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.
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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, add 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 brings 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 the 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 in 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. Sleek design and Cylindrical shape of Echo devices scores 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 provides all the functionalities whatever end-users need and it compensates the gaps in the original app provided by Alexa. More than one lakh of such apps are there in 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 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 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, provide 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 a table below.
| Alexa | |
| Devices have a sleek design, Cylindrical curve, wooden finish. | Devices are bulky, have organic shapes. |
| Devices mix well with ambiance. | Devices have the look of mere speakers. |
| More innovations and personalization available on the hardware front. | Offers more color option for its devices. |
| Has a wider range of devices in its stable. | Limited range of products. |
| Lakhs of third party apps enhance the features of this platform. | Millions of In-built actions and commands provide all the functionalities user needs. |
| A new customized app can be developed using the development kit provided by Alexa. | Customized actions can be developed without having to know to program. |
| Limited parameters in the personal profile maintained. | Multiple parameters are maintained in a personal profile to enhance user experience in a multi-user household environment. |
| Provides more functionalities and automated actions with the devices connected under a smart home in this platform. | Limited functionalities are available. |
| Crisp, short, and straight answers for the user queries. | Roundabout answers in some cases. |
| In the Map and direction functionality, Public transit is not handled efficiently. | In Map and Direction functionality Google provides accurate time estimates, route suggestions, and effective public transit. |
| Language translation is handled by a third party app and it is not effective. | The in-built translation facility is very effective. |
| Integration with Skype and connectivity with intercom numbers provide a strong collaboration feature to this platform. | Limited integrations with collaboration platforms. |
| Limited Integrations with music platforms. | Integration with all the major music and podcast platforms |
| Integration with Amazon store provides a great shopping experience to the users. | Has limited shopping features. |
| Provides unlimited entertainment options through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Edition. | Limited options in the entertainment section and roundabout connections to avail services. |
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 strong support of Amazon in the backend wins the race by a narrow margin.
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