Does Android have voice command like Siri?
Siri and voice assistants are software programs that allow users to utilize voice commands to operate their smartphones hands-free. Siri, developed by Apple, was one of the first voice assistants available on smartphones when it launched in 2011. Voice assistants utilize speech recognition and natural language processing to understand spoken commands and queries. They can complete tasks like setting alarms, placing calls, sending messages, getting directions, checking the weather, and more through simple voice interactions. The capabilities of voice assistants have expanded rapidly in recent years across major mobile platforms like iOS and Android.
Voice assistants like Siri aim to provide an intelligent personal assistant experience on mobile devices. They allow users to interact with their smartphones in a more natural and conversational way, minimizing the need to tap through menus and type requests. Voice control makes smartphones more accessible and convenient to use on the go when you don’t have your hands free. Hands-free operation has become an increasingly important smartphone feature as these devices take on more and more capabilities.
Siri on iPhones
Siri is Apple’s intelligent virtual assistant available on iPhones. First introduced in 2011, Siri allows users to interact with their iPhone using natural voice commands. Siri can understand conversational requests and perform a variety of tasks including placing calls and sending messages, scheduling appointments and reminders, getting directions, finding nearby businesses, controlling music playback, checking sports scores, news and weather, and more.
Some key capabilities of Siri on iPhones include:
- Voice activated commands saying “Hey Siri” without needing to physically touch any buttons
- Understanding natural language requests and questions
- Personalized recommendations based on individual usage and preferences
- Tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem of apps like Messages, Mail, Calendar, Maps, Music etc.
- Voice dictation to input text and edit documents
- Controlling phone functions like toggling settings, opening apps, adjusting volume
- Contextual awareness to follow conversation flows and topics
Over the years, Apple has expanded Siri’s capabilities through improvements in machine learning and natural language processing. Siri is deeply integrated into iOS and continues to be a key feature differentiating iPhones from other smartphones.
Google Assistant on Android
Google Assistant is the built-in virtual assistant for Android devices. It allows users to perform a wide variety of tasks through voice commands on their Android smartphone or tablet. Some key capabilities of Google Assistant on Android include:
Overview – Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Android operating system and can be accessed by saying “Ok Google” or “Hey Google.” It serves as a conversational assistant that can understand natural language requests.
Features – Google Assistant can make calls, send texts, set reminders and alarms, ask questions, control smart home devices, play media, navigate to destinations, and more. It provides personalized updates and recommendations as it learns more about the user over time.[1]
Capabilities – Google Assistant can understand context and follow-up questions to have natural conversations. It supports voice typing for quickly drafting messages. Users can view and manage their daily agenda via Assistant. It integrates with popular apps and services like Google Maps, YouTube, Spotify, Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google Drive.[2]
In summary, Google Assistant aims to help users get things done and provide a conversational AI experience on Android devices through robust voice recognition, deep integration, and an understanding of natural language requests and contexts.
Other Voice Assistants on Android
In addition to Google Assistant, there are other voice assistants available on Android devices. Two of the most prominent are Bixby and Alexa.
Bixby is the virtual assistant developed by Samsung for their Galaxy devices. Introduced in 2017, Bixby aims to provide a personalized experience by learning the user’s voice, routines, and preferences. Users can launch Bixby by saying “Hi Bixby” or pressing the dedicated Bixby button on supported devices. Bixby can complete tasks like setting alarms, sending texts, and providing information. One of Bixby’s strengths is its deep integration with Samsung native apps and settings.
The Alexa app brings Amazon’s popular voice assistant to Android devices. With Alexa, users can ask questions, listen to music, control smart home devices, set timers/alarms, and more. Alexa features tens of thousands of “skills” that enable added functionality through third-party apps. A key advantage of Alexa is its ability to continuously learn and improve through its broad user base. While not as deeply integrated into Android as Google Assistant, Alexa provides a robust digital assistant experience.
Voice Command Capabilities
Both Siri and Google Assistant allow users to control core phone functions and apps using just their voice. Some common voice commands include making calls, sending texts, opening apps, setting alarms, asking questions, getting directions, controlling music playback, and more.
For example, on an iPhone with Siri enabled, users can say “Hey Siri, call mom” or “Hey Siri, set an alarm for 7am tomorrow.” Siri will make the call or set the alarm without the user having to touch the phone.
