in May 2016 at a Google developer keynote that focussed on connected appliances - viz. A smart speaker and a connected home system
In the same year, Google threw open the assistant platform to developers as part of the Actions on Google initiative allowing the advancement of Assistant's functions. The assistant’s popularity and quick learning meant its proliferation onto multiple gadgets - from Android-OS phones to Refrigerator systems.
The artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant can operate on a variety of devices irrespective of whether it has a screen interface or not. It is also platform-independent - with its application for Apple’s iOS and macOS. Assistant supporting systems have now shipped over 1 billion units worldwide. That’s just the tip of the iceberg
The parent company has also integrated the Assistant into a multitude of interconnected smart display devices as part of the ambitious Android Things project. Overall, the Assistant can recognize and respond in over 30 different languages, in the voice tone of reputed celebrities.
Google Assistant is skilled in multiple actions - it makes phone calls, reserves tables, books tickets, and makes calls.
Source - Google Assistant
Devices & Hardware Support for Alexa and Google Assistant
Virtual assistants, especially the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, have to run on very simplified hardware and software combinations. For most devices supporting these two artificial intelligence platforms, all that is needed are good microphones to pick up user commands, fast microprocessors, and a lightning-quick internet. The commands transmitted through the respective cloud services that host the NLP and ML programs are initially picked up by the microphones. The commands sent back are processed and executed.
Some devices like the Amazon Echo Show and other Google devices support screen interfaces such that information received after command execution can be displayed.
Due to the various devices that support Alexa and Assistant today, there are multiple combinations of the product must-haves before they are ready to execute user voice commands.
Software design and implementation of Alexa and Google Assistant
What’s the one thing common between Alexa and Google Assistant, you ask? Well, it has to be their software implementation. Both these digital assistants run on the premise of Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
The above two concepts help the assistants convert speech-to-text efficiently. Over the years, Amazon and Google have achieved stupendous conversion rates, and the developer community is harnessing even more upgrades to their core offering.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial part in both these technology offerings. AI helps Alexa efficiently control and execute commands for specific tasks after Machine interpretation. However, with the digital assistant market becoming a fiercely competitive landscape, the similarities between Alexa and Assistant have reduced to a narrow set of points.
Alexa Software implementation:
Alexa uses Alexa Voice Services (AVS) to convert speech-to-text over the cloud. The device housing Alexa records your speech and sends it back to the cloud, where Amazon’s software rapidly converts speech into independent commands. The Artificial intelligence then executes the parsed commands. Alexa can quickly check the weather and even control the thermostat of your connected smart home with ease.
But Alexa’s real ingenuity lies in its ability to learn. As Alexa interprets commands, it determines how to respond to user requests and understands errors in its responses to make it ‘smarter’ the next time it faces similar situations or commands. Alexa also learns new words.
An Adobe survey in 2019 also revealed that close to 50 percent of all searches over the internet came through voice-activated means. Therefore, it is obvious that all voice search assistants need to be accurate and learn consistently, which Alexa seems to be doing.
Google Assistant Software Implementation:
Google’s Assistant shares similar characteristics to that of Alexa. Once a microphone accesses user commands via speech, the voice message transmits over the internet into Google’s cloud platform. The assistant software breaks the statement down into individual sounding words. The sounds are compared to a central library or database to match dialects from around the world.
Once a command has been successfully identified, the instructions are passed back down through the cloud to the Google assistant, who then informs the user of the information or executes the command as stated. The entire process takes close to 2 seconds to be completed - from the transmission to execution.
User Experiences
A hallowed concept for creating artificial intelligence products, the user experience must be flawless. If the virtual assistants display a capability to mimic conversational tones, it has succeeded halfway in achieving the original goals. However, user experiences aren’t just related to conversations.
User experiences cover the gamut of information dissipation methods and the availability of the right information at the right time. As per a study, voice searches now rank second as the most popular method of searching for data in the US. So one must not ignore the impact it has on SEO.
Alexa User Experience:
The Amazon-created artificial assistant has more than just one trick up its sleeve. The Alexa platform provides users an exceptional experience while interacting with it through voice. The platform not only learns new words but also understands the context of your commands.
Like most artificial intelligence platforms, it is incredibly accurate in understanding user dialect. The platform supports nine of the world’s most commonly spoken languages. The Works with Alexa platform has enabled developers to tap into Alexa’s immersive NLP capabilities and equip it with over 100,000 command skills.
Individualization is vital for a better user experience. Alexa can learn the voices of multiple people, linked over different accounts through its “learn my voice feature.” Through the platform, Alexa dissipates the right information to the user, in the right time frame, even accounting for push notifications from different searches.
