If you've been waiting to see if voice-enabled solutions are the real deal or a flash in the pan, wait no longer. This year alone, more than 35 million Americans will use a voice-activated assistant such as Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, or Microsoft's Cortana at least once a month. Now is the time to get up to speed on voice-first technology. If you've used it, you know it as Siri, Alexa, Google, or Bixby. Underneath it all is the software -- many layers of it -- from voice recognition to artificial intelligence to voice-enabled apps.

Jefferson Graham reviews the new GoPro Hero6 camera from a seaplane above San Francisco and an ice cream museum, where the shots are steadier than with previous models on TalkingTech. LOS ANGELES -- The tech shopping season is now started. Apple kicked it off with the release of two new iPhones last week. Wednesday, Amazon joined in with new and lower-priced Echo/Alexa speakers. Thursday, GoPro showed off the latest in a line of Hero cameras, the Hero6, and Friday saw the release of Nintendo's highly coveted Super SNES Classic video game system.

In a rare public feud, Amazon has said that its Echo Show devices could no longer play videos from YouTube because the site's parent, Google, stopped supporting the service. While Amazon claims that there is'no technical reason' for the decision, Google says that Amazon's use of YouTube on the Echo Show created a'broken user experience.' Experts are describing the removal of YouTube as a'bit of a blow' to Amazon, as a big chunk of the possible video content you could watch on Echo Show is now gone. In a rare public feud, Amazon has said that its Echo Show devices could no longer play videos from YouTube because the site's parent, Google, stopped supporting the service While Amazon claims that there is'no technical reason' for the decision, Google said this wasn't the case. 'We've been in negotiations with Amazon for a long time, working towards an agreement that provides great experiences for customers on both platforms,' it said in a statement.

Google's forthcoming home device is reportedly similar to the Echo Show, in screen size and capability. SEE ALSO: Amazon's new Echo Spot is here to replace your alarm clock According to TechCrunch's sources, the Google home gadget will offer Google's version of similar features, such as Google Assistant and video calling. One important difference, however, is that Google's "Manhattan" would be able to play YouTube videos, a feature that Google just pulled access to from the Amazon's Echo Show. Similar to the other Amazon Echo devices, Google's current home assistant, Google Home, lacks a screen.

If you want to remotely control the temperature and HVAC system in your home, save money with more efficient heating/cooling, or just want to engage in the longstanding thermostat war with your significant other from anywhere in the world, smart thermostats are for you. But with the recent explosion of smart home devices, which smart thermostat should you choose? After extensive testing, we recommend the Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat (available at Amazon for $161.86). Before you purchase a smart thermostat, do your research. But if you want to hear what we had to say about 10 smart thermostats, read on. The bottom line: While Nest and Honeywell may be better known smart thermostat brands, with the least stressful installation process, a helpful app, and functionality across multiple "smart" assistants, we would recommend the Emerson Sensi Touch thermostat to anyone with a C-wire. Amazon Alexa: Yes, with the "Sensi" Skill enabled Setup/Installation: The installation directions in the Sensi app were fantastic and foolproof: the Sensi app actually checks which wires are connected (which tells you if a wire isn't touching its contact properly), and then checks the viability of that wiring configuration. If you're new at playing around with thermostat wires, this will be hugely reassuring, as will the easy-to-access contact push tabs. A little light around the edge of the thermostat also makes the wires more visible during the installation process.

Google is developing a smart speaker with a touchscreen similar to Amazon's Alexa Show, it has been claimed. Two sources confirm to TechCrunch that the Google device has been internally codenamed'Manhattan' and will have a similar screen size to the 7-inch Echo Show. It comes just days after Amazon overhauled its line of Echo speakers, adding several new models. The Google'Manhattan' speaker will have a similar screen size to the 7-inch Echo Show (pictured) and run Google's smart assistant softwaree'One source received info directly from a Google employee,' TechCrunch said. It claims the device will offer YouTube, Google Assistant, Google Photos and video calling.

Almost exactly a year ago, Google unveiled a host of new products, a veritable "Made by Google" ecosystem, as the company called it. The most notable devices were the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones and Google Home smart speaker, but Google also launched the Daydream View VR headset, a mesh-WiFi system and a 4K-capable Chromecast. It was easily the company's biggest push yet into Google-branded hardware. But one year later, the Pixel and Pixel XL have been lapped by new devices from Samsung, Apple and LG, among others. We're due for a refresh, and we'll almost certainly get that in San Francisco on Wednesday, October 4th, when the company hosts its next big product launch. New phones are basically a shoo-in, but there's a bunch of other hardware that Google will likely show off.

Gartner's Hype Cycle tracks emerging information technologies in their journey towards mainstream adoption. It is designed to help companies tell hype from viable business opportunity, and give an idea when that value may be realized. This year, artificial intelligence is one of the year's three megatrends in the 2017 Hype Cycle. Gartner is calling this class of AI technologies "AI Everywhere". Unsurprisingly, many of the technologies are already at the "Peak of Inflated Expectations". Machine learning and deep learning are at peak hype, and predicted to be 2-5 years away from mainstream adoption. Cognitive computing is also at peak hype, but up to 10 years away, while artificial general intelligence (AI with the'intelligence' of an average human being) is 10 years away and in early innovation phase. Commenting on the Cycle, Gartner research director Mike J. Walker predicts that AI technologies will be the most disruptive class of technologies in driving digital business forwards during the next 10 years.

USA TODAY Tech columnist Kim Komando explains how to keep your devices from listening to what you say. This Monday, June 19, 2017, photo shows Facebook launched on an iPhone, in North Andover, Mass. Yes, voice technology is amazing. You can ask your phone a question. You can talk to your speaker system and even book an Uber.

Amazon clearly believes in its Echo devices, as it just unveiled an entire new lineup this week. Now, it appears Google believes in them as well. TechCrunch has heard from multiple sources that Google is building a competitor for the Amazon Echo Show. The Echo Show is a smart screen device that Amazon unveiled back in May. While we didn't have many great things to say about its boxy design and low-resolution screen, using Alexa with the 7-inch touchscreen was a great experience. It's understandable why Google would want to replicate its success.