As usual Apple has created major waves as it introduces new technology. We are talking about the iPhone 4S with the Siri voice technology application. Forbes with a two-step back-and-forth series has helped the hype. Perhaps Siri is a Google killer. Perhaps Siri is not a Google killer. Given the growing importance of the mobile Internet, there are huge implications in how this conflict plays out.
The Forbes Debate On Whether Siri Is A Google Killer
Whether provocatively or by happenstance, Forbes raised the hype by publishing two conflicting commentaries on this. Eric Jackson wrote a piece on why Siri is a Google killer. Ten days later David Coursey countered with a piece on why Siri is not a Google killer. Both contributors are knowledgeable in the field so clearly this question is not easily resolved.
Eric Jackson Sheds More Light on The Google Mobile Team
Eric Jackson has written a most interesting post on the history of voice technology and described how some of the key players have been involved. He was involved in the voice technology sector and knows the players and their motivations. You might well think from that review that the present Google mobile team was well placed and very experienced to take the right strategic decision.
One item in that post is a video produced by Apple in 1987 as their vision of where this technology might go. This is produced below.
An Apple Future Vision Becomes Reality
The first video here is Apple’s visionary view in 1987 of the Knowledge Navigator:
The second video is a demo of the new Siri application on the Apple iPhone 4s.
As you may notice, most of the functionalities envisaged in 1987 are now available almost a quarter of a century later. It may have taken a long time to come together, but clearly this is a practical approach at this time.
Google May Continue Its Present Mobile Strategy
Although Siri has done much more in the artificial intelligence field than Android has (as far as is public), Google could certainly put the resources in place to do their Android version of Siri, if it wished. It certainly has some of the brightest people in voice technology. However I believe there are reasons why, as an organization, they will be reluctant to do this. That is why I wrote in Technorati that Siri will be a Google Mobile killer. The reasons I set out in the article were the following:
- Google Is A Product-Driven Company
- Google Thinks Apple Is Wrong
- Google Is Proud
- Smart Phones Should Use Voice Input Not Finger Swipes
The first reason is why Google will not acknowledge the importance of the fourth reason.
Apple Will Have A 2 Year Lead In The Mobile Internet
I am not alone in this line of thinking. Gary Morgenthaler, a partner at Morgenthaler Ventures, recognized expert in artificial intelligence, and a Siri board member and investor argues that Apple now has at least a two-year advantage over Google in the war for best smartphone platform.
Apple is now offering through semantic analysis and artificial intelligence the opportunity to interact with your mobile device to home in on the right answer or complete the right task. This is quite counter to the typical Google approach where they hope by understanding enough about you and your preferences, they will deliver exactly the answer you want in one pass. That may be an additional reason why Google will reluctantly followed the Siri lead when the marketplace shows that it is inevitable.