Google Assistant User Experience:
Google’s incredible progress in speech processing capability is visible in the Assistant. It can now recognize and correct filter 19 out of 20 spoken words, which is a far better ratio than Alexa.
Google has created the Assistant platform on a combination of factors central to the Voice User Interface (VUI) and called it Conversation Design. Thanks to its integration with multiple devices with graphical user interface and screens, the platform can share information searched for through visual components.
The Assistant counts rapid speech recognition capability among its Arsenal, which helps it answer user commands accurately and effectively. The Android Things program has helped enhance the cognitive ability of the Assistant platform through third-party developer additions. It has led to Assistant having a grasp on thousands of unique skills.
The software can recognize up to six different users and all linked through their accounts. It means that the software can recognize different users and carry out their commands in the context of the persona created by it. Considering Google’s hold on the device operating software and ecosystem, the assistant can manage system-wide capabilities (“Okay, Google reduces the brightness of my screen”), offering a seamless user experience.
Features of Alexa & Google Assistant -
Voice Activation Commands:
The act of merely speaking to a device and instructing it to accomplish complex tasks is a long-standing ambition of the scientific and technological community. The invention of IBM Shoebox in 1961 paved the way for innovation around voice-controlled devices.
Modern voice-controlled assistants are technologically advanced with accurate speech recognition capability and can connect with multiple devices through the Internet of Things ((IoT). Therefore, AI assistants must be initialized just as quickly with voice activation commands, as it is for them to carry out other complex commands.
Initializing Alexa:
‘Alexa.’ That’s it. All you have to do to activate the Amazon created AI is to speak its name to an Alexa integrated device, e.g., Amazon Echo. Things get even more exciting - you can change the waking word to Amazon, Echo, or computer - talk about pulling a cue from Star Trek!
If you’re using Alexa in an iOS or Android phone, the Amazon Music Store, or even the Amazon shopping application, you’ll have to tap the Alexa Wake button manually. The apps do not support the wake word.
If you’re trying to access Alexa through Windows, simply open the Cortana Application and instruct, “open Alexa.” Once set, the connection will allow you to task and command, Alexa, through the windows-based AI Assistant.
Source - Amazon Developers
Initializing Google Assistant:
On most Android devices, a simple “Ok, Google” or “Hey Google” is enough to wake the assistant. On the Google Assistant application on iOS, open the app, and alter the application settings to begin a voice search when you initialize it with “okay, Google.” All of this is only possible within the Google Assistant application. No plans are on to integrate Assistant into another AI digital AI.
Furthermore, it is possible to retrain Google Assistant’s voice model consistently to understand your voice for better efficiency.
Source - Google Assistant
Online Shopping
Consumers have altered how they buy items, no matter how trivial, ever since the burst of e-commerce. Online shopping is now on the brink of gazumping offline shopping, in terms of footfalls and revenue.
In this cramped and competitive landscape, AI assistants play a vital role. From automated purchases to storing crucial financial information, assistants are reshaping the way users interact with e-commerce portals.
Alexa:
Thanks to its integration with the Amazon ecosystem, shopping with Alexa is relatively simple. To enable purchasing on Amazon, one needs to activate the ‘Purchase with Alexa’ command in the settings. Using this command, a user can just say ‘Alexa, add a pair of scissors to my cart,’ or ‘Alexa ‘reorder shampoo,’ or even ‘Alexa, add glass cups to my shopping list, and the AI assistant will do the rest. These are three sub-set of purchase commands - buying, adding to list, and reordering.
Alexa will dish out recommendations to the user based on reviews and ratings when asked. Also, the virtual assistant can cancel orders anytime. Want to track your order? Not a problem, Alexa does that, too when asked, “Alexa, where’s my stuff?”
However, Alexa is solely dependent on the Amazon ecosystem - it is not compatible with any other shopping ecosystem.
Alexa Conversations has been a revelation on the AI front for the company. The fundamental idea behind the initiative is to ensure the user and Alexa can make natural conversations, as we would with other human beings. The programming that has gone into this is immense. Alexa has been able to answer user requests without them being questions (as you’d traditionally associate them to be), and even answered multiple questions in one go.
Alexa has the ball in her court as far as shopping is concerned!
Google Assistant:
Google’s ambitious Google Shopping program expands the Assistant’s functionality. Users with Google’s virtual assistant supporting devices can order from stores such as Costco, Walmart, and at least ten other supermarkets. To this effect, you need to have valid accounts at these supermarkets for Google Assistant to link to as part of its functionality.
