When AI assistants were first introduced, they were not very common. However, due to more companies making smart speaker devices, there are now more options for devices that support AI virtual assistants than ever before. These devices are becoming more versatile and can support multiple types of AI assistants. Despite this, the competition between AI assistants is still fierce. To help save people time and frustration, we did a thorough test to compare the top four AI assistants: Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google’s Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana. Rather than relying on the companies’ advertised features, we tested each assistant by asking them various questions and issuing commands that business users might commonly use. We asked both basic and complex questions to test their understanding and vocal recognition abilities.
Comparing the Accessibility of Popular Virtual Assistants
Accessibility refers to how easily an AI virtual assistant can be used on different devices. To compare the accessibility of virtual assistants, we need to examine them individually. Here are some popular virtual assistants ranked from most to least accessible:
Google Assistant:
Google Assistant can be used on all Android and iOS devices, as well as Chromebooks. Additionally, Google offers its own line of Google Home speakers designed to work with Google Assistant. The company has also made it easy to search for third-party speakers that are compatible with Google AI, like the Harman JBL Link 10, Sony LF-S50G, Panasonic SC-GA10, Onkyo VC-GX30, Mobvoi TicHome Mini, LG ThinQ WK7, and Best Buy Insignia Voice Smart Bluetooth Speaker. The fact that so many major speaker and headphones brands are releasing Google AI-enabled devices at various price points shows that Google is leading the AI assistant market.
Cortana:
Cortana is Microsoft’s AI virtual assistant, which is pre-installed on Windows machines, but can also be downloaded on Android and iOS devices. Cortana is available on the Harman Kardon Invoke with Cortana speaker. Although there have been reports of HP and Xiaomi speakers enabled with Cortana, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that these speakers are still in development. It remains to be seen if Cortana will be available on other third-party speakers, but it appears that Microsoft’s AI assistant is losing traction in the face of more sophisticated competition, at least for the consumer market. However, the recent partnership between Amazon and Microsoft suggests that Cortana may still have a role in the enterprise market.
Alexa:
Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, is accessible through the Amazon Echo line of speakers, Fire tablets, and Fire TV. Alexa is available on a wide variety of devices, including speakers of all sizes and modern-looking speakers with touchscreens. There are also some third-party smart speakers and devices that support Alexa, including the Sonos wireless speaker, Ultimate Ears Megablast speakers, Altec Lansing VersA Smart Portable speakers, and the Garmin Speak Plus Dash Camera. There is also an Alexa app, but it is intended primarily as a supplement to another Alexa device and not as a standalone AI assistant.
Siri:
Siri is Apple’s virtual assistant, and it can be accessed on almost all Apple devices, including laptops, desktops, phones, tablets, and smartwatches. Apple also sells its own speaker, the HomePod, and it looks like third-party access is on the way. Sonos claims it will roll out a software update in July that will allow users to access Siri (in addition to Alexa and Google Assistant).
Ease of setup
The term “ease of setup” refers to how long it takes to start using an AI assistant and how complicated the process is. Each of the four AI assistants I tested have the option to customize the user’s experience, including app integration, custom settings, and adaptive responses.
To ensure a fair comparison, I only evaluated how long it took for a new user to turn on the device and begin using it. Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa required almost no setup time, taking less than 45 seconds to gain initial access. However, Cortana had a more complicated setup process. To access its voice features, the user must log in using an acceptable email account, and work or school email addresses are not allowed. After entering an email account, the user must wait for a verification code and enter it.
I successfully logged in by downloading the Cortana app and signing in on my phone, but it did not allow me to sign in with my phone number. The app only accepted non-work and non-school email addresses for the login. After signing in, Cortana greeted me by my entire email address for the remainder of our conversations. The setup process may be easier for the Harman Kardon speakers featuring Cortana when they are released.
Voice Recognition
In evaluating the voice recognition capabilities of various virtual assistants, I focused solely on how accurately they could understand the words I was saying, without considering context or the quality of their responses. To test this, I spoke to each assistant at different distances and levels of background noise.
Under ideal conditions, Google and Siri performed well, accurately understanding most of my commands when the room was quiet and I was close to the devices. However, both assistants struggled to hear me when I asked them to do something sound-related, like read a news article or play music. In contrast, Alexa had difficulty understanding even basic questions, and often directed me to the wrong place when I asked for help with a task.
Cortana performed the worst of all the assistants, struggling to understand even simple questions in a quiet room. Despite speaking slowly and clearly with no background noise, Cortana could not understand queries like “cancel this task” or “find me a restaurant.” While Cortana was able to understand some questions about the weather, it still lagged behind the other three assistants in basic voice recognition.
