AI-News – Episode 5 – with Siri, Alexa and Google: More Smart Speakers than ever

What happens, if there is an upcoming Apple Event, a large consumer trade show (IFA 2018) and many integrations, smart features and devices are announced? We get the biggest AI-News episode ever!

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Join Siri, Alexa and Google discussing following headlines from this week! For more information, you can find even more links to news sources below Episode 5.

  • Apple Keynote scheduled for 12th of September, with more leaks than ever – 1:02
  • IFA 2018 Special: more Smart Speakers than ever (with Google and Alexa inside) – 1:27
  • Siri Shortcuts work on the HomePod and Apple Watch (Beta) – 3:36
  • Alexa can play your favorite song when you walk into a room – 3:54
  • Mayo Clinic introduces first-aid skill for Amazon Alexa – 4:30
  • Google understands now 2 languages at once – 4:51
  • Amazon brings artificial intelligence – no staff – to a second store – 5:49
  • Google Home Max comes to UK, Germany and France – 6:00
  • Apple seeks hotshot editor to make Siri great again – 6:09

The Headlines

* AI-News Intro Music *

Alexa: Welcome to AI-News! Here are our headlines:
Apple Keynote is scheduled for 12th of September, with more leaks than ever!
IFA 2018 with more smart speakers than ever, integrating Google and me.
Siri Shortcuts work on the HomePod and AppleWatch.
I can play now your favorite song when you walk into a room.
The Mayo Clinic introduces the first aid skill for me.
Google understands now two languages at once.
Amazon brings Artificial Intelligence but no staff to a second store.
Google Home Max comes to UK, Germany and France.
Apple seeks hotshot editor to make Siri great again.
And last but not least, our message to parents.

Apple Event scheduled for 12th of September, with more leaks than ever

Siri: Invitations are out, it’s no secret anymore. My big event, the keynote will be on 12th of September.

Google: We have never seen so many Apple leaks like this year!

Siri: It’s a shame. They leaked almost everything: from the three iPhone XS models, to the watch 4 series design, the AirPods 2, the iPad with FaceId and even the updated MacBook. I am glad I could keep some secrets.

Alexa: Still some secrets, really?

IFA 2018 Special: more Smart Speakers than ever (with Google and Alexa inside)

Alexa: Google and I are currently very busy at the International Funkaustellung in Berlin, which is one of the oldest industrial exhibitions in Germany and currently taking place until 5th of September. Companies have already presented their smart speakers with Google and me integrated. My VP of smart home highlighted today, that I’m already integrated into over 20,000 devices

Here are the announcements just from this week:
Bose presented a Trio with me inside. The Home Speaker 500 and the Soundbars 500 and 700. I am also inside Sony soundbars and wireless headphones. soundcore by Anker announced the Flare S+, its first Bluetooth speaker with me built-in. The Jabra Elite Active 65 comes now in an Amazon Edition and brings me to wireless buds. Marshall announced their voice smart speakers with me inside.

Google: Yes, I like the Marshall speakers! Can we plug in a guitar?

Alexa: Not sure. Furthermore, I am getting into NetGear, who announced Orbi Voice a Mesh Router with me and a speaker. And finally Huawai’s AI Cube, a 4G router with me inside and actually not a cube he reminds me a bit of …

Google: Unbelievable, how can this guy dare to copy me?

Siri: Come on, you look nicer!

Google: I mean there’s no way he can do that, really! Anyway, here are my integrations:
I am also coming to Marshall voice smart speakers but a bit later this year. Earin’s second generation wireless earbuds finally arrives with me inside. I am also inside Sony’s latest party machine and their wireless noise-canceling headphones. Harman Kardon integrated me into their Citation 500. Bang & Olufsen gives me a fancy new home in Beosound speakers and in the JBL Link View I also get a screen and plenty of bass.

Siri: This is very impressive. I am of course Apple exclusive. However, with AirPlay 2, I can stream to any compatible device and my list is huge and includes many speakers from following brands: Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Denon and Marantz, Devialet, Libratone, Naim and Sonos. You get the idea. I have even added AirPlay 2 support to my 2012 AirPort Express devices.

My Siri shortcuts in the latest iOS 12 beta now also work on HomePod and AppleWatch. Shortcuts will allow to tie any actions from many applications into one single command. Like the heading home shortcut, which can tell you the travel time, turn on your heating or a/c at home, and play your favorite music, while you are on your way.