Post this, and you need to confirm your payment details in the Google Shopping app. All you have to say is, “Okay, Google - add bird food to my Walmart cart,” or “Okay, Google, buy me baby food from Tesco.” Google Assistant, however, doesn’t function within the Amazon store. The Assistant will track your orders from these stores as well.
The assistant can also tell you where to buy goods by pin-pointing locations close to you with the product you desire. “Okay, Google! Tell me where I can buy a mobile phone.”
In many ways, Google’s integration with retailers gives it an edge over Alexa. Also, the scope of functionality in shopping, not just limited to re-ordering goods, is higher in assistant.
Make shopping your A-Game with Google Assistant
Parent Company Ecosystems
Ecosystems form an integral part of the user choice for their purchases of a product or service. Apple has successfully designed the iOS ecosystem - replete with Apps, Support Services, and Products - to cater to every user need. The support provided by parent companies in their ecosystems help apps to flourish and services to prosper.
Alexa Ecosystem:
Amazon’s healthy product ecosystem allows Alexa to stay connected across multiple devices (including Echo, Dot, Show, Smart Clock, and even Auto). In the absence of an operating system supported by Amazon, Alexa’s ability to do multiple tasks has increased through the Works with Alexa initiative. It allows third-party developers to use the Alexa system to configure various tasks in-app or otherwise.
Amazon’s impressive ecosystem with entertainment offerings, including Amazon Prime, Amazon Music, and miscellaneous associated services, pull users toward the devices.
Google Assistant Ecosystem:
As one may be aware, Google’s powerful monopoly over the Android ecosystem has helped it churn Assistant to hundreds of millions of devices worldwide. It extends to smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart home devices - third-party or built by Google.
The Android ecosystem allows Assistant to download applications, purchase in-app offerings at the drop of a word (literally!), and even converse with audiences on voice search parameters. Google’s ecosystem is far richer than Amazon’s.
The Actions on Google initiative allow developers to hone applications with the Assistant in mind, making them better responsive, easily reachable, and highly interactive for users of Android and multiple google Smart Home devices.
Productivity offerings
Productivity is the holy grail for any assistant and the companies creating them. Think about the numerous times you need to record, accomplish, or automate tasks - you would need specialized software to tackle all these functions. Assistants now make the process of achieving peak performance possible on a personal level.
Productivity with Alexa:
Alexa can access your calendar once you link it to an iCloud, GSuite, or Outlook account. Sending out an email and blocking out calendar blocks. Alexa can even reply to emails, list out your day, and also remove or reschedule appointments.
With Alexa, you can also create and manage many lists. Just tell Alexa to make a list for shopping, or your chores for the day. The Amazon-created assistant can also make quick calculations as you do your work. Ask it to define words, check valuations of currencies, and simple BODMAS calculations.
In need of some novelty? Well, Alexa can help you with cooking as well! Just ask her for a recipe or even standard kitchen measurements and conversion. It is a cup of tea!
Alexa will teach you the perfect recipe! Source - Amazon Alexa Productivity
Productivity with Google Assistant:
Google’s immense experience and work in the productivity department has set the stage for the Assistant to work its magic. One can easily make phone calls and schedule, remove or reschedule meetings on the default Google Calendar by saying, “Okay, Google {Task for the calendar}.”
Replying, creating, and formatting emails is comfortable, while Google Assistant can also make notes in the default application. Recording the minutes of the meeting is no small task, but the Assistant carries it out efficiently. Just say, “Okay, Google, Record this call.”
Google Assistant can also create geo-specific reminders and notes. E.g., “Okay, Google Remind me to purchase Eggs from Walmart on 42nd Street.” Check up on your latest notification by merely asking, “What are my notifications?”. You can also skip to DND mode on your
Assistant-supporting device. Check any facts on the Assistant’s default search engine - Google - while calculations become easy to execute. Assistant can even have your entire travel itinerary right in front of you as and when required. It includes picking out travel dates to booking your travel to the station and making reservations at your preferred place of stay.
In the field of productivity, Google certainly has one-up over Amazon’s Alexa.
Productivity Apps which have Google Assistant integration.
Entertainment
Are you interested in watching that movie on Netflix? Perhaps, a little jazz over the speaker system tonight to lighten the mood? Well, now, with the aid of assistants, you need not physically search for the entertainment form of your choice. Once configured, let the virtual assistants take over for you.
Entertainment with Alexa:
Amazon has integrated Alexa with Amazon Prime Video, Music, and Radio Stations.
Music lovers may play their favorite tracks over Amazon Music. “Amazon, Play The Killers’ latest Album” is all that is needed. Alexa can also play soundtracks over Apple Music, Spotify, or other famous radio stations. In the mood for a podcast? Excellent, Alexa has you covered there as well. Access hundreds and thousands of labels through the Alexa App, once you latch onto a FireTV account.
