The partnership is the first time the two companies open up their artificial intelligence-powered virtual aides to each other, and is to be aimed at outsmarting rivals Google Assistant and Apple Inc’s Siri. Users of Amazon’s Alexa would be able to ask Microsoft’s Cortana to do a range of activities — from booking a meeting to reading work e-mail, and Cortana users would be able to call on Alexa to play music or turn on house lights. Not to be left behind, Alphabet Inc on Wednesday said that Google Assistant will soon be available on third-party speakers and other home appliances. While Amazon introduced voice-controlled Alexa with its Echo speakers in 2014, Google launched Assistant on its Google Home speakers last year. Users will be able to turn to their Echo device later this year and say, “Alexa, open Cortana,” or turn to their Windows 10 device and say, “Cortana, open Alexa,” the companies said.

Source: Taipei Times August 31, 2017 15:56 UTC