Artificial Intelligence seems to be the new ‘big thing’ in technology with many companies such as Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung contributing budgets to developing their own version of AI. However, up to now, there have mainly been two companies that have actually delivered AI to the consumer (Amazon with the Amazon Echo and Google with the Pixel, Pixel XL and the Google Home). Google Home is an interesting product that aims to change the way your home is. Therefore, without further ado, here are the main things you need to know about the Google Home.

 

What is Google Home?

Google Home is a voice-activated speaker that is powered by the artificial intelligence software by Google known as Google Assistant. The aim of the product is to place it in your home and enables you to talk aloud and gain information in an easy fashion. In a way, it is the first step to creating a ‘smart’ home.

 

What can Google Home do?

The possibilities of Google Home are endless due to the fact we can see Google Assistant will get software updates to make the level of AI increase. However, as of now (November 2016), Google Home can converse and perform tasks asked by you such as:

• Play music of your choice.
• Watch videos on a TV that has a Google Chromecast.
• Control light switches, doors, temperature of your home (if you have a Nest Thermostat).
• Add notes to a shopping list.
• Answer pretty much any question.
• Order takeaway and other products.
• Converse with.
• Play games.

In a way, it is probably easier to say what Google Home cannot do!

 

When will Google Home be released?

For America, Google Home will be released on 4th November 2016 for a retail recommend price of $129. It has not been officially noted when the Google Home will be released for the rest of the world. However, if Google do not release it soon for other countries, I think we can all say this is a big mistake by Google to miss out on the holiday rush: something which Amazon have not missed out on with their already released Amazon Echo.

 

Is the Google Home worth getting?

In terms of getting an AI for your home, I think it is worth getting. However, there are two main players in their market at the moment being Google and Amazon. Therefore, what eco-system are you swinging towards? If you like Apple, you may choose Amazon whereas Android users would naturally choose Google. However, at the moment, in a straight contest, it seems Google Home offers more than the Amazon Echo does. Therefore, if I had to pick between the two, I would, at the moment, choose the Google Home (although this can obviously change very quickly as new software updates make the artificially intelligence systems in the devices even more clever and contextual to the user)!