Other Voice Assistant News This Week: Samsung, Microsoft, 1-800-Flowers

on October 13, 2017 at 12:24 pm

Samsung Replaces Bixby Chief

Samsung has replaced Rhee In-jong, as head of the company’s voice assistant Bixby. Chung Eui-seok will be his successor, formerly head of Samsung’s mobile platform and solution lab at Samsung Research America. Samsung denies that the shake-up is due to its recent Bixby struggles since announcing the voice assistant this spring. Source

Microsoft Integrates Cortana Into Your Skype Chats

Microsoft announced Cortana for Skype back in 2016 at its annual Build conference and this week the company made good on its promise. Like Google Assistant and Facebook M, Cortana in Skype provides “in-context assistance” in text conversations. Users can also ask Cortana questions by messaging the assistant directly. The update is gradually being rolled out to Android and iOS users in the US. No word on other countries yet. Source

1-800-Flowers Calls on Google for Voice Ordering

1-800-Flowers was one of the first brands to create a transactional Alexa skill. This week the company announced it will launch voice ordering for Google Assistant on iPhone and Android mobile phones. It will allow users to see a menu of gifting categories and order directly from Google Assistant, including same-day delivery or to schedule a gift for a future date. Source

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