Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri are currently the top three personal assistants available. Fueled by artificial intelligence and always listening, these assistants can provide answers, play music, help with organization, and control smart home devices. While they are primarily found in devices from their respective manufacturers, they are also being integrated into products from other companies, although these may not offer the same level of intelligence and features. It's important to note that while many smart home devices are compatible with all three assistants, each assistant may not have full control over every device. For instance, while Alexa works with Philips Hue smart bulbs, it may not offer the same functionality as the Hue smartphone app.

The distinction between devices that "work with" an assistant, and those that have the assistant "built-in" is crucial. Devices like Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Plus, Google Home, and Nest Hub have the assistant fully integrated, providing a seamless experience. On the other hand, devices like the Sonos One or Lenovo Smart Tab M10 Plus have Alexa but may lack certain features compared to Amazon's own products.

Similarly, Google Assistant is fully optimized on devices like Google Home and Nest Hub, while it may have limited capabilities on select smartwatches and smart TVs. The same applies to Apple's Siri, which offers full features on iPhones and iPads, but may be limited on devices like the Apple TV and HomePod.

For devices that "work with" Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, such as smart lamps, plugs, bulbs, locks, and cameras, they offer basic functionality through voice commands with the respective assistants. However, more advanced features may require using the manufacturer's app. Look for compatibility icons on products to ensure seamless integration with your preferred assistant.

While the smart home landscape continues to evolve rapidly, it's important to consider the level of integration and functionality each device offers with your chosen assistant. Keep an eye out for updates that may enhance control and features, ultimately bringing us closer to a more streamlined and assistant-agnostic smart home experience.