Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I can't speak extensively for Siri (infrequent use on my iPad) or Google Now (no Android), but I've never had to repeat an instruction to Cortana for a reminder or directions. Not repeating myself when giving voice instruction is essentially my holy grail.


I haven't tried cortana. Google now is really awful at being a personal assistant because it doesn't keep much context.


I haven't used Siri in ages; what kind of context does it keep? I know that Google Voice Search will do coreference across consecutive queries (i.e. resolving "it" and "him" accurately).


Just tried this:

Me: "Siri, find me a target."

<finds several targets>

Me: "Directions."

Siri: "Which target?"

Me: "Third one."

<gives directions to third one in list>

Also:

Me: "Siri, find me restaurants."

<lists restaurants>

Me: "Review for Blue Duck Tavern"

<lists review>

Me: "Other restaurants"

<lists restaurants>

Me: "Reservation for Founding Farmers."

Google Now will do some coreferences, but Siri is almost modal. You can talk to it like an assistant instead of trying to formulate everything as a search query. I had a Nexus 5 almost a year before getting my 6+, and I was always jealous of how much more practically useful Siri was on my wife's iPhone 5.


Just tried this on my Moto X:

Me: "Find me a target"

<nearest target shows up>

Me: "Directions"

<changes to "directions to target">

<shows a list of targets to select>

Me: "first one"

<chooses Portland Galleria Target>


That is, indeed, fantastic. Does it hold context? I mean, can you say "Find a gas station." and then "Find a McDonald's near that" and have it work? That would be super.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: