Study: Google Assistant most accurate, Alexa most improved virtual assistant
While one new study on voice assistants compares the quality of different providers' answers, the other drills into Google's data sources for 22 verticals.
Topic: Amazon Alexa
Voice agents and interfaces will require many new marketing strategies
Marketers are only now getting a glimpse of the many approaches that will be required for the many kinds of voice interactivity.
In big win, Apple hires Google AI chief John Giannandrea away from Google
Apple must succeed in AI if it is to remain competitive with rivals.
Once a competitive advantage, Siri now seen as liability for Apple
Failure to improve Siri will eventually impact iPhone sales.
Study: 11 voice search ranking factors analyzed
Some of the findings confirm and some upend conventional wisdom.
Google Assistant to get multiple new languages, distribution and skills
The Assistant will soon speak 30 languages and be able to offer mobile carrier customer support.
Google Assistant adds new media capabilities ahead of HomePod release
You can now wake up to a favorite playlist and use voice to pick up where you left off with Netflix shows.
Analyst firm: Google Home gains ground on Amazon Echo, now 44M total devices sold
A new survey from CIRP argues that Google Home captured about 40 percent of holiday sales.
Apple says HomePod is finally coming on February 9, but can it compete?
Apple also said that Siri is now used on more than 500 million devices.
Survey: Smart speaker ownership steals time from smartphones, TV, radio
The study suggests there are about 40 million devices in US homes today.
It’s Google Home vs. Amazon Alexa at CES in the battle for the voice ecosystem
Google and Amazon both announce new device partnerships; the Google Assistant will be on new "smart display" devices, more TVs, speakers and in cars.
Google says Assistant now on more than 400 million devices
Sales of Google Home smart speakers are considerably smaller.
Report: Amazon in discussions with consumer brands about ads on Alexa [company denies it]
CNBC report says product promotions on Alexa are already being tested.
Google bringing the Assistant to tablets and Lollipop Android phones
The move comes against the backdrop of accelerating virtual assistant usage and intensifying competition.
Omnichannel shoppers collide with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, setting new records
Columnist Christi Olson shares consumer and search data from the recent holiday weekend -- and provides tips for how to use search to boost your omnichannel holiday marketing strategy.
Google aims to make apps for Google Assistant more functional and discoverable
It also enables users to start a task on Google Home and complete it on a smartphone.
Google Assistant now offering a wide range of games for kids and families
Fun is a competitive battleground in the smart speaker race.
SearchCap: Google short videos, AdWords scripts & IoT for local search
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Submit your SEO questions to Google for upcoming short Q&A videosOct 9, 2017 by Barry Schwartz Google hasn’t produced short-form SEO video answers for three years, but now they’re looking to […]
Amazon just upped the ante in the battle of the virtual assistants
Smart speakers are the 'gateway drug' to smart home adoption.
Report: 57% of smart speaker owners have bought something with their voice
Part two of NPR Smart Audio report exposes the 'v-commerce' potential of virtual assistant devices.
Report: Google to debut ‘Home Mini’ smart speaker for $49 on October 4
The device is Google's answer to the low-cost Amazon Echo Dot.
SearchCap: Google local business edits, AMP powered featured snippets & Bing Ads bid adjustments
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on and from other places across the web.
When it ‘can’t answer that,’ Alexa begins recommending third-party skills
The move appears to be an attempt to broaden the device's utility and better compete with Google's search capabilities.
SearchCap: Alexa & Cortana, Google Assistant speakers & Google Maps parking
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on and from other places across the web.
Alexa and Cortana will soon work together, allowing each to access the other
You'll soon be able to ask Alexa to "open Cortana" and vice versa.
Google Assistant coming to more speakers and home appliances from LG
“Ok Google, start vacuuming.”
Google rolling out hands-free calling on Google Home to US and Canada
One day relatively soon, home assistants could be generating large volumes of calls to (local) businesses.
Amazon’s Echo Show is a ‘1.0’ device, both exciting and frustrating
The new device hasn't yet found the right balance between voice and screen.
SearchCap: Google job FAQ, Search Console data issue & voice purchases
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google says it lost 20 days of data of new Google Search Console usersJul 12, 2017 by Barry Schwartz Did you recently sign up for Google Search Console? Well, you might […]
Report: 43% of millennials have made a voice-device purchase in past year
Also, Kayak introduces ability to book a hotel room through Alexa devices.
Study argues Google Home 6X ‘more effective’ than Alexa, but will consumers care?
Amazon's assets, including distribution, brand loyalty, aggressive pricing and a more diverse product mix could trump Google Home's better performance.
WSJ: How Siri went from virtual assistant market leader to laggard
Internal cultural issues and employee departures have impacted Siri's evolution.
Google announces Assistant app-discovery channels, broad ranking factors
It's early, but Google will soon need to rank Assistant apps, too.
Report: Google planning to bring its Assistant to the iPhone
Google also expected to announce integration of the Assistant into GE appliances.
SearchCap: Google AdWords ad rank, quality score data & SEO strategies
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google is rolling out changes to AdWords Ad Rank thresholds: What you need to knowMay 15, 2017 by Ginny Marvin Bids can carry more weight in Ad Rank thresholds based on […]
Report: Google Assistant bests rivals for questions answered and overall accuracy
Cortana was second for questions answered, Alexa second-best for accuracy.
How AI will shape the future of search
Artificial intelligence is changing the way users access information online. Columnist Justin Freid discusses where the trends are heading and what this might mean for search marketers.
SearchCap: Google search shortcuts, exact match & local entities
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: SMX West keynote: Google talks about ranking, more in Google AssistantMar 21, 2017 by Matt McGee Google’s Jason Douglas shares what marketers and developers need to know about Actions on Google. […]
SearchCap: Google Search Analytics bug, WebMD & Alexa & more SEO
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google to fix missing data from Search Console analytics report soonMar 13, 2017 by Barry Schwartz No need to panic over the Google Search Analytics report’s confirmed bug. You did not […]
SearchCap: AMP in search, search pictures and more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Links to AMP content are showing up outside of search resultsFeb 24, 2017 by Barb Palser With several popular distribution apps now linking to Accelerated Mobile Page (AMP) content, columnist Barb […]