Ok Google vs. Siri: Which is better?

It’s no secret that Google and Apple are fierce rivals. When Apple introduced the iPhone 4s and released Siri at the same time in 2011, it shook up the market. Only a short time later, Google Now was launched as a great response to Siri by Google, which is no worse than Apple in terms of development technologies.

Recently, Google brought “Ok Google” voice search to Chrome, users just download Google Voice Search Holtword for free from the Chrome Web Store and enable this feature by clicking the microphone icon on the right side of the search box, they can search by voice without ever touching the keyboard. Sadly, the Google Search Holtword Extension is just a beta and only works on Google.com now.

In such a situation Google Now and Ok Google work together, it’s an advantage against Siri. Well, which is better Siri or Ok Google? Below are pros and cons to both Siri and Ok Google, let’s look at contrast analyses which Natasha made.

1. Voice-to-Text

Google Now does basic dictation and the words appear as you speak without need for Internet connection. Whereas with Siri, you can't see all the transcription errors until you stop talking.
Siri has a better understanding of formatting controls. Whereas with Google Now, it can only understand basic symbols, like “period”, “comma”, “question mark” and “exclamation point”.

2. Semantic Comprehension

Sometimes, Siri is delay in simply understanding what user's saying, whereas with Ok Google, it won't let you down. There's a test to have done. In New York, someone took a train bound for Brazil and asked Siri what the weather was like in São Paulo (Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, is 500 miles away from São Paulo, and its weather so distinctive, we could say it's a different country.), Siri replied, "Here's the weather for Brasilia, Brazil, through Wednesday next week." When he asked Ok Google, Ok Google replied, "Here's the weather forecast for São Paulo, Brazil, for Sunday night."
Additionally, Ok Google used a web service to correct what it had understood initially from the question to something that made complete sense. But Siri usually just apologizes for not getting what user said. Ok Google does better in speech recognition.

3. Internet Search

Google is the best search engine in the world, so Ok Google excels at providing Internet search. Ok Google is much smarter than Siri when it comes to web searches. You can use Ok Google to search, get directions, send messages, and perform other common tasks. If you make the same request, Ok Google is always faster and more accurate in carrying out your instruction.

4. Convenient Operation

When you drive carefully and need help from both Siri and Google Now, Siri has a clear superiority in convenient operation. You can ask Siri without turning your eyes away, whereas with Google Now, you have to click on the microphone icon. How unsafe it is to drive. Be assured that Moto X is an exception, and Nexus 5 has made the switch to access Google Now without actually touching it. That's a good development.

5. OS Compatibility

As is known to all, Siri is so loyal to Apple and can only be used on iOS. Google Now runs well whether iOS or Android.

6. Other Features 

Ok Google records a few seconds of ambient background noise in temporary memory to improve processing of your voice input, Google Cloud is evolving faster and the layer of intelligence is being studied.

All in all, Ok Google is just introduced and will be refined with a strong technical support, and Siri is a good choice as a personal assistant.