Jim, I'm sincerely interested in what it is about GH that YOU don't find desirable as an AI/personal assistant.
Simply put I am more of a Amazon fanboy than Google. How many iphone users ditch their iPhone whatever and switch to android? Some but not many. I started my AI/ personal assistant search last Christmas. I never used ask google on my phone, I do not apple so no use for Siri and Cortana on my PC's are more of a pain than not. I use Alexa to play music and to turn lights on and off. Simple things like timers and reminders as well. Asking her questions is more of a party trick for me. I just got into the mastermind beta and will probably be using that a lot more in my cars dot.
GH was too late to the game to capture me. I do not like the form factor / size / price point. I have 3 echo dots. 1 for the kitchen / living room, 1 for the master bedroom and 1 for the car. I will be probably adding up to 3 more.
I use bing for a search engine. I do not care for Ray Kurzweil. My TV streamers are Rokus (no FireTVs anywhere in my house) and each of my kids have a Kindle Fire tablet. Really, my reasons are varied and mine. I am not saying that it is a bad product, just that it is not for me.
But it seems that half the posts here are about a product that 90% of us do not own and have no intention of owning. How many new people come here, post a question, read through the forum and say "Damn, maybe I bought the wrong device."
There is a section for the GH. I have read some in there to. I liked the skill hack for Ask Google on the echo. But the constant plugging of "Alexa cannot do that, but GH can!" is essentially the same as me asking a brake job question on a Dodge SUV forum and being told that the Honda Civic is much easier to do the work on.
Maybe it is just me that sees this whole thing as childish schoolyard "My ball is better than your ball." But I am willing to bet that there are others that have felt the same.
So, rant is now off, I am off my soap box and I will keep returning to read the threads as I learn more things that Alexa can do.
Ohhh, being an avid reader of many Android forums, lots and LOTS of Apple phone fans have seen the light and gone Android. Some were sorry they did, but most say they'll never go back.
Like you, my first encounter with AIs was during last Christmas. I acquired 3 Dots during that time. And during that time Alexa ruled. Many feel she still does. I now own 2 Google Homes. All 5 AIs have a place in this home but I prefer Google since she can do everything (that I need) that Alexa can and more. Plus she sounds better for music.
I don't know Ray Kurzweil. I just asked GH "who is Ray Kurzweil?". An author, inventor, computer scientist and futurist. He's invented OCR and the image scanner. GH was unable to tell me if he was associated with Google. I may not have asked correctly.
I think someone who hasn't entered the AI world yet or is new and looking for info/advice might very well be interested in reading about GH and what someone who has both, think. But if the owner of the forum would rather I didn't mention GH in any forum other than the GH forum, I will comply
I don't work for Google in any way shape or form so I'm not plugging GH. I'm simply offering both sides of the AI table so others can make a more informed decision. I know when I'm researching a product, I would be grateful to hear from both sides (two competing products). I LOVE my Echo Dots and have said so many times! It's progress, competition, capitalism. The winner is the consumer. May the best AI win. To me, right now, that's GH by a hair. IF THEY EVER TURN ON THE CALLING FEATURE and it works better than Dot to Dot calling, that will be the cat's meow
Well I hope it's just you because playing "my ball is bigger than yours" is the last thing I'm thinking. I know you didn't mention me by name, but the shoe fit so...