Difference Between Google Assistant and Siri

Every now and then, there is a tectonic shift in how people interact with technology. Multibillion-dollar fortunes await as the tech giants define the paradigm of the new era. IBM once ruled the days of mainframe computers; Microsoft once dominated the desktop computers ecosystem; and the latest technological disruption happened with the rise of voice assistants such as Apple’s Siri, which was released initially as an app for iOS in February 2010 and was later acquired by Apple. Since then, Siri comes integrated with every iOS device starting with the iPhone 4S in October 2011.

We have ushered into a new era of voice computing. After Siri, now Google too has developed its own voice based digital assistant that is no less than Siri. Digital assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant can play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and the radio; answer your questions; provide information such as traffic and weather updates; tell stories; and even control your smart home devices – all of it with just your voice. It puts artificial intelligence directly in the control of consumers. But which one’s better – Siri or Google Assistant?

What is Siri?

Siri is a groundbreaking modern-day example of AI in action. Siri is Apple’s very own voice-controlled digital assistant which has been around for years. Siri was initially released as a standalone app for iOS in February 2010 and soon after two months, acquired by Apple. Siri first appeared on the iPhone 4S in October 2011. Since then it comes integrated into their family of products as their virtual assistant and navigator. Since its initial release, Apple has released numerous upgrades to the virtual assistant. Siri allows the users to search the Web in addition to looking for and activating a limited array of phone apps, such as reading and replying to text messages or reading a day’s schedule. It is designed to meet and exceed duties pertaining to searching and operation. It uses the phone’s default search engine to get results.

What is Google Assistant?

Just as Siri is the name of Apple’s voice-controlled personal assistant, Google Assistant is the Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri. Google Assistant was first unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference in May 2016 as part of Google’s messaging app Allo. However, the technology was gestating as Google Now since 2012. Google Assistant has the same functions as the others including Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana, but it excels in handling search-based Web queries because search is Google’s main forte. It uses a natural language user interface to respond to queries, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of services. Some of the promotional commands include, “Ok Google, Book me a table for 2 at Quantico for 7:30”, “Ok Google, who invented sushi?” etc.

Difference between Google Assistant and Siri

Assistant

– Siri is the Apple’s voice-controlled digital assistant which comes integrated into their family of products as their virtual assistant and navigator. Siri first appeared on the iPhone 4S in October 2011. It is a smart, intelligent personal assistant that offers a faster way to get things done on all your Apple devices. Google Assistant, on the other hand, is the Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri. Google Assistant is Google’s very own AI-powered virtual assistant and an updated version of the original voice assistant by Google called Google Now.

Technology

– Google Assistant uses a natural language user interface to respond to queries, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of services. It is closely integrated with Google Search and uses it to respond to your search based queries. Siri, on the other hand, uses natural language processing to meet and exceed duties pertaining to searching and operation, and it uses the phone’s default search engine to get results.

Strength

– Both the virtual assistants can play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and the radio; answer your questions; provide information such as traffic and weather updates; tell stories; and even control your smart home devices; and more. However, Google Assistant excels in handling search-based Web queries because search is Google’s main forte, and above all, it is more natural to use. Siri, on the other hand, is the oldest and one of the most used digital assistants out there. The most common uses for Siri are web browsing and dictation.

Integration

– One of the main factors in deciding which one’s a better personal assistant is device integration. Google Assistant works with a wide range of smart speakers and smart home devices, including Google Home, Google Home Mini, and the Google Home Max. In fact, it works with more than 5,000 smart home devices from more than a hundred brands. Siri, on the other hand, is limited to the Apple’s ecosystem and offers a faster way to get things done on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iPod Touch.

Google Assistant vs. Siri: Comparison Chart

Summary of Google Assistant vs. Siri

Just as Siri is the name of Apple’s voice-controlled personal assistant, Google Assistant is the Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri. Google Assistant is more natural in responding to queries more correctly because of its close integration with Google Search which is still Google’s main forte. Siri, on the other hand, is the oldest and one of the most used digital assistants out there. Siri is locked to the Apple’s ecosystem though. Although, both the digital assistants communicate with you in a more conversational manner, Google is a treasure trove of data and information, so, some would probably find Google Assistant’s responses better than Siri’s.

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