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How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

mashable.com

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Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#81

Post by ggg9990 »

Twisell wrote: post #28

Something always make me scratch my head. Is there any proof that actual people use and value Google and Amazon assistant more than Siri? Or is the leadership only designed by autoproclaimed experts and funky ad-hoc metrics? I totally confess that I use Siri for only 3 things: -Desactivating all wake up alarm during my morning poo -Setting timers while baking -Sending a « I’m coming » text to my loved one before ridi…

Yes, I turned off Siri when I got an Echo and turned off the Echo when I got a Google Home

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#82

Post by ktta »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #63
ktta wrote: post #37

Team dysfunction seems to be a part of it. The 'head' guy for Siri, Dag Kittlaus left Apple to start Viv Labs in about a year since Siri was released. Their assistant Viv, looked pretty okay[1], and was since acquired by Samsung[2]. I feel if he had stayed on, Siri would have been better. Samsung seems to be trying pretty hard to get people to use it[3]. It's relatively new so I'm interested to see where it goes, esp…

Not to mention Williamson shit-talking the Siri team to this reporter: "Williamson denies the accusations that he slowed Siri development down and instead cast blame on Siri's creators. 'It was slow, when it worked at all,' Williamson said. 'The software was riddled with serious bugs. Those problems lie entirely with the original Siri team, certainly not me.'"

There's a rebuttal too

https://twitter.com/Dagk/status/974047743596404737

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#83

Post by dv_dt »

spullara wrote: post #39
veesahni wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google's voice recognition is excellent. I trust Assistant to help me throughout my day with a number of things now: - Cooking & laundry timers - Reminders (remind me to do X when I get home) - Directions (Take me to the nearest X, take me home, etc) - Checking hours of business (what time does X close today) - Initiating phone calls (Call X) - Checking weather (is it going to snow today? How cold is it right now?) -…

All of those Siri can do. Anything else?

I keep hoping Siri will work on something like "How long is in open?". I don't know if Google or Amazon succeed here either.

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#84

Post by electrum »

xiaq wrote: post #67

> "It was slow, when it worked at all," Williamson said. "The software was riddled with serious bugs. Those problems lie entirely with the original Siri team, certainly not me." Wow. It those were his original words, I don't doubt a bit that this guy should be responsible for Siri being left behind.

This also directly contradicts one Steve Jobs' management principles:

> "Somewhere between the janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering," says Jobs, adding, that Rubicon is "crossed when you become a VP."

> In other words, you have no excuse for failure. You are now responsible for any mistakes that happen, and it doesn't matter what you say.

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-on-the-difference-...

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#85

Post by tuna-piano »

xiaq wrote: post #67

> "It was slow, when it worked at all," Williamson said. "The software was riddled with serious bugs. Those problems lie entirely with the original Siri team, certainly not me." Wow. It those were his original words, I don't doubt a bit that this guy should be responsible for Siri being left behind.

It's so interesting that putting someone else down to make yourself look better almost always does the opposite.

Surprising that a person at his level wouldn't be mature enough and self-aware enough to realize that.

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#86

Post by untangle »

Apple fell behind in voice on Jobs' watch and prior to the Siri acquisition. In fact, it's probably more accurate to say that Apple was behind on iOS progress and facing a ho-hum 4s launch. Hence, the quick 8-figure Siri buy and hurried integration that put them behind the 8-ball on voice ever since.

The broader context is that Apple doesn't seem to get: "It's the 'AI,' stupid!"

As an aside (OT), it's interesting the way Mashable essentially republished paywall-protected content. If there was new reporting there, I missed it. But that's the nature of modern media.

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#87

Post by aetherson »

rixrax wrote: post #48

How/for what do people actually use Siri, or Alexa for? I mean I can't think of having seen anyone use them for a long time for anything but to either test them out for curiositys sake, or for demoing their new Alexa controlled drapes. Hopefully this wasn't too off-topic. Maybe HN should have an ability to create a poll and attach them to a thread. ;-)

I have a couple of Echo devices in my home.

I use an Echo Dot on my nightstand to control my LifX lightbulb, adjusting its brightness between 1% and 100%, as my wife and I prefer extremely dim lights right before bed. When my daughter was younger, I also used the same Dot to set timers when we were trying to give her a few minutes to get herself back to sleep when she'd wake up crying.

I use a full-size Echo in the kitchen to set kitchen timers, to populate shopping lists, and to check the weather occasionally as we're going out the door. I also sometimes play music on it.

Recently, I've started using the Google Assistant on my phone to start music in the car (so as to avoid physically touching my phone while driving), and I've started to decide that it's easier to say, "Hey Google, navigate to 123 main st" instead of using the touchscreen, even when I could use the touch screen.

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#88

Post by [deleted] »

jsmith99 wrote: post #77
veesahni wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google's voice recognition is excellent. I trust Assistant to help me throughout my day with a number of things now: - Cooking & laundry timers - Reminders (remind me to do X when I get home) - Directions (Take me to the nearest X, take me home, etc) - Checking hours of business (what time does X close today) - Initiating phone calls (Call X) - Checking weather (is it going to snow today? How cold is it right now?) -…

> - Reminders (remind me to do X when I get home) One thing it can't do is 'remind me to do X when I leave work'. Can siri?

[deleted]

Re: How Apple let Siri fall behind the Google Assistant and Alexa

#90

Post by jacksmith21006 »

Twisell wrote: post #28

Something always make me scratch my head. Is there any proof that actual people use and value Google and Amazon assistant more than Siri? Or is the leadership only designed by autoproclaimed experts and funky ad-hoc metrics? I totally confess that I use Siri for only 3 things: -Desactivating all wake up alarm during my morning poo -Setting timers while baking -Sending a « I’m coming » text to my loved one before ridi…

Yes use the Google assistant all the time and it is excellent.
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