Google Now utilizes Google services to provide information to users, and it’s likely Google’s Echo competitor will have similar, deep Google integration.
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Google bought Nest for $3.2 billion in 2014, though the smart-device maker is now run independently under the holding company Alphabet. More than two years later, however, the Nest acquisition is looking like an abject disaster for Google, as a new report from The Information makes clear. That’s why the new voice recognition efforts are reportedly handled by a separate team that’s not part of Nest.
“Nest asked to be included in a secret Google project to create a competitor to Amazon’s Echo, a voice-controlled personal assistant device”, The Information reports.
Drama aside, the report also contains a list of upcoming Google and Nest products. When we might hear about the device officially is anyone’s guess, as it isn’t clear how far along Google is in the development process.
Google already offers voice recognition tech on Android with the “Ok, Google” hotword, and it’s one of the better voice assistants available.
Google wants to extend its services into your home, past the Nest, mobile phones, and tablets.
The tensions could be related with Nest CEO Tony Fadell’s struggle to build out the company and maintain employee satisfaction.
Google isn’t the only company with Echo envy: Last week, Sonos revealed that it was laying off a number of employees because of a changing landscape in digital music and home automation.
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The report itself doesn’t say whether Google’s Echo rival will ever come to market, but we’d bet money you’ll see a Nexus smart hub launched by Google before the end of the year.