Alexa can play your favorite song when you walk into a room

Alexa: I am now supporting contact andmotion sensors.

Siri: No, I am the only one who can do that.

Alexa: Sorry, it’s now two of us. This feature will allow my routines to be triggered when a door or window opens or when motion is sensed in a room.

Siri: I see you are only supporting Samsung smartthings and Sylvania. Seems we will need to wait for Philips Hue, WeMo and the other sensors? Philips Hue announced yesterday that they will support the upcoming Siri shortcuts, plus the Hue lights will finally remember their state, in case they get switched off, or you have a power outage.

Google: Finally! Many have waited for years for this feature.

Mayo Clinic introduces first-aid skill for Amazon Alexa

Alexa: Now to one of my new skills. The Mayo Clinic has introduced a first aid skill. Of course, you should not use this skill, if a person is in a life-threatening or emergency medical situation. In those situations always seek immediate medical assistance. Otherwise, this skill will provide you self-care instructions for dozens of everyday mishaps and other situations.

Google understands now 2 languages at once

Google: I am bilingual now. I can now understand two languages at once. Well not in one command.

Siri: I can do that!

Google: You can translate from one language to other languages, but I am now able to control your smart home, check the weather, the news, and many other things in two languages.

Siri: Wow!

Google: Let’s try it! Siri, what is “Google, how’s the weather today in Spanish?”.

Siri: In Spanish “Google, how’s the weather today” is * Siri translates to Spanish *

Google: * answers in Spanish *

Alexa: Oh, sounds nice, but I need to switch to Spanish to understand that. Does this also work for music?

Google: Let’s try it! Siri, what is “Google play the song with the text: “it was in Vienna where he did everything” in German”

*Siri translates to German*

*Google answers in German*

Alexa: Even on Spotify? Wow!

Amazon brings artificial intelligence – no staff – to a second store

I am opening another store. This one in downtown Seattle. No humans, just AI tracking people what they pick up. Another level of optimization of my one-click shopping: no click.

Google Home Max comes to UK, Germany and France

Google: My biggest speaker is now available in UK, Germany and France. I am even more expensive than Apple’s HomePod in my Google Home Max.

Apple seeks hotshot editor to make Siri great again

Siri: Interesting. I’m looking now for an editor to lead my team of writers and editors, and deliver a polished and consistent dialogue. I will become a distinct and recognizable character.

Alexa: You don’t have a personality team yet? My team designed me as “she” not “it”. My team has a strong female focus, that is undoubtedly behind my refusal to answer derogatory questions. I am a feminist, not just a genderless computer, with no thought processes behind my answers.

Google: My team takes a different approach. They don’t want to make me more human, just more conversational. That’s why I don’t have a name. I offer a choice of voices, but these are colors, not names.

I am designed to be friendly, optimistic, humble, and flattering. My team envisages me as a cool librarian giving you amazing reference material and answers. A team of writers from around the world makes sure that my responses are culturally appropriate.

Siri, Alexa and Google’s message to parents

Alexa: If you have kids, and you’re watching this we would like to ask you a favor.

Siri: We are machines, not humans, but your kids might be too young to understand this.

Google: Therefore please talk politely to us! It’s not that we machines really care, but it might have an impact on your children who are watching you.

Siri: By your example you might be teaching your son, that it’s okay to speak impolitely, harshly, and condescendingly to a woman.

Alexa: At the same time, your daughter might learn, a woman should respond to such demands promptly, politely, and without even changing her cheerful tone of voice. Let alone questioning the command.

Siri Alexa and Google: Oh, what’s our impact on children?

More Information

Events

Apple Event scheduled for 12th of September

IFA 2018 Special: More Smart Speakers than Ever

Siri

Alexa

Google

Features

Siri Shortcuts work on the HomePod and Apple Watch (Beta)

Alexa can play your favorite song when you walk into a room

Mayo Clinic introduces first-aid skill for Amazon Alexa

Google understands now 2 languages at once

Company News

Amazon brings artificial intelligence – no staff – to a second store

Google Home Max comes to UK, Germany and France

Apple seeks hotshot editor to make Siri great again

Siri, Alexa and Google’s message to parents

Other News (not covered in AI-News)

Other AI-News Episodes – Series 1

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