Best Voice Assistants Of 2017: A Year In Review

Hey guys! Let's rewind the clock to 2017. Remember that year? It was a big one for voice assistants, wasn't it? Voice assistants really started hitting their stride, becoming a staple in many homes and a key player in the tech world. We saw some serious advancements, some stiff competition, and a whole lot of innovation. This article is all about taking a look back at the best voice assistants of 2017, diving into what made them stand out, and how they shaped the future of how we interact with technology. It's like a time capsule, but instead of questionable fashion choices, we get to revisit the dawn of the voice-controlled era. It's going to be a fun ride, so buckle up!

The Rise of the Machines (and Their Voices): 2017's Voice Assistant Landscape

In 2017, the voice assistant market was exploding. We weren't just talking about a couple of options anymore. Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple's Siri, and Microsoft's Cortana were all vying for our attention, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The race was on to see who could dominate the smart home and become the go-to voice for all our needs. Imagine all the possibilities, from controlling the lights and playing music to answering random trivia questions and ordering pizza. It was a golden age of convenience, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie. The major players were all constantly updating and improving their AI, introducing new features, and trying to outsmart each other. The competition was fierce, which ultimately benefited the consumers.

Amazon's Alexa was a frontrunner, largely thanks to its early mover advantage and a robust ecosystem of compatible devices. The Echo devices became a common sight in living rooms and kitchens everywhere. Then, there was Google Assistant, which was quickly catching up, integrated across various devices, and boasting a superior understanding of context and information retrieval. Google's search prowess translated into a more intelligent assistant that could answer complex questions and provide insightful responses. Apple's Siri, while present on iPhones and iPads, was trying to solidify its place in the smart home with the HomePod, which was a late entry into the smart speaker race. Microsoft's Cortana was also in the mix, primarily integrated into Windows devices and offered some unique integrations, but it never quite reached the same level of popularity as its competitors. In 2017, it was a battle of the tech titans, with each company attempting to carve out its own space and win over consumers. Each assistant had its strengths and weaknesses, so it was all about which features, capabilities, and ecosystems appealed to you the most. The year was marked by significant advancements in natural language processing, speech recognition, and artificial intelligence, all working to create a more seamless and intuitive user experience.

Amazon Alexa: The Ecosystem King

Amazon Alexa, in 2017, was the undisputed champion when it came to smart home integration. Amazon had a massive lead in the number of Alexa-compatible devices, which meant that Alexa could control everything from your lights and thermostat to your coffee maker and garage door. This extensive ecosystem was a huge draw for consumers, as it offered a seamless and unified smart home experience. One of the greatest things about Alexa in 2017 was the skills. Amazon's skill store was already packed with a vast array of skills, which were essentially voice-activated apps that could do everything from playing games and ordering food to providing news updates and controlling your smart home devices. The sheer volume and variety of skills available on Alexa meant that there was something for everyone. Plus, Amazon was always adding new skills, keeping things fresh and exciting.

Beyond the smart home and skills, Amazon also focused on making Alexa more personalized. Features like voice profiles allowed Alexa to recognize different family members and offer tailored responses and recommendations. Alexa's integration with Amazon's e-commerce platform was another massive advantage. You could easily order products, track your packages, and manage your shopping lists with simple voice commands, making Alexa a super convenient tool for everyday shopping. The Amazon Echo family of devices was also crucial to Alexa's success. From the original Echo to the Echo Dot, Amazon offered a range of devices at different price points, which made it accessible to a wide audience. Overall, Amazon Alexa's focus on smart home compatibility, a rich skill ecosystem, and seamless integration with Amazon's services made it the leading voice assistant of 2017, paving the way for its continued dominance in the years to come.

Google Assistant: The Knowledge Powerhouse

While Amazon Alexa focused on the smart home, Google Assistant stood out in 2017 for its superior knowledge and ability to understand context. Google's search engine prowess gave the Assistant a significant edge in answering complex questions and providing detailed information. Google Assistant had the incredible ability to understand what you're asking, even if it's not a straightforward question. If you asked about a specific topic, it would provide an in-depth answer, drawing on its vast database of information. It could also access information from various Google services, such as Gmail, Calendar, and Maps. This integration made it super useful for managing your schedule, getting directions, and staying connected with your emails.

One of the coolest features of Google Assistant was its proactive capabilities. It could anticipate your needs and offer suggestions based on your behavior and context. For example, if you had a flight scheduled, it would provide updates on your departure time, gate information, and any potential delays. And, of course, the Google Assistant was available across many devices, including Android phones, Google Home speakers, and even some third-party devices. This broad availability made it easy to access the Assistant on the go and in your home. The Assistant's natural language understanding, extensive knowledge base, and proactive features made it a powerful and intelligent voice assistant in 2017. Google was also continually working on improving the Assistant's accuracy and expanding its capabilities. It was a constant arms race between Alexa and Google Assistant to see which one could understand your request better. Google was determined to be the knowledge king, and the Assistant was proof of its success.

