Amazon seen dominating Google in voice-activated speaker race

Seattle

AMAZON.COM Inc will dominate Google in the voice-activated speaker market for the next few years due to the early breakout success of its Echo speaker, according to a forecast from research firm EMarketer Inc.

More than 35 million Americans will speak to these Internet-connected speakers at least once a month this year, more than double the number in 2016, with tech-savvy millennials leading adoption, EMarketer said in its first forecast of the burgeoning market. About 71 per cent will use Echo devices, with the Google Home speaker trailing at 24 per cent.