If you've watched movies like Iron Man, featuring virtual assistants, like JARVIS, which you can just have a conversation with and control your home, you probably think that such virtual assistants belong in the realm of science fiction. Earlier this year, Mark Zuckerberg, who runs Facebook set a personal challenge to create a JARVIS style assistant for his own home. "My personal challenge for 2016 is to build a simple AI to run my home and help me with my work. You can think of it kind of like Jarvis in Iron Man." He may be closer to his goal, as he may be giving a demo something this month. For those that don't have an army of engineers to help them, what can be done today?

Siri, Cortana, Google and Alexa go about their business differently in responding to Ed Baig's questions. NEW YORK-- You may already be on a first-name basis with Siri, Cortana, Google or Alexa, the Fab Four of voice-activated digital assistants. Now that relationship is expanding from one device (typically a smartphone) to many. The major tech companies are putting these digital assistants, powered by artificial intelligence algorithms and activated by voice, into multiple products. And the field is about to get a new name, with the founders of Siri introducing an AI-driven virtual assistant called Viv at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in New York Monday.

NEW YORK--You may already be on a first-name basis with Siri, Cortana, Google or Alexa, the Fab Four of voice-activated digital assistants. Now that relationship is expanding from one device (typically a smartphone) to many. The major tech companies are putting these digital assistants, powered by artificial intelligence algorithms and activated by voice, into multiple products. And the field is about to get a new name, with the founders of Siri poised to unleash an AI-driven virtual assistant called Viv at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in Brooklyn this week. "Speech is no longer a parlor trick, and [it's] more useful day to day," said Scott Huffman, Google vice president of engineering for search.

Essentially a niche-market Bluetooth speaker with some kiddie appeal, I just didn't find it to be all that compelling. Now that it's become the first third-party device to include Amazon's Alexa digital voice assistant, it's gone from dust-collector to prima-donna status. My early impression of the Triby was that it was a modern interpretation of the transistor radio that graced many kitchen countertops in the last century. Maybe it was the look? Maybe it was because the Tirby's features assume you're placing it in your home's central thoroughfare?

When Amazon released the Echo, with its Alexa assistant, that may have marked the introduction of always-on artificial intelligence to the home. And when Amazon added the more affordable Echo Dot and the Tap, it made AI even more attainable to the masses. But the Amazon-branded products are somewhat limited. Invoxia announced the Triby, a 199 rounded square device that matches the Echo functionality and then some. The device looks like a portable radio, complete with a handle, although it can also be mounted on a wall.

It runs Amazon's Alexa Voice service. For the first time, Amazon's voice-activated virtual assistant Alexa is available on a non-Amazon device. Invoxia, a Paris-based developer of speakers and telecommunication devices, on Thursday announced that Amazon's Alexa Voice Service (AVS) is now available on the company's radio-like Triby. It's conceived as kitchen device that combines music, messaging and communication functionality. Prior to this Invoxia was most known for its teleconferencing devices. Invoxia describes the Triby as a digital assistant, internet radio, connected speaker, hands-free speakerphone, and connected message board all rolled into one.

Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant is spreading to third-party hardware with the Triby connected speaker. The 199 Triby from Invoxia is in some ways similar to Amazon's Echo speaker. Using Alexa voice commands, it connects to Internet radio services such as Pandora and Spotify, delivers the weather and other information, lets you buy stuff from Amazon, and can control a range of connected-home devices. And like the Echo, the Triby supports always-on voice commands, so you can control these functions from across the room. But while Echo requires a power cord to operate, Triby has a built-in battery that lasts up to two weeks on a charge, and provides eight to 10 hours of music playback.

Amazon is spreading the Alexa love. The voice service is now available on the Triby. This small, family-focused message board, internet radio and VoIP device is the first device available for purchase not made by Amazon to feature the company's clever voice service. Using the Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS), Invoxia, the maker behind the Triby, built the voice capability into the device. Now with Alexa, the Triby is an even better kitchen device allowing owners to tell it to set timers, play music or read sports scores.