Why big tech thinks voice control will conquer the world

Voice assistant technology could be the glue that holds smart home ecosystems together

Google Home Mini.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Every year, a conspicuous theme emerges as the "new thing" in the tech world: drones, wearables, self-driving cars, whatever the latest trend is. But at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the prominent trend was mostly invisible: voice control. It seemed like half the new products announced, whether they were TVs, kitchen appliances, or smart displays, all contained a voice assistant.

Perhaps this shouldn't be surprising. This holiday season, Amazon and Google in particular enthusiastically pushed their smart speakers — for Amazon, its Echo line, and for Google, its Home products — as it becomes clear that voice-based digital assistants are the next big frontier. But this year, Google is putting major marketing resources behind its digital helper. The marketing push was hard to ignore at CES. It's clear Google is taking aim at Amazon's Echo. The race to woo consumers is on.

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Navneet Alang

Navneet Alang is a technology and culture writer based out of Toronto. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, New Republic, Globe and Mail, and Hazlitt.