What are the Best Voice Assistants Powered by AI?

If you’re anything like us, you’re always on the lookout for the best AI-powered voice assistants. But with so many options out there, it can get a bit overwhelming.

Don’t worry, though—we’ve got you covered! We’re diving into the top 6 AI voice assistants of 2025, so you don’t have to spend hours searching.

Let’s kick things off with a simple definition.

Table of Contents

What is an AI voice assistant?

An AI voice assistant is a software that uses voice recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and artificial intelligence to understand and respond to what you say.

These days, AI voice assistants are everywhere—you probably have one in your pocket right now! Smartphone assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become our go-to helpers, ready to answer questions, send texts, or play music at the snap of a finger.

While the early versions were pretty much just fancy chatbots, today’s AI voice assistants are much smarter. They can handle complex commands, access tons of data, and even sound almost human.

Here’s how they work:

Speech Recognition: AI voice assistants use speech recognition to turn your spoken words into text. They analyze sound waves, break them down into phonemes, and then figure out what you said using machine learning algorithms.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Once the speech is turned into text, NLP helps the assistant understand your request by looking at the structure and meaning of your words. It’s all about figuring out your intent and pulling out the key info.
Machine Learning & AI: These systems let the assistant learn from each interaction. The more you use it, the better it gets at understanding patterns, accents, and even more complicated requests.

The best AI voice assistants in 2025

In 2024, AI voice assistants are way more powerful than they were just a year ago.

Now, you can talk to digital helpers who actually get you and can handle more complex tasks.

Here are the top players battling for the crown:

Siri: Apple’s classic voice assistant, always there to help with everyday tasks, and with just a bit of attitude.
Alexa: Amazon’s smart home guru that plays music, answers questions, and controls your devices with ease.
Rabbit M1: The cutting-edge video chat device that makes remote movie nights and family hangouts feel like you’re right there together.
Retell AI: Want to create your own custom voice assistant? Retell lets you design one to fit exactly what you need.
Braina by Brainasoft: A multitasking assistant that understands voice commands and can turn your PC into a voice-controlled machine.
Google Assistant: The reliable all-rounder, available on pretty much every phone and device out there.
Cortana: If you’re deep into the Microsoft ecosystem, Cortana is a solid, free alternative to Google Assistant.

1. Siri: The Original Apple Helper
Siri’s the original smartphone sidekick, always ready to assist (or at least try her best!).

If you’re deep into the Apple world, Siri’s your go-to for getting things done.

Here’s what Siri can do:

Answer calls and send texts hands-free (perfect for when you’re driving!).
Set alarms and reminders (so you’re not always running late).
Give you the latest news, weather, and sports scores—with a little attitude.
Play your favorite songs and podcasts from Apple Music (who doesn’t need their own DJ?).
Control your smart home devices (if you’re into the whole smart home thing).

Price: Siri comes free with your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple gear—no extra charge for the occasional side-eye.

Also Read: How to Build a Chatbot Using Python and AI?

2. Alexa: Amazon’s Smart Answer
Alexa reigns as the queen of smart speakers, powering the Amazon Echo empire.

She’s got a skill for almost anything and is always improving, making her one of the most versatile AI assistants out there.

Here’s what Alexa can do:

Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Spotify, and more (turn your home into a party zone).
Answer your random questions (perfect for trivia nights!).
Tell you the weather so you know what to wear (or not, if you’re into spontaneous rain showers).
Control your smart home with voice commands (like turning lights on or locking doors).
Help you order groceries and shop on Amazon (dangerously convenient for those lazy days).
Offer fun skills, from guided meditations to games and interactive stories for kids.

Price: Alexa works best with an Amazon Echo device, ranging from $40 to $200, with extra fees for smart home systems.

3. Rabbit M1: The Coolest Video Chat
Rabbit M1 combines a screen, speakers, and AI with its own operating system.

It’s perfect for staying connected with loved ones or remote teams.

