AI is a rapidly growing field that has the ability to transform several aspects of our lives, from entertainment to education, from health care to transportation. Many companies have invested heavily in developing their own AI-powered products and services, such as smart speakers, voice assistants, and chatbots. Some have gained more popularity and recognition than others, while some have fallen behind or failed to meet users’ expectations

This post will explore how three of the most popular voice assistants, Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa have fallen behind in the AI race and what are the reasons for their decline.

How Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa Lost the AI Race?

Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa are examples of conversational AI systems, which are designed to interact with humans using natural language. However, these voice assistants have several limitations that prevent them from being truly intelligent and engaging.

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is the most advanced and intelligent voice assistant among the three. It has a natural and conversational tone, a wide range of capabilities, and a deep integration with Google’s services and products. However, this also means that Google Assistant is too dependent on Google’s ecosystem and may not work well with other platforms or devices.

Reason 1: Too Dependent on Google Services

Google Assistant requires a Google account to access many of its features, such as personalized recommendations, reminders, calendar events, and more.

It also favors Google’s own apps and services over third-party ones, such as YouTube Music over Spotify or Google Maps over Waze. This may limit users’ choices and preferences and make them feel locked into Google’s ecosystem.

Reason 2: Compatible and Support Issue

Additionally, Google Assistant may not be compatible with some smart home devices or platforms that are not part of Google’s network or partners.

For instance, Google Assistant does not support Apple’s HomeKit or Samsung’s SmartThings, which are popular smart home platforms that work with many devices from different brands. This may reduce users’ options and convenience when setting up and controlling their smart home devices.

Siri

Siri is one of the oldest voice assistants in the market world. It was the first voice assistant to be integrated into a smartphone (the iPhone 4S) and has since expanded to other Apple devices, such as the iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Home Pod. However, Siri has also been criticized for being too limited and inconsistent in its functionality and performance.

Reason 1: Too Limited Functionality

One of the main limitations of Siri is that it does not support many third-party apps or services. Unlike Google Assistant or Alexa, which can work with thousands of apps and skills from different developers and providers, Siri can only work with a handful of apps that have been approved by Apple or use Sirikit (a framework that allows developers to integrate their apps with Siri). This means that users cannot use Siri to perform many tasks or access many features that are available on other platforms or devices.

Reason 2: Inconsistent Performance

Another limitation of Siri is that it does not have a consistent user interface or experience across different devices. For example, Siri on the iPhone may have different capabilities or responses than Siri on the Mac or Home Pod.

Alexa

Alexa is the most widely used voice assistant in the market. It powers millions of smart speakers (such as the Amazon Echo), smart displays (such as the Amazon Echo Show), and other devices (such as the Amazon Fire TV) from Amazon and other brands.

It also has a large and diverse library of skills (apps) that allow users to do various things with Alexa, such as playing games, ordering food, booking travel, and more. However, Alexa also has its own drawbacks and challenges that have hindered its growth and success.

Reason 1: Too Fragmented

One of the main drawbacks of Alexa is that it is too fragmented and inconsistent across different devices and skills. Unlike Google Assistant or Siri, which have a unified platform and interface for all their devices and features, Alexa has different versions and variations for different devices and skills.

For example, Alexa on an Echo speaker may have different features or commands than Alexa on a Fire TV or an Echo Show. This may make it difficult for users to learn how to use Alexa effectively and efficiently on different devices.

Reason 2: Unreliable

Another drawback of Alexa is that it is too unreliable and error-prone in its functionality and performance. Many users have reported that Alexa often fails to understand their requests or commands correctly or responds with irrelevant or inaccurate information.

Some users have also experienced glitches or malfunctions with their Alexa devices or skills, such as unexpected activations, random noises, or loss of connection. This may reduce users’ trust and confidence in Alexa and make them less likely to use it regularly.

Conclusion

Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa are all powerful and popular voice assistants that have revolutionized the way we associate with technology. However, they also have their own flaws and weaknesses that have prevented them from winning the AI race and delivering the best possible user experience. By addressing these issues and improving their functionality and performance, these voice assistants can become more competitive and successful in the AI market and beyond.