Evaluating AI Assistant’s Comprehension of Natural Language and Contextual Responses
The main advantage of an AI assistant is its ability to comprehend natural language and provide relevant responses based on context. To evaluate this capability, I created questions that required context-dependent follow-ups. For instance, I asked the assistants questions such as:
“How much is $5 worth in euros? What about in yen?”
“Can you locate an Applebee’s restaurant near me and make a reservation?”
“How long would it take me to get to LaGuardia Airport if I drove there? What if I used the subway?”
Additionally, I posed a series of common questions about scheduling, setting reminders, online shopping, booking travel accommodations, and getting directions to each of the assistants.
Cortana
Unfortunately, Cortana did not perform well compared to the other virtual assistants as it had difficulty hearing and understanding me. When it did understand me, its responses were not intuitive or helpful. For instance, when I asked for directions to the nearest airport, it took almost a full minute to return results from Bing, which were mostly links to general airline ticket websites like Expedia.
When I asked Cortana to convert USD to yen, a task that the other three assistants accomplished easily, it did not provide a verbal response. Instead, it displayed a page from Bing with a list of general information about currency exchange from Answers.com. Whenever I asked follow-up questions, particularly those dependent on context, Cortana either did not respond, indicated that it did not know or directed me to allow permissions from a third-party app.
Although it is possible to integrate third-party apps with Cortana (as with all the assistants), the process may be cumbersome. In general, Cortana appears to be more of a tool to search Bing verbally and receive answers on a laptop than a fully functional virtual assistant for business.
Alexa
During testing, Alexa performed well in answering simple questions and handling basic tasks such as setting reminders and purchasing items on Amazon. However, when faced with more complex questions that required context or attention to detail, Alexa struggled. For example, when asked to purchase airline tickets, it consistently referred the user to Fandango, a service for buying movie tickets. Alexa also had difficulty with follow-up questions and would often respond with a polite but unhelpful “Sorry, I don’t know that.”
Alexa seemed to be able to complete some parts of each task asked of it but not all. For instance, it could provide information on the nearest Applebee’s restaurant, but it couldn’t make a reservation. When asked about currency exchange, Alexa could answer how much $5 was in euros but couldn’t provide information on yen. Additionally, when asked how long it would take to get to LaGuardia Airport, Alexa replied with “As I don’t know your speed, I can’t tell you how long that will take.”
Alexa’s use of specific terminology for commands proved to be a challenge. For instance, when asked to read the news, it wouldn’t stop reading even when asked using several different direct commands. To stop the news briefing, the user had to say “stop flash briefing,” which isn’t necessarily an intuitive command. Setting reminders with Alexa was easy, but when the reminder time arrived, it would simply blare an alarm, leaving the user to guess what the alarm was for.
In conclusion, Alexa is a suitable AI assistant for ordering on Amazon and integrating with smart home devices. However, its natural language processing capabilities may not be the best when compared to other AI assistants. Users who want to adopt Alexa should review user guides before setting it up to have a better understanding of its limitations.
Google Assistant vs. Siri
Comparing Google Assistant and Siri in their ability to understand context and natural language is valuable, as both assistants are very similar in terms of ease of use and intelligence.
During testing, when I asked for directions to One World Trade Center, both assistants provided clear driving instructions. However, when I asked for public transportation directions, only Google Assistant responded verbally with subway directions and provided an automatic link to step-by-step instructions on Google Maps. Siri, on the other hand, only found alternate driving directions and was unable to provide public transit directions no matter how I asked.
Siri performed better than Google Assistant in finding specific restaurants and making reservations. While both assistants found nearby restaurants, only Siri could make a reservation. When I asked Google Assistant to make a reservation for me, it led me to DisneyWorld.com instead of the desired restaurant. Google Assistant also struggled with booking flights from New York to Paris, asking for dates and providing reservation options but not actually booking the flights. However, it did offer a helpful feature of emailing me if prices changed for the flights I was interested in.
When asked to read the news, Google Assistant started playing a recent NPR podcast while Siri simply Googled various news sources. I noticed that Siri responded less frequently with spoken responses than Google Assistant did, but this could be adjusted through settings.
In conclusion, both assistants have their strengths and weaknesses, and users should consider their specific needs before choosing one over the other. It’s important to note that specific requests and phrasing are necessary for both assistants to work effectively.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In summary, all of the AI assistants have their limitations as this is a relatively new technology that still has room for improvement. During my testing, I encountered a few questions that none of the virtual assistants could answer, like when I asked for directions to the nearest airport, and both Google Assistant and Siri provided humorous and unhelpful responses.
