Alexa vs Google

Difference Between Alexa vs Google

Alexa vs Google Assistant are the household names today and they assist people in carrying out many tasks digitally without having to move anywhere and use a keyboard. They are the most popular virtual data assistant tool designed by Amazon and Google respectively and they deploy Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, and Voice recognition features of Artificial Intelligence technology in the development of these tools.

Crotona of Microsoft and Siri of Apple are the competing products to Alexa and Google Assistant. Over the last five years, Alexa and Google Assistant have honed their features, plugged the gaps, and improvised the function of their products. Feature and performance-wise both of these products have matching capabilities and still, there are subtle differences between them and in this article, we will try to bring them out.

Alexa

Launched in 2015 as a voice assistant platform in Amazon Echo, a smart speaker capable of listening to users’ requests and respond back in the same language and tone. Later in 2017 it got expanded to third-party products and added new capabilities.

This intelligent personal assistant, based on a command from the users, searches Web information, adds events to the calendar, maintains a to-do list, sends alerts to the users, Orders products online, triggers events, plays movies and music as per playlist, and does many more tasks. Thousands of third-party apps bring out the best from the Alexa platform and offer multiple new capabilities.

Google Assistant

This voice-assisted digital assistant tool, launched in 2016, provides information from the web, books tickets, sends email representing users, and performs many more actions. It takes voice commands as well as typed requests in the absence of a voice interface. Google Now was the first digital assistant product from Google. Google Assistant was the next improvised version with AI features and it connected Google software products with hardware products.

Head to Head Comparison Between Alexa vs Google (Infographics)

Below are the top differences between Alexa vs Google.

Key differences between Alexa vs Google

Both these products are loaded with attractive features and won accolades from the user groups for their novel ideas. In such a scenario it is a complicated process to compare the products. We will compare on software, hardware, voice recognition, and other customer-centric features of these two products.

1. Hardware Design

Alexa and Google score equally in aesthetics, both these products are attractive and covered with fabric to reduce vibrations. Though Google home has more color options, the Amazon Echo device looks more artistic with a wooden finish on its sides and it is pleasing to the eyes. Google device is bulky in size and it resembles a speaker and doesn’t mix well with the ambiance. The sleek design and the Cylindrical shape of Echo devices score over the curved top and organic shapes of Google. Amazon has a wider product line in its speaker and displays and continuously innovates its products and brings more personalization in its products.

2. Apps

Third-party apps in Alexa provide all the functionalities that end-users need and it compensates for the gaps in the original app provided by Alexa. More than one lakh of such apps are there in the Alexa store and there is every chance any weird requirement of users will be met. Over and above Alexa allows the development of new apps by the internal developer and it provides the necessary templates and integrations.

Google Assistant has inbuilt more than 10 lakhs of actions and commands into the product and it may cover all the possible queries of end-users. It doesn’t have to depend on third-party new add-ons. Google allows users without any programming knowledge to develop custom actions.

3. Voice Recognition

Google Provides better-sophisticated features in managing the voices of multiple people in a household. Its product, Voice Match offers more personalized elements like maintaining profiles for individuals for a better interaction experience with the devices for the users. The profile contains details like calendars, photos, payment details, flight preferences, default media services, and many more.

Alexa is not that sophisticated in maintaining individual profiles and a few details like shopping, messaging and limited media options are only stored.

4. Smart home features

Users are able to perform multi various actions by connecting devices through the Alexa platform. The action includes automated switching on/off of smart light upon some triggers or events and activates home devices when the user is about to reach home etc. Google has only limited such actions as controlling the device through voice command or by a schedule.

5. General Knowledge

Both the Digital assistants are equally strong and capable in answering the queries of the users, Alexa has a little edge over google in providing crisp, short, and straight answers to most of the queries of the users.

6. Map Directions

Google gives more accurate time estimates, manages transit effectively, provides correct route suggestions after reviewing the traffic conditions threadbare. Alexa lags behind in all the above features.

7. Language Support

Alexa handles multiple languages but translations are managed by third-party apps and it is more complex. The inbuilt translation capability in Google provides easy and effective translation services.

8. Collaboration

Alexa has a slight edge in making phone calls, video calls, and texting over Google because of its seamless integration with Skype and intercom features for broadcasting messages with other Echo devices in the house.

9. Music and Podcasting

Both the assistants are at an equal level in this area and Alexa scores over Google in offering integrations with big players like Apple Music and Podcast.

10. Entertainment

With help of third-party apps, Alexa is able to serve the users intelligently to book tickets.

Comparison Table of Alexa vs Google

Now let’s draft the comparison in the table below.

Conclusion

It is a close race between Alexa and Google as both are impressive in their own way. Alexa with help of innumerous third-party apps to achieve any needs of the consumers and the strong support of Amazon in the backend wins the race by a narrow margin.

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