Similarly, on Android devices with Google Assistant, users can say “OK Google, text John I’m running late” or “OK Google, open Spotify.” Google Assistant will send the text or launch the Spotify app just by voice command [1].
Both assistants can understand natural language queries and commands to accomplish common tasks hands-free. Over time, the assistants learn the user’s voice and become more personalized in their responses.
Accuracy and Responsiveness
According to a comparison test by Business News Daily (Source), Google Assistant comes out on top for accuracy and responsiveness. Google Assistant was able to correctly answer general questions with 93% accuracy compared to Siri’s 83%. The test also looked at speed, measuring how quickly each assistant could provide an answer after the question was asked. Again, Google Assistant was the fastest, responding in an average of 2.3 seconds while Siri took 4.5 seconds.
However, Siri was able to answer follow-up questions with more consistency compared to Google Assistant. When asked additional questions based on previous responses, Siri maintained context 71% of the time, while Google Assistant only did so 53% of the time.
Another independent test by ExpressVPN (Source) also found Google Assistant to be the most responsive and accurate assistant overall. But the test showed Siri performs very well with voice recognition and interpreting natural language questions. So while Google may have an edge in responsiveness and breadth of knowledge, Siri offers some advantages with contextual understanding and conversational abilities.
Integration with Apps
One key difference between Siri and Google Assistant is how they integrate with apps on iOS and Android devices. Siri is deeply embedded into Apple’s ecosystem, with seamless integration with iMessage, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, and other native iOS apps. This allows Siri to provide a smooth connected experience across Apple devices.
In contrast, Google Assistant on Android relies more on third party app integration. While it does integrate with some Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Chrome, Assistant does not have the same level of OS-level integration as Siri. Users need to enable app integration manually, and support varies across apps. For certain actions like messaging, users may need to specify which third party app to use.
However, Google Assistant allows integration with certain apps and services not available on iOS, like Spotify, Uber, Nest, and more. The openness of the Android platform means developers can choose to tightly integrate Google Assistant functionality into their apps. So while app integration may require more setup on Android, users ultimately have more flexibility.
New Features
Google Assistant is continually evolving with new capabilities powered by advancements in artificial intelligence. One significant new feature introduced in 2022 is Duplex, which allows Google Assistant to carry out natural conversations to accomplish real-world tasks over the phone, like booking a restaurant reservation or hair appointment. According to the Google blog, Duplex conversations flow smoothly and feel entirely natural.
Google is also working to make Assistant more personal and contextual based on individual user preferences. As noted in this blog post, Google Assistant will phase out underutilized features to focus on improving quality, reliability and responsiveness. The goal is to make Assistant interactions more natural, helpful, and intelligent.
Additional emerging capabilities aim to make Assistant truly ubiquitous across devices and platforms. With continued advancements in AI and machine learning, Google Assistant is positioned to become even more seamless, proactive and personalized in the years ahead.
Privacy Considerations
Voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri raise some privacy concerns due to the large amounts of personal data they collect and store. According to the FTC, voice assistants record and store audio of your voice requests as well as transcripts of those requests (Source). The audio recordings contain sensitive information about you and your home life. The transcripts may reveal private details like your location, routines, interests, relationships, and more.
The burden of protecting consumer privacy falls primarily on the companies providing voice assistants. Google, Apple, Amazon and others claim they take measures to keep data secure, such as encryption and access controls. However, some experts argue their data collection practices are still too broad and opaque (Source). There have also been concerning cases of contractors listening to private audio recordings.
To help protect your privacy, you can review and restrict settings for data collection, storage and use. You can also periodically delete your voice assistant history and recordings. However, limitations remain around transparency of data practices.
Conclusion
In summary, both Android and iOS devices offer robust voice assistant capabilities, but there are some key differences between Google Assistant and Siri.
Google Assistant, available on Android devices, competes directly with Apple’s Siri. Both allow voice commands to make calls, send messages, set reminders, ask questions, and more. Google Assistant is viewed as more conversational and contextually-aware than Siri. However, Siri maintains strengths in areas like music, voice dictation, and iOS device control.
Beyond the default assistants, Android does offer more flexibility and choice. Third party apps like Alexa and Bixby allow alternative voice assistants on Android. This level of customization is not possible on iOS devices, which only support Siri.
While the two platforms take slightly different approaches, Android and iOS both provide robust voice command capabilities today. With continued competition and innovation, consumers can expect further improvements in responsiveness, accuracy, and integration for voice assistants on both operating systems.