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Nowadays, virtual assistants are commonplace in homes everywhere. This means debates like Google Assistant vs Alexa happen up and down the country.
But which virtual assistant is right for your household broadband?
We look at the different types of Google Assistant and Alexa systems available, so you can choose the most suitable virtual assistant.
Virtual assistants are hands-free, voice-controlled systems that can be accessed either from mobile devices or home hubs. Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are examples of virtual assistants.
They have wireless speakers capable of understanding voice commands, and they also connect to other compatible devices around your home. This helps them perform a variety of tasks depending on what you need.
When comparing Google Assistant vs Alexa, remember that they can both help with the following areas:
Web search is much more convenient with a virtual assistant. Ask questions and get answers as you verbalise, including calculations, weather, or names of former prime ministers.
Everyday chores get streamlined if you use a virtual assistant. Let Alexa or Google Assistant help you add items to your digital shopping list; adjust smart home systems, including Hive, Honeywell and Nest; and even control robot vacuum cleaners - handy if you own a Roomba or something similar.
Stream to your heart’s content with Alexa or Google Assistant. Whether you’re playing music through platforms like Spotify or making movies and TV shows appear through multiple telly casting devices, virtual assistants implement your commands easily.
Just make sure you have the best streaming broadband to get the most out of your virtual assistant.
Amazon’s Alexa has its own built-in app service, so you can access your favourites as and when you want. Order a takeaway through Just Eat, request an Uber, check train times with National Rail, and more with this feature.
Google Assistant offers a similar experience while allowing you to connect to Chromecast. It even has family-friendly features such as storytelling and children’s games so every family member is catered for.
By the same token, fibre optic broadband is great for speed and download allowance but can be very expensive. Remember your household budget and combined internet usage when deciding on a deal.
To determine which voice assistant is best for you, pay close attention to its ‘brain’.
Loup Ventures conducted a digital assistant IQ test in 2019, which gave each device 800 questions to answer and monitored how many it got right.
Google Assistant answered 93% of questions correctly, while Amazon’s Alexa scored 79.8%. However, do bear in mind that this test only provides a snapshot of each system’s capabilities, as the more you talk into one, the more intuitive and responsive it’ll become with time.
Overall, Alexa tends to work better in homes with lots of other Amazon-supported devices; however, Google Assistant often understands voice commands better, which makes everyday tasks and browsing easier.
Google Assistant vs Alexa - ultimately, the decision comes down to what you want to use the virtual assistant for.
Regular Amazon shoppers may prefer Alexa for its integrations and marketplace compatibility, whereas the breadth and depth of answers Google Assistant offers is great.
You should also consider the type of tech you already own. For example, if your home is full of Fire TV sticks and Kindles, Alexa is probably your best bet; however, if you’re an Android user or have a Google mobile phone, Google Assistant can provide seamless data sharing and Chromecast access.
For all your comparison needs while researching virtual assistants, visit Go.Compare.