The Apple’s voice assistant Siri is expected to expand beyond the iPhone and iPad to third-party apps and Macs. Regarding Apple’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins Monday in San Francisco, analysts expect an expanded role for Siri that would improve IQ of Apple’s personal digital assistant.
Even though Siri was one of the first digital assistants ever launched, it mostly operates in the iPhone, while other digital assistants like Google could serve in other platforms. Many believe that Apple needs to improve Siri when it comes to the make-or-break of the moment: artificial intelligence and natural language learning.
Each device put side by side, from left to right, there’s the Alexa Amazon Echo, followed by Windows’ 10 Phone Cortana. Next on there’s Apple’s Siri on the iPhone and Google Now powered by Android. Image Credit: Yahoo
Apple’s Siri vs. Amazon’s Alexa Echo, Google Now
Although Siri was first launched in 2011, this app lacks context comparing new voice assistants initiated by Google and Amazon. Siri is mostly used for finding contacts, setting appointments and reminders in the iPhone, while Google Now voice assistant could operate in its Chrome desktop PC browser. Also, Google now does more than voice search, over time, this app learns people’s interests and gives information without asking, for example for sports fans, after a game this app will show on your phone or PC the latest score.
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Amazon’s intelligent digital assistant Alexa Echo has been applauded by its users, who are impressed by Alexa Echo’s ability to hear and recognize what they ask. In fact, a survey carried out by the analyst Tim Bajarin showed that more than half of its users have installed their Echo in the kitchen. However, playing a song, controlling smart lights and setting timer are the most common Echo’s tasks.
Experts’ expectations about Siri’s upgrade
Jordan Metzner, the founder of on-demand laundry app Washio, which has been in the App Store since 2014, says “we never had access to Siri before.”
He explains that to use the app, customers now need to locate it on the iPhone and open it. But when Apple opens up access, “they’d only hold down the Siri button and say `Use Washio to clean my clothes,’ and they could just place an order that way,” he adds.
On the upcoming battle for wireless speaker devices controlled by mobile apps, Google home shows to be a tough contender. At least when compared to the Amazon Echo. Image Credit: CNET
“So it will add additional benefit, and open up Siri as a platform to the hundreds of apps that are already on your phone.”
The technology analyst Tim Bajarin expressed in an article called ‘The Biggest Battle in Tech Right Now,’ that whoever wins will, “give the company or app with the best versions of these voice assistants a real edge over competitors.”
However, the app developer Michel Schneider, whose app Service offerings free customer service assistance, wonders if this is a problem that needs to be solved,” For him consumers are just starting to get to know Siri–but he does not know if consumers are ready to start talking to computers yet.
Source: USA Today
