Slashdot Mirror
Google Home Is 6 Times More Likely To Answer Your Question Than Amazon Alexa (adweek.com)
According to software developed by New York-based 360i, Google Home is six times more likely to answer your question than Amazon Alexa -- its biggest competitor. Adweek reports: It's relatively surprising, considering that RBC Capital Markets projects Alexa will drive $10 billion of revenue to Amazon by 2020 -- not to mention the artificial intelligence-based system currently owns 70 percent of the voice market. 360i's proprietary software asked both devices 3,000 questions to come to the figure. While Amazon Alexa has shown considerable strength in retail search during the agency's research, Google won the day thanks to its unmatched search abilities.
Well, they can be convenient for certain things.
For example, the other night a friend of mine and I were going out to dinner and she suddenly asked, "What time does the restaurant close?" She immediately brought up a browser to look up the closing time. I just pulled out my iPhone, pressed a button, and said, "What time does The Fish Company close?" and had the correct answer while she was waiting for her browser to launch.
I could see the "always-on" nature being worthwhile, mostly for lists. Get up in the morning, go to brush your teeth, and notice that you're running low on toothpaste? "Hey, Alexa, add toothpaste to my shopping list." Problem solved.
Again, these things are convenient. Sure, I can look up restaurant hours in my browser. Sure, I can keep a list on a notebook--or in my phone--so that when I go to the supermarket, I can look at my list and pick up toothpaste. But it's more convenient to be able to ask the question and get the answer. And, at least among most people, convenience wins out.
We have 4 Alexas in the house.
1) Bedroom - I was laid up in bed for 3 months. Took an hour to get me from bed into the car for doctor appointments and not counting getting dress in the first place. Very handy tool. Yes, it can play knock-knock jokes, also Star Trek gags. Having the ability to ask time, whether, news, play song or radio station or "white" noise to sleep by is great. What actually left it in the room was "unlimited" alarms and timers. "Alexa, set alarm for every weekday at 6:00am" and repeat for 6:10 and 6:30. By not having to multiple alarms clocks and other items, just handy
2) Kitchen - great tool for cooking - again multiple timers - but also changing measurements to scale up or down a recipes. All the while news or music plays in the background. "Alexa, play KQED"
3) Daughter's room - gave her 3 power plugs, so she can turn on off lights and heater in her room. Always cold. Had to find an analogue heater - since the power was going to turned off & on, that was the hardest part. Gave her an Alexa, on a lark... She loves it. Does not have to reach out from under the covers to turn on or off the few items. Can play "her" music without having a die battery next day at school. Ask her if she "likes" Alexa... "No, it is worthless", as she turn and yells "Alexa, turn off the room" (so all three plugs turn off".
4) Oldest kid with night job. Just started to use Alexa, but give it to her since her schedule is tough. Some multiple alarms again is "wedge" feature to get to be used. But she also loves her music and NPR news, so will be good there too.
Downside for Alexa is battery backup, none. Most all the computers in the rooms are UPS (high schools and college kids", so Alexa is plugged in there, along with router, firewall and modem. So the short power outages are not problem here.
About listening all the time... I am torn. My firewall has blocks for 17,000 tracking sites. My phone was location services turned off. I have do not run MS products. Barely have apps on my phone. so why run Alexa and Amazon over it shoulder... I lost that argument with wife long ago. Amazon already knows to much about me and my family via shopping history. Since I use Alexa to consume other products (music and radio) via Amazon Prime, so also movies. Why not let that camel nose under the tent a little farther.