Siri vs. Google Assistant – Which Assistant Is Best for You?

 

Android and Apple fans have always argued about which phone is better. Now they can debate which digital assistant is better.

Using your voice to give commands to a computer once seemed like science fiction. Now we expect our phones to provide such assistants.

Siri from Apple and Google Assistant from Google both try to answer users’ questions. The two companies each hope that by offering the best digital assistants, they will sell more of their products and services.

Siri

Siri first came to the iPhone in October of 2011 with the iPhone 4s. Now Siri is available on many other Apple products, such as iPad, AppleTV, Mac computers, and more.

You can use Siri to:

Control Apple Music

Open apps

Set a timer

Check your email

Get directions

Add an appointment to your calendar

Send a text message

Start a video call

Check your calendar for your next appointment

Search the Internet

Set a reminder²

Find photos

Get scores from sporting events

Tell you a joke

Check the weather and

Ask Siri what it can do

One thing you should not do is ask Siri to divide zero by zero!

Beginning with iOS 10, Siri can now be used with apps from companies other than Apple.

You can now ask Siri to:

Make reservations³ at a restaurant using OpenTable

Get a ride with Uber

Send tweets using Twitter

Discover the best local places on Yelp⁴

Start a run with Nike Run Club

Make a call on Skype or Whats App

Post to Facebook

Tell you what song is playing using Shazam

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is a new digital assistant, having recently arrived on the Pixel and Pixel XL phones and the Google Home smart speaker. Google Assistant works⁵ with other Google services such as Gmail, Google Flights, Google Photos and Google Maps.

The more you use Google, the more useful Google Assistant becomes.

You can use Google Assistant to:

Get a Daily Briefing of news

Find out your travel schedule

Set reminders⁶

Send videos to your Chromecast streaming TV device⁷

Get the weather

Find out the travel time to work

Check your calendar

Find photos on Google Photos

Ask Google Assistant what it can do

Google Assistant vs. Siri -- Infographic

Wondering how Google Assistant and Siri compare? An infographic shows the advantages and disadvantages of both:

Which Assistant Is Best for You?

Both Siri and Google Assistant can be very useful in many situations. But their usefulness depends on how much you use their compatible⁸ products.

If you use Apple products, Siri is the assistant that will work best for you. If you use Google products, then Google Assistant will work better for you.

The choice between an iPhone that has Siri and an Android phone that has Google Assistant should not be made based on the assistant it uses.

Assistants can be improved through updates that add new powers. Choose the phone that works best for you and learn what its assistant can do to help you the most.

Infographic courtesy⁹ of 50waystohelp.com.

Words in This Story

digital assistant - n. an application program that can understand natural language and complete electronic tasks for the user¹.

infographic - n. a visual image such as a chart or diagram¹⁰ used to represent information or data

compatible - adj. able to be used together

update - n. a change or addition to computer software

1 user   

n.用户，使用者

参考例句：

• The company is the biggest user of oil.该公司是最大的石油用户。
• The umbrella keeps the rains off the user.雨伞使撑伞人免受雨淋。

2 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

3 reservations   

n.[法律]（权益等的）保留( reservation的名词复数 )；预订；保留地；保留意见

参考例句：

• Most of these workers are American Indians living on reservations. 这些工人中的大多数是住在居留地的美洲印第安人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Have you made the reservations for our holiday yet? 你为我们度假做好预订安排了吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 yelp   

vi.狗吠

参考例句：

• The dog gave a yelp of pain.狗疼得叫了一声。
• The puppy a yelp when John stepped on her tail.当约翰踩到小狗的尾巴，小狗发出尖叫。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

7 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

8 compatible   

adj.兼容的；能和睦相处的，合得来的

参考例句：

• You should choose a roommate more compatible to your tastes.你应该挑个和你意气更相投的人同住一室。
• Health and hard work are compatible.健康与努力工作是一致的。

9 courtesy   

n.谦恭有礼，礼貌的举止，好意，恩惠

参考例句：

• She called on us merely for the sake of courtesy.她来访只是为了礼貌。
• After a few words of courtesy,they got down to business.双方客气了一番，就开始谈正事。

10 diagram   

n.图表，示意图；图解；vt.绘制…的示意图

参考例句：

• On the back of the letter was a diagram.信的背面是张图表。
• The engineer drew a diagram of the bridge.工程师绘制了一幅这座桥的示意图。