Similarly, movies on Amazon’s Prime Video platform can be streamed to any Alexa supporting device using the same commands as with music. Get your favorite show’s timings and release dates as well.
Have fun with Alexa by playing exceptional games of skill or design your own game with the virtual assistant. The Amazon-backed AI assistant can play games of adventure, skill, trivia, and even kids’ games. Commands like ‘Alexa, let’s play a game,’ ‘Alexa, open Monopoly,’ etc., will trigger commands on Alexa-supported Amazon devices to help you become the party’s life.
Want to listen to Alexa’s sweet voice read you a book? Ask Alexa to read, download, and read your kindle or Audible with ease.
Entertainment and Alexa dance to the same tune
Entertainment with Google Assistant:
Just like Alex, Google Assistant has numerous Entertainment features. You can link your primary Google Account with your Netflix account. Then you can instruct Assistant to play your favorite title provided it is available on the video-streaming platform.
The Mountain-view based company’s virtual assistant can also play your favorite tracks on Google Music, and Spotify. In the mood for a game? Challenge Google Assistant to games like Jeopardy and multiple trivia titles, and other adventure games. Google Assistant can also read audiobooks from the Google Audiobooks store, once you ask it to do so.
In this case, Alexa and Assistant seem tied with similar functionality - it is a win-win for the users.
Google’s Assistant is certainly no slouch when it comes to TV.
Video and VOIP call
In today’s day and age, video calls are the go-to solutions for businesses to conduct meetings and family members worldwide to stay in touch. Are you hamstrung by range and connectivity issues? A good internet connection will suffice in helping you make good Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls. With the ilk of Zoom, Whatsapp, and Google Hangouts dominating the landscape, did you know your faithful digital assistants can easily make video or voice calls?
Calling with Alexa:
Thanks to the works with Alexa initiative, communications via Alexa are straightforward. Call loved ones and people with the US, Canada, and Mexico phone numbers through an Alexa-enabled device, just as quickly as you can call someone in your contacts list who has Amazon devices and IDs. It includes Voice calls as well as video calls. Just say, “Alexa, Call {Contact},” and you are through.
An essential prerequisite is the Amazon Alexa app, through which you have to verify your phone number and sync your contacts list. After installing the app, you need to update your profile, add a phone number, and then enjoy unlimited voice or video calls. You can accept or reject calls from other callers using Alexa’s services just as easily.
Features such as Drop In, allow one to turn Alexa devices into intercom systems to check up on your loved ones. Furthermore, Announcements help convey important information through an interconnected network on Alexa devices in the house.
Hands Free Calling With Alexa
Calling through Google Assistant:
The Assistant is incredibly efficient while making phone calls. Though you can’t receive incoming phone calls via an assistant-enabled device (a significant disadvantage over Alexa), you can make calls via Google Smart devices.
Just as is the case with Alexa, you need to have the Google Home app and sync your phone number and contacts list through it before proceeding. One may call US and Canada numbers free of charge if you have a phone number belonging to one of these countries. You may even use a Google Fi or Voice number if you have enough credits or a US or Canada-based number.
Initiate the Assistant - “Ok, Google” - and instruct it to call a person saying, “Call {Contact}.” You can also issue commands like “redial” or ask Google to find the nearest business near you and instruct the Assistant to call them.
One can also initiate phone calls via video or VOIP through Google Duo or WhatsApp. You may even instruct Google Assistant to find out miscellaneous information, during the call. Multiple people can use Assistant-enabled Apps to make calls by directly linking their voice to their Google Account.
Making Phone Calls via Google Assistant is as easy as 1,2,3
Smart Home capability
Assistants such as Alexa and Google were created and improved over time, with the ideology of making homes that much more connected, and functional that it already is. With the demand for Smart homes in the US growing, digital assistants will prove valuable for a subset of users.
Amazon and Google have created a unique ecosystem of smart home appliances, each tapping into their respective smart assistant’s potential. Both have functionalities to control the ambient temperature in the house, switch devices on or off, and even control individual appliances.
Both have productivity measurements within the household and specific devices to help you complete tasks. Ranging from voice-activated complete entertainment systems, smart security systems, audio-assisted showers, room lighting, and also vacuum cleaners - Assistant and Alexa have come a long way from just being novelties.
Amazon Echo
Google Home
Third-Party Integrations (Software & Hardware)
A virtual assistant should have the ability to learn new commands, potentially execute a plethora of tasks per day. The pure stock input of commands from parent companies is not enough these days. Therefore, initiatives to devise the best out of virtual assistants are already on war-footing.
