Why the Most Successful Digital Assistants Will Be Platform Disruptors

The Consumer Electronics Show has introduced a slew of new voice-powered devices, with Google and Amazon leading the way. The spread of Alexa and Google Assistant puts Microsoft's Cortana in a particularly uncomfortable position, one where even the Windows PC isn't safe from other companies' encroachment. The lesson is clear: The most successful digital assistants will be platforms, in two senses. They'll be available on a wide range of machines, from different manufacturers and in different form factors, as a voice layer on top of different operating systems. And they'll also be open for development from as many partners as possible, who want to build voice-specific applications or tie existing applications and services into the platform.