This article is written as if we don't already know if Alexa (and its competitors) are the next big computing platform. We already know it isn't.<p>Alexa first came out in 2014. If it was the world changing product that people said it was going to be it would have spawned multiple billion dollar companies by now. Much like smartphones led to Uber.<p>Amazon can keep pooping out Alexa into 15 new products every year. Google will copy them because they don't actually know what a good product is but they're the internet company version of Samsung, a fast follower, so they'll do it because they're competitor focused and <i>just in case</i> it takes off.<p>None of that will change that this product category isn't going anywhere.
A few months ago, I was debating with a friend about the next major computing interface.<p>Is it Voice or Spacial Computing (AR/VR/xR)?<p>It's clearly voice, for many reasons. To cut the argument short, realize that language is what separates humans from other animals, and recognize that voice is the natural form of language, not writing. The advancement of AI requires major advancement in understanding human emotions, which are conveyed through subtleties in voice, and not picked up in text.<p>But it doesn't need to be either/or. Why not both Voice and xR?<p>Over time, voice and xR will converge, as voice interfaces get integrated into more consumer services, and xR gets more productive applications (right now it's all games and porn). But by then, Amazon will be well-positioned to get into the fun, but Facebook will not be taken seriously.<p>Unless Facebook can disrupt the global monetary system, pushing Libra by providing a discount for all purchases made within Oculus.