Android just blew past the iPhone

Google's digital voice assistant was already miles ahead of Apple's Siri even before Google's announcements on Wednesday at its annual I/O conference. But given what Google showed off yesterday, Siri will shrink further in Google's rearview mirror in the near future.

What we currently call Google Now is getting another name, Google Assistant -- and it's going to be in an Echo-like speaker called Google Home, as well as in your Androidphone and tablet. But wherever you find it, Google Assistant looks like it'll run circles around Siri, and also Amazon's Alexa.

To that end, here are the three big ways Android is leaving Apple's iOS in the dust.

Better search: Accurate, on-the-money results

Google made its name in search, so it stands to reason it was already ahead of the game here. Just now I asked both Siri on the iPhone 6S and Google Now on the Samsung Galaxy S7 this question: When was the Eiffel Tower built?

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While Siri technically answered my question, R, Google Now answered my question two different ways and gives me tools to quickly explore more.Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Siri presented the correct Wikipedia link, which does save me a step. But if I want to look up something else, I need to exit Siri and open a browser. Google, on the other hand, gave me an easy-to-read card while simultaneously reading out the answer ("Construction for the Eiffel Tower began January 28, 1887"), followed by Google search links below. Since voice search lives in the browser, I can jump to images and video, or start a new text or voice search altogether. The info is accurate, and helpful.

Better AI: Google Assistant connects the dots

If Google already has the advantage in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, think of how much richer and more satisfying search will be when it becomes even more solicitous of your needs. Why yes, Google, I wouldlike to buy tickets to Hamilton, thank you. (Now can you please pay for them, too?)

That, in a nutshell, is the promise of Google Assistant, a catch-all name for software that tries to make your life easier. You already see this kind of helpful behavior when Google Now ("Ok, Google") tells you that traffic is bad and you should really leave for your meeting. But soon, the software will be able to handle longer conversations, or at least respond to your searches and requests with proactive follow-up suggestions.