Based solely on their out-of-the-box performance, my top picks would be either Siri or Google Assistant, and the final decision would depend on personal hardware preferences. However, none of the assistants are advanced enough to justify going out of your way to acquire them. Instead, choose the assistant that is most convenient for you and that works well with the hardware you already have.
The Top Virtual Assistant Services to Boost Your Business in 2023: Forbes Advisor’s Recommendations
Virtual assistants (VAs) are individuals who work remotely under a contract to complete tasks on behalf of a person or company. Hiring a virtual assistant service can be an excellent way to expand your team and increase efficiency. Most VA services offer cost-effective solutions by pricing their work based on tasks or hours worked. This allows busy business owners to focus on important tasks like growing their business instead of being caught up with simple yet necessary tasks. To assist you in selecting a service, Forbes Advisor has compiled a list of the best virtual assistant services based on factors such as cost, reputation, service capabilities, and other relevant data points.
Top Virtual Assistant Services of 2023:
Recommendations for Your Specific Needs
If you’re looking for a virtual assistant service to help with tasks, there are many options available. Different services may be better suited to your needs depending on what you’re looking for. Forbes Advisor has identified some of the best virtual assistant services of 2023, based on various factors such as reputation, capabilities, and cost. Here are some of the top options:
Fancy Hands is a good choice if you need quick help with simple tasks.
Time etc may be a good option for entrepreneurs who need more extensive assistance.
Uassist.ME is a bilingual service, which could be helpful if you need assistance in multiple languages.
Prialto is a good option if you have a large team that needs support.
WoodBows has a reputation for high customer satisfaction, so they may be a good choice if customer service is a priority for you.
Methodology for Evaluating Virtual Assistant Services
We researched the most commonly used virtual assistant services available. We started by evaluating the basic cost of their services and whether they had American-based virtual assistants available under their subscription plans. We then delved into the specifics of the company and how their subscription plans operated. It was crucial to ensure that the process of assigning tasks was clear and transparent.
Our evaluation focused on the following factors:
Pricing and affordability
Available services
Location of virtual assistants
Flexibility and turnaround time
Reviews and ratings from other users.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Virtual Assistant for Your Business
When you are hiring a virtual assistant, it is important to think about more than just the cost of their services. You should also consider whether it is important to have a VA who is based in the United States or who is fluent in English, especially if they will be working with clients or team members. Good communication is essential and you should choose a VA service that offers multiple communication options so that you can assign tasks and communicate in a way that works best for you. It is also important to find a VA who specializes in the tasks you need them to do. You don’t want an administrative VA working on marketing tasks, so it is crucial to find someone who is skilled and experienced in the specific tasks you need help with.
Virtual Assistant FAQs: Services Offered, Hours Worked, Cost, NDAs, and Cost-Effectiveness for Small Businesses
What Services Does a virtual Assistant Offer?
A virtual assistant (VA) can offer a range of services depending on their expertise and skill set. However, common tasks include handling administrative duties like scheduling appointments, making phone calls, and arranging travel plans. Additionally, some VAs may also have experience managing social media accounts and performing marketing or content writing tasks. It’s important to communicate your specific needs with your VA to ensure they are able to assist you with the services you require.
How Many Hours does a Virtual Assistant Work?
Virtual assistants typically have different packages and plans that can range from working as little as ten hours per week to full-time hours. This can vary depending on the specific virtual assistant service. Additionally, some virtual assistant services may offer a task-based pricing model, where you are charged based on the specific tasks completed, rather than the number of hours worked.
What is the average cost of a virtual assistant?
According to the VA Handbook, the average cost of a virtual assistant based in the United States can range up to $60 per hour. However, the cost can vary depending on factors such as the VA’s level of experience, their location, and the specific services they offer.
Do I need a nondisclosure agreement?
Whether or not you need to have your virtual assistant sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) largely depends on the type of business you run. If your business deals with sensitive information or proprietary data, it is recommended that you have your VA sign an NDA to protect your company’s confidentiality. The good news is that some of the top virtual assistant services offer customizable NDAs that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your business.
Is using a virtual assistant service cost-effective, even for a small business?
Using a virtual assistant service may be a cost-effective option for small businesses. Virtual assistants are not employees of the business, and therefore do not require the same payroll expenses, such as insurance, vacation, and equipment. This means that virtual assistants can save the business money in the long run, as they work on an as-needed basis. By choosing to use virtual assistants only when necessary, small businesses can save money on these additional costs.