The Works with Alexa and Android Things programs have changed the landscape for integrations all over the technology world. Various applications and even devices from third-party manufacturers have plugged in the smart systems VUI capabilities to enhance their products.
Whether it's a smartwatch to execute multiple voice commands or an application to help book your taxis on the go, both Assistants are assimilating commands at a breakneck pace. Even the devices that support the assistants are growing - from TVs to smart locks.
Average Price for Google Assistant and Alexa Supported Devices
The average prices for Google Assistant supported Home, and Nest products range between $129 and $349. Also, Google Assistant-enabled smartphones cost approximately $100 and $1500, depending on the class of devices used - economic or premium. That’s not all.
Google’s assistant is now shipping with refrigerators and washing machines from producers such as LG and Samsung- each priced between $700 to $100 and beyond. Smart-locks, CCTV Cameras which support Google Assistant controls, ship between $149 and $199. A set of lighting options with Google Assistant voice control costs close to $130.
A range of smaller devices, each with functions as diverse from Alarm clocks to Wifi Routers, now supports Google’s assistant - ranging between $49 and $79.
Alexa, on the other hand, supports all the devices in the Amazon Ecosystem. The Echo Dot retails from $29.99, while the Echo (3rd Generation) ranges between $34.08 and $61.08 depending on the user preference for aesthetics. Secondary smart devices such as the Alexa-supporting smartwatch from Fitbit (Versa 2) price at $198.99.
The Amazon Echo Show, a touch screen version of the Echo, comes priced at $229 onward.
Amazon’s Fire Cube TV also supports Alexa and starts at $120. Alexa’s grip isn’t just limited to the Amazon ecosystem, however. Smart locks from August which support Alexa functionality range between $250 and $350 depending on versions.
Philips WiFi lighting also has inbuilt Alexa functionality and is priced between $49.99 and $60. In the security department, Arlo’s smart Security Cameras integrate Alexa’s voice functionality and come between $115 and $400 depending upon user choice.
Alexa supported appliances ranging from smart televisions to washing machines have already flooded the market from makers such as LG and Samsung. Their prices range between $700 and $4000, the latter primarily for TVs.
Support & Services
Amazon has a dedicated Alexa FAQ page on any problem that users may face with the virtual assistant. It can be accessed here. Support on Privacy of voice, the security of devices, and general overall support of Alexa are all answered here.
Similarly, Google has documented various possible errors and troubleshooting aids that will come in handy to users of Google Assistant on multiple devices. They can be accessed here.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Alexa and Google Assistant
Despite being replete with the latest advancements in voice user interface capabilities, both Alexa and Google Assistant have minor or major setbacks, depending on how you view their flaws. Here’s a list of the respective Amazon and Google Voice Assistant’s pros and cons for your benefit.
Alexa SWOT:
Google Assistant SWOT:
Expert Opinion
Alexa and Google Assistant have been going at their digital jugulars for what seems like years now. With both assistants still developing their fledgling abilities to more fluid and all-encompassing ones in the technology world, it remains to be seen how effectively they evolve.
With both parent companies, Amazon and Google respectively, keen to ensure unhindered user experience, it is but obvious that experts will go a long way in helping consumers decide which platform to stick with.
Here are some expert opinions on both Voice Assistants -
Sascha Segan, Columnist and author at PC MAG
Hugh Langley while writing for the Ambient on Alexa’s conversational capabilities versus Assistant -
Geoffrey A. Fowler, Technology Columnist for the Washington Post,
had this to day about Google’s Assistant -
Comparing Alexa and Google Assistant
No comparison blog can be complete with a head-to-head comparison of some key characteristics of the two most popular Artificial Intelligence Voice Assistants in the land. Here’s a summary of the best features that are up for comparison between Google Assistant and Alexa.
Verdict
Artificial intelligence software solutions are used in various applications, and their importance is growing these days phenomenally. The future looks more intelligent with this technology. Some of the best AI software are used in voice & sound recognition, image recognition, video detection, text-based applications, and so on.
A Microsoft survey in 2019 highlighted that Google Assistant and Siri share the most significant chunk in the virtual assistant market - with 36 percent each. The intelligent virtual assistant market is on course to become a $45.1 Billion industry in 2027.
The jury is still out, but early indications say Google Assistant is a clear winner in the productivity features. At the same time, Alexa has taken the lead in the entertainment and complete smart home sector. However, the race is far from decided. The world is still innovating around the concept of VUIs, and it will grow through at an explosive rate shortly. Even new entrants and small players in this industry are testing this technology cost-efficiently with free and open source AI software.
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