Voice assistants in the home: what they can and can't do

Google's home assistant device is among the best known smart speakers on the market, but without a connection to various smart home devices, many of these assistants can end up being just a superior kitchen radio.

The big names in intelligent, voice-activated home assistants are Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana, the Google Assistant and the forthcoming Siri HomePod from Apple. 

In terms of functionality, these systems don’t differ that much from each other. Most consist of a speaker with a built-in computer and microphone. Some models on the way will have a screen and Amazon has launched a smart camera with Alexa in the US.