Back in the day, the digital world seemed like a fabled notion. Now, we’re living it and paving the way for virtual helpers, with plenty of room for more.

In 2020, there were 128 million voice assistant users, catapulting the voice assistant market to billions of dollars. Fronting this AI smart assistant revolution are the big three from giant tech companies—Siri, Alexa and of course, Google’s virtual assistant.

Over the last few years, Google Assistant has cemented its place as one of the main assistants on the market. This conversational AI has supported millions of users—setting reminders, getting directions and picking up calls on everyone’s behalf with a smart device.

And all it takes is a simple magic command, “Hey Google,” to manage your to-do list.

Smart assistants act like a true assistant would—just minus the snarky retorts.

However, can AI assistants be effective administrative assistants? Who is Google’s virtual assistant,
promising new ways to approach routine work?

Let’s discuss these and more in this blog post.

What’s Google Assistant?

Google Assistant is a type of virtual assistant that is based on artificial intelligence. It is a software program designed by Google that is present on mobile and smart home devices.

Google Assistant is triggered by voice commands, allowing you to delegate many routine tasks like organizing your calendar and emails and setting appointments. This way, you earn more flexibility with your time, focusing on the more important matters.

A Quick History Lesson with Google Assistant

A Quick History Lesson with Google Assistant

Google Assistant was designed as a conversational assistant and was further developed later on to show more personality. This allows the software to offer a unique two-way experience to its users that extends across devices.

How Does Google Assistant Operate?

As mentioned, Google Assistant can interact with its users in a two-way conversation with the help of a natural language processing algorithm.

This AI virtual assistant is activated through voice commands. It can complete different tasks after you’ve said the wake words, “Hey, Google.”

Now, wake words are special phrases that are spoken to ready the voice assistant to work.

Here are some of the tasks that Google’s virtual assistant can do for your business:

• Book appointments
• Search the web for information.
• Schedule events
• Schedule alarms
• Make recommendations
• Create a to-do list.
• Make calls
• Answer calls
• Manage emails
• Manage team calendar.

What Is the Name of Google’s AI Virtual Assistant?

Google’s virtual assistant is called Gemini, previously known as Bard. It’s an application that is available in your Google Play Store—if it’s not already present on your Android phone as we speak.

But contrary to the standard Google Assistant, Gemini can process more functions that go beyond appointment setting or calendar management. It works the way Bard did in its heydays, like answering more complex questions and coming up with suggestions.

Conversing with Google’s virtual assistant is like talking to a Google page. You don’t need to read the text; it can speak its answers to you.

Though Gemini still needs further development, it works really well with other Google apps like Gmail and Google Docs, offering seamless collaboration and communication across different software applications. This greatly improves overall operational efficiency.

Google Gemini in Comparison with Other AI Assistants

Up against its remote assistant rivals, Alexa and Siri, Google’s virtual assistant, Gemini, can hold its own and even stand apart. It has an expansive list of capabilities and is consistent in coordinating its software systems across devices.

Sure, Gemini has its failings, but still, it’s packed with countless features and can understand natural human language way better.

The Business Implications of Using Google’s Virtual Assistant

From this vantage point, we can already see that voice assistants like Google Assistant will become an essential part of our lives.

For starters, it will set alarms to wake us up, support our day-to-day administrative tasks, train with us, search the internet and make recommendations to the best grubs in the city.

These voice assistants will be hanging closely as consumers make buying decisions. And as they take on more responsibilities, they will become your and your consumers’ proxies.

Do you see now the role that Google’s virtual assistant can play in your customer's journey?

Fun Facts About Google’s Virtual Assistant

Who Is the Voice Behind Google Assistant?

Google Assistant was launched with a female voice. The American female voice behind Google Assistant belongs to Kiki Baessell. It’s the same voice that has been used for the Google Voice voicemail system since 2010.

In 2019, another optional voice was added to the system that belongs to Issa Rae, which you could enable with the wake words, “Okay, Google, talk like Issa.”

Who Is the Google Assistant Lady?

The Google Assistant lady that responds to your every command is Kiki Baessell. She has been the voice of Google Assistant since its launch. The same Google lady that you hear for the Google voicemail system.

However, in 2016, it was believed that Antonia Flynn took over as the default Google Assistant lady. Three years later, another Google Assistant lady was added as an optional voice that belonged to the talented Issa Rae. Since 2019, it is her voice that has become Google’s virtual companion.

What Is Google Assistant’s Real Name?

Unlike Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s assistant doesn’t really have a name. When you want to summon it, you simply say, “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google.”

Rather than brainstorm and come up with a human name for its chatty AI assistant, Google decided to stick with the straightforward name “Google Assistant.” Though it’s less personable than “Hey Alexa,” it will hardly get lost in your mind which assistant belongs to whom you’re conversing.

Wrapping Up!

Fine—Google’s virtual assistant is a powerhouse, as are the other AI assistants on the market right now. However, if you really need a right-hand man or woman to support your business needs you’re better off in the hands of a human remote assistant than the intangible limbs of a chatbot.

Don’t get us wrong; we acknowledge the prowess of these AI assistants, fed by data that could provide answers to your questions in a snap, all day round. But when it comes to crucial business decisions—those that require critical thinking—human virtual assistants are in their own league.

Without data and, of course, a strong internet connection and electricity, Alexa, Siri and Gemini won’t be there when you need them the most.

Here are some important points to consider when you’re debating about a human remote assistant vs. an AI assistant:

• Emotional Intelligence
  

  Any workplace has basic emotional needs—love, empathy, recognition—these are the builders of relationships and genuine connections. Since AIs are not humans, they can’t comprehend complex emotions or establish personal connections.

  Human VAs with emotional intelligence can help you build stronger customer relationships with long-lasting effects.

• Innovativeness
  

  In business, innovativeness is not an option but a necessity. Humans are superior beings because they can think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to difficult situations. This is the kind of challenge that AI assistants will have a hard time solving.

  AI runs with data, while humans need experiences to understand nuances, which limits the abilities of the former.

• Flexibility
  

  Human virtual assistants can adapt to any type of workplace system and environment. They can even fly with a little training. We can’t say the same for AI assistants that need algorithms to be intuitive.

• Trustworthiness
  

  Your human remote workers understand what customer satisfaction means better than your chatbots.

  Since they are more intuitive compared to AIs, humans can offer consistent communication and personalized interaction with clients. They can identify customer needs and preferences that allow you to create strategies and establish meaningful connections.

• Personalization
  

  With their ability to grasp emotions and non-verbal cues, human VAs can personalize their service to indulge their customers. They can switch up their tone or style of communication to fit the interests and tastes of your client base. This way, every interaction is more personal.

That’s just it. AI assistants are interesting, but when your company’s bottom lines are leaning toward development and sustainable growth, there’s no better “assistant” for the job than a human remote assistant.

That said, if you need a human VA, feel free to contact us. We can find you a great human virtual guardian angel who will make your business goals come true.