Apple's Siri: The Latecomer with Potential

Apple's Siri in 2017, although present on iPhones and iPads for a while, was still trying to find its place in the smart home world. The introduction of the HomePod was a big step for Apple, as it finally had a dedicated smart speaker to compete with the likes of Amazon Echo and Google Home. While Siri had a solid foundation, built into the company's devices, its smart home capabilities were somewhat limited at the time. Apple’s emphasis on privacy and security also made the HomePod a good option for those who prioritized those aspects. However, the HomePod was a bit of a late entry in the smart speaker space. This meant it faced some challenges in terms of market share and the breadth of its ecosystem of compatible devices. Siri's voice recognition and natural language processing were also still playing catch-up compared to Alexa and Google Assistant.

Apple's focus on integrating Siri deeply into its operating system, and on its ability to work with other Apple devices, provided a distinct edge. Siri could seamlessly control your Apple Music library, manage your calendar, send messages, and make calls, all with your voice. The user experience was smooth and well-integrated. Apple also tried to offer a more curated and secure ecosystem. The HomeKit platform for smart home devices, which was designed to offer tighter security and a more controlled environment. Although HomeKit had fewer compatible devices compared to Alexa, Apple's focus on quality and security, resonated with a specific segment of the market. While Siri in 2017 was still in a phase of development, the HomePod's entrance and its focus on privacy and a seamless Apple ecosystem, showed that Apple was a force to be reckoned with in the voice assistant market.

Microsoft's Cortana: The Underdog

Microsoft's Cortana in 2017 was the underdog in the voice assistant race. It was primarily integrated into Windows devices and wasn't available on as many platforms as its competitors. It was a useful assistant if you were heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Cortana could do things like set reminders, manage your calendar, and answer basic questions. Its integration with Microsoft's productivity tools, like Outlook and Office, was pretty good. If you relied on those tools, Cortana could help you manage your schedule, send emails, and create documents with voice commands.

However, Cortana was somewhat limited compared to Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. The number of third-party integrations was relatively small, which made the smart home experience more restricted. Also, Cortana's smart home capabilities were not as robust as Amazon's or Google's. This meant that the range of smart home devices Cortana could control was limited. Despite the disadvantages, Microsoft was working to improve Cortana and expand its capabilities. It also tried to differentiate itself by focusing on productivity and integration with other Microsoft services. While Cortana never reached the same level of popularity as its competitors, it played a valuable role in the voice assistant landscape and offered a solid experience for users within the Microsoft ecosystem.

The Key Features and Capabilities That Defined the Best

So, what made a voice assistant stand out in 2017? It came down to a combination of several key features and capabilities. Natural language processing (NLP) was a big deal. The best voice assistants could understand complex commands and questions, and respond in a way that felt natural. The ability to understand context was also crucial. The assistants that could remember previous requests and provide relevant responses were a huge advantage. Smart home integration was a top priority. The ability to control a wide range of devices was essential for a seamless smart home experience. Knowledge and information retrieval was another key factor. The more information an assistant could access and provide, the more useful it was for users. The availability of skills and apps expanded the functionality of each assistant, allowing them to do everything from playing music and ordering food to providing news updates and controlling your smart home devices. Finally, personalization features, such as voice profiles, enabled assistants to tailor their responses and recommendations to the individual user.

The Impact and Legacy: How Voice Assistants Changed the Game

The impact of voice assistants in 2017 was significant. They fundamentally changed how we interact with technology. It made technology more accessible and intuitive. Voice assistants have become integrated into our daily lives, and this trend has accelerated over the years. They started to transform the smart home, making it easier to control our lights, appliances, and entertainment systems with simple voice commands. The voice assistant market created new business opportunities. Many companies raced to develop new skills, apps, and hardware. Voice assistants spurred innovation. Companies invested heavily in research and development to improve their AI, speech recognition, and NLP capabilities. The competition was fierce and the consumers benefitted greatly.

Conclusion: Looking Ahead

So there you have it, a look back at the best voice assistants of 2017. It was a pivotal year in the evolution of voice technology, and the choices we made then set the stage for how we interact with technology today. As the technology continues to advance, it's exciting to imagine what the future holds for voice assistants. Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me. I hope you found it insightful and enjoyed this exploration of the best of 2017! Keep exploring the ever-changing and exciting world of tech, and I'll catch you next time!