As the dust settles from another Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, one thing is clear: competition over consumer AI platforms is set to significantly intensify in 2018, as some of the biggest names in tech seek to persuade people the world over to welcome their different voice assistants into homes, phones, cars and offices.
Google came out swinging at the annual tech event last week, announcing the integration of its Google Assistant with a wide array of gadgets, appliances and cars. A host of product makers also announced compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa, proving that the online retailer was not going to cede the spotlight so easily.
There’s little doubt now that the long-promised voice-controlled future – where people interact with appliances, vehicles and devices of all sorts simply by talking to them – is finally here, with plenty of money to be made for those who can get the experience right.
The number of AI-capable devices is set to grow to 7.5 billion by 2021, according to UK-based research analysts Ovum. Smartphones will lead the way, but AI assistants such as Samsung’s Bixby and Apple’s Siri will increasingly find their way into smart home products, such as speakers, televisions and other home appliances.
The revenue from such smart-home products is due to grow by a compound annual rate of 13 per cent to US$137 billion by 2023, according to Seattle-based research firm Markets and Markets.
Google and Amazon’s voice assistants appear to be very much in the ascendancy, with dozens of third-party device manufacturers piling onto their platforms. The fate of the other main contenders in the market - Apple’s Siri, Samsung’s Bixby and Microsoft’s Cortana – now comes into question.
On the face of it, the battle of the voice assistants resembles the past decade’s fight between mobile operating systems, when smartphone app designers had to choose where to spend their limited development resources.
Amazon and Google against the rest, on the face of it, looks a little like Android and iOS versus BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and others, not to mention the competition between computer operating systems in years gone by.
Viewed through that lens, the future doesn’t look good for Apple, Samsung and Microsoft. But this time around, the fight is likely to be different.
While history showed there was room for only two or three players in the PC and mobile epochs, there will likely be more opportunities in voice AI – provided that competitors understand their strengths and weaknesses and embrace their niches.
First up, there's Microsoft. With Cortana, the computing giant hoped to become a voice power on PCs. But with Amazon having released Alexa for PCs last year and a similar move by Google all but inevitable, Microsoft will likely need to adjust its plans.
Early-mover advantage is particularly important with AI, since its effectiveness grows exponentially alongside the data it gathers. If Alexa and Google Assistant already do a good job at combing the web for queries, controlling home devices and delivering news reports, they’re only going to get better as they learn from an ever-growing trove of user-supplied information.
Cortana is well behind and, without the same commensurate snowball effect, is destined to remain behind the eight ball.
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Microsoft’s smartest move might therefore be to cede the larger ecosystem of PCs and settle for tight voice AI integration with its own products, including Office, Skype and Xbox.
As long as Cortana remains straightforward and helpful in such applications, there’s no reason to believe that consumers won’t use it.
Unlike fellow electronics conglomerates Sony and LG, Samsung isn’t directly implementing Google Assistant (even though it is available on its latest Galaxy S and Note handsets) or Alexa. The company is instead forging ahead with its own Bixby assistant, while also hedging its bets through its SmartThings subsidiary.
Samsung has long resisted relegation to the role of dumb hardware maker, which is why it has expended so much effort on developing its Galaxy Apps store and Samsung Pay system.
Uptake is reportedly small compared to equivalents from Apple and Google, but the company evidently feels the services are worthwhile enough to differentiate its smartphones from the rest of the Android flock.
At CES, Samsung committed to pushing Bixby into its televisions and home appliances, which means it is taking a similar approach with voice control. At the very least, the company wants to give Bixby a try before succumbing to Google and Amazon.
The future of SmartThings, the US-based home automation start-up the company acquired in 2014, is murkier. The subsidiary currently makes hub devices that allow home appliances, including those produced by Samsung, to be controlled by Google Assistant and Alexa.
But, as all those non-Samsung devices add direct interoperability with Google and Amazon’s ecosystems, SmartThings’ future relevance can only diminish.
Of the major players, Apple perhaps has the most to lose from Google’s and Amazon’s voice domination.
The iPhone maker had the early lead with Siri (still the most popular voice assistant, according to Ovum) and gained some early traction with third-party device makers via its HomeKit system.
But, with Siri’s accuracy starting to lag, and manufacturers increasingly preferring Alexa and Google Assistant, HomeKit could be positioned for a similar fate to SmartThings.
As with app stores and mobile operating systems, product makers could indeed decide that a third platform isn’t worth their resources, which would leave Apple with a shrinking ecosystem. Indeed, Siri was virtually invisible at CES. Apple's Siri-equipped HomePod speaker, unveiled by the company in June, has yet to launch commercially.
Apple is in a similar position to Samsung, except that the South Korean company has a much wider array of products – from refrigerators to TVs to washing machines – from which to gather all-important AI data.
Apple isn’t just behind in AI, its ecosystem is small and in danger of getting smaller. The problem isn’t existential yet. But it would be ironic if the rise of voice assistants – which Apple pioneered with the launch of Siri in 2011 – could end up leading to the company’s decline.
Peter Nowak is a veteran technology writer and the author of Humans 3.0: The Upgrading of the Species
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Dubai World Cup nominations
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.
Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal
DUNGEONS%20%26%20DRAGONS%3A%20HONOR%20AMONG%20THIEVES
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