Here’s what Rabbit M1 does well:

Use the “Push-to-Talk” button to activate the Rabbit OS for listening.
Handle tasks like booking rides, finding recipes, and answering trivia.
Use the Large Action Model (LAM) to learn and replicate complex tasks by observing your actions.
The rotating camera offers privacy and can identify objects or suggest recipes based on what’s in your fridge.

Also Read: What are the Best AI Apps for Personal Finance Management?

Price: The Rabbit M1 costs $199.

4. Retell AI: Build Your Own Assistant
Retell AI lets you create a custom voice assistant tailored to your needs. It’s the DIY option for those who love to tinker.

Here’s how it works:

Design your assistant’s personality and voice (sassy or serious, your choice).
Decide what tasks it can do (like ordering food or automating work).
Integrate it with your smart devices and services (requires a bit of coding).
Show off your creation (or just keep it for yourself and impress your friends).

Price: Retell AI offers a free tier, with a pay-as-you-go model starting at $0.07/min for normal voices.

5. Braina: The Multitasker
Braina (Brain Artificial) is a powerful assistant that can control your PC, search the web, and even dictate text hands-free.

Here’s what Braina can do:

Execute PC tasks with voice commands, like launching apps and opening websites.
Dictate text in over 100 languages, perfect for note-taking.
Control your smart devices and manage your smart home setup.
Help with calculations, search queries, and scheduling.

Price: Braina has a free version, but the Pro version starts at $99/year for better voice recognition and PC control features.

6. Google Assistant: The Free Multi-Tasker
Google Assistant is perfect if you want speed, versatility, and integration across Android devices. With Google’s massive knowledge base, it’s always ready to help.

Here’s what Google Assistant can do:

Set reminders, send texts, and place calls (just say “Hey Google”).
Control your smart devices, like thermostats, lights, and speakers (syncs with Nest too).
Pull up info like weather updates, directions, or sports scores (Google knows everything).
Translate languages in real-time (great for travelers).
Play music, videos, and podcasts from apps like YouTube and Spotify.

Price: Google Assistant is free on Android devices and available as an app for iPhone users.

Some virtual assistant AI examples

What can these digital assistants actually do? Well, they’re great at handling all those boring, repetitive tasks so you don’t have to!

Here are some examples of what they can help with:

Set timers, reminders, and calendar events to keep you organized.
Sort through and manage your inbox.
Summarize meetings for you.
Read the news or give you daily summaries.
Control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, and speakers.
Answer your questions or search the web for quick info.
Dictate emails, take notes, and create to-do lists to boost your productivity.
Track your mood and offer a bit of companionship.
Play your favorite music, audiobooks, or podcasts.
Translate words or phrases into other languages.
Help brainstorm ideas, assist with writing tasks, and even generate creative artwork.

Also Read: How to Use AI to Improve Online Shopping Experiences?

Challenges with AI voice assistants

What aren’t they so great at (yet)?

Complex problem-solving: While AI assistants can handle some tricky tasks, don’t expect them to replace your strategic advisor anytime soon. They still struggle with basic commands and often fail when it comes to more complicated tasks. Humans are still better at most things. In fact, a study from Carnegie Mellon showed that AI could only complete a complex task about 16% of the time, while humans nailed it 88% of the time.
They’re not foolproof: AI assistants can mess up in some pretty funny ways. Picture them getting stuck in a browsing loop or randomly adding tons of stuff to your shopping cart. And yep, that accidental friend request? That’s on them. They also do weird things that seem intentional, like adding a bunch of items to your cart for no reason.
Deep conversations and emotions: Most AI still can’t handle truly deep conversations. While they’re getting better at reading moods and showing empathy, they don’t quite understand nuance. For example, if you get frustrated, they might respond in a way that seems passive-aggressive, but trust me, they just don’t get it.
Physical world interactions: AI assistants live in the digital world—they can’t drive your car or give you a hug. But who knows? As AI gets smarter and safer, we could start seeing them integrated with robots in the future.
Generalizing knowledge: AI assistants are still pretty specialized. They struggle to apply knowledge from one field to another. They haven’t quite mastered thinking across different areas yet.