Google prepares for a knock down drag out fight with Amazon at CES 2018

With the 2018 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show set to open this Monday, Google has been setting up a very complex display for the large number of attendees that will be passing through the Las Vegas Convention Center. With the phrase "Hey Google" written on the side of the city's monorail cars, and seen on various billboards around town, Google will apparently be heavily promoting Google Assistant at CES this year. A rivalry of sorts has developed between Google's virtual personal assistant, and Amazon's Alexa.

Amazon's Alexa personal assistant saw its usage triple from May 2016 to May 2017, and not all of the increase was due to the jump in smart speaker sales. Alexa ended up as an option on the HTC U11, the Huawei Mate 9, and on Moto Z series phones sporting a particular Moto Mod. Since Alexa got off to a great start in 2017 with several announcements made at CES, Google is hoping to get Google Assistant off to a strong start in Vegas this year.

Google now allows users to wake/activate Google Assistant by using the "Hey Google" hotword in addition to "Ok Google." The latter has been around for some time. Alexa users simply say "Alexa," followed by the task or inquiry they want her to handle.

Alexa might have already stolen some thunder from Google Assistant this year by recently announcing the Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit. This allows developers to add Alexa to headphones, smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Google apparently has something big in mind for Google Assistant that will be unveiled at CES. Keep checking in to PhoneArena for the latest news, announcements, videos and more from CES 2018.

source: USAToday