Smart home enthusiasts: Amazon Alexa

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Although Google Assistant has some smart home capabilities, it's Amazon's Alexa that really steals the show in this regard.

The phone app allows for some control, but you really need an Amazon Fire or Amazon Echo device to get the most out of this digital assistant. In fact, this lack of cross-device functionality is what holds Alexa back from the popularity of smartphone Siri or Google Assistant.

From your phone, you can control other Amazon devices, play music guangdong mobile database through them, and more. But once unlocked, Alexa's true capabilities shine.

If you have smart locks, you can ask Alexa to lock your doors. You can have her talk to cameras installed around your home. Guard mode sends you notifications if Alexa hears certain sounds, like fire alarms or broken glass. Smart thermostats can cool and heat your home with a touch of a button.

Plus, you can team Alexa with other Amazon offerings like Audible. Stuck in the bathroom with nothing to do? Alexa, play me, Robot.

Alexa's functionality is truly impressive and probably what our ancestors imagined when they thought about the future.


For computers: Cortana
You'll find Microsoft's Cortana on any PC or laptop with a Windows 10 subscription. Cortana can read information on your computer and the internet, opening up a world of usefulness. She can combine her knowledge of your calendar and maps apps to let you know when it's time to leave for meetings—a pretty useful feature if you're chronically late to things.

It can use natural language searches to find files on your computer. So, if you ask for “photo from June 2021,” you’ll be presented with a selection.