A virtual assistant is a software agent that can perform tasks or services for an individual. A chatbot, a term often used interchangeably, is in fact a virtual assistant accessed via online chat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_assistant_(artificial_intelligence)
A chatbot (also known as a talkbot, chatterbot, Bot, chatterbox, Artificial Conversational Entity) is a computer program which conducts a conversation via auditory or textual methods. … Chatterbots are typically used in dialog systems for various practical purposes including customer service or information acquisition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatbot
How brands will connect to customers through voicebots
https://venturebeat.com/2017/05/19/how-brands-will-connect-to-customers-through-voicebots/
What Do Humans Really Think Of Voice Assistants? Some Have Fantasies About Them
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-do-humans-really-think-voice-assistants-some-have-fantasies-about-them-2541456
Amazon Alexa
https://blog.clm24.com/2017/05/22/amazon-alexa/
Google Assistant/Home
https://blog.clm24.com/2017/05/22/google-assistanthome/
Competitive Landscape
We tested Apple’s Siri versus Google’s new competitor on the iPhone, and Siri loses pretty miserably
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/siri-vs-google-assistant-on-iphone.html
Fun with AI: watch Google Home, Siri, and Alexa try and understand 8 different accents
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Fun-with-AI-watch-Google-Home-Siri-and-Alexa-try-and-understand-8-different-accents_id94205
Geared Up: Google Assistant vs. Amazon Alexa, …
https://www.geekwire.com/2017/geared-google-assistant-vs-amazon-alexa-understanding-allure-fidget-spinner/
Voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa are ‘far too stupid’ to speak to humans, analyst says
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/11/amazon-echo-show-alexa-criticism.html
Line is developing a digital assistant to take on Alexa
https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/2/14789570/line-clova-ai-digital-assistant-announced
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