The struggle over the smart speaker rages on, as CNBC surveyed five digital advertising agencies who say that Amazon's Alexa is the better shopping assistant, but Google's deep roots in machine learning and voice recognition makes Google Assistant more understanding.

Morgan Stanley made a fairly dramatic admonishment to Google's parent company Alphabet this week when the financial giant suggested in a note to investors that the company should simply give away its signature smart speaker for free, at a cost of $3.3 billion.

If a California chip maker is successful in its new partnership with Amazon, its digital assistant Alexa could soon be free to roam in third-party products like smart home fixtures, thermostats and cameras, making the voice platform less reliant on external power sources.

London-based game developer Sensible Object is paying off on a multi-million investment by releasing its first Alexa-powered board game When in Rome, a multimedia experience that uses the digital assistant to guide players through 20 cities around the globe.

The technology that powers smart speakers like Amazon's Alexa and Google Home may be wildly sophisticated and continually evolving but users in the U.K. report using the smart speakers for remarkably basic functions, according to a new survey.

In what is claimed to be the largest smart apartment technology rollout in history, Alliance Residential Company announced that more than 25,000 apartments in its $10 billion portfolio will be outfitted with a complete smart home package that includes a Google Home Mini, Nest Learning Thermostat, and more.

Speakers who habla Español can try out all sorts of new skills on the Google Home smart speaker series as of today, as the company officially announced that the device speaks and understands versions of Spanish tailored for markets in Spain, Mexico, and the United States.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas that beer and soda manufacturers use to make drinks effervescent but a shortage of the vital gas resulting from a series of events is causing disruption in the markets for beer, fizzy sodas, meat, and prepared foods in the U.K. and Europe this summer.

A team led by Dr. Joshua Siegel at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) revealed in a new journal that they have invented a new smart power plug that employs artificial intelligence, Internet of Things technology and a machine learning algorithm to make power safer.

When designer Patrick Stefanski's affection for the animated droid L3-37 from Solo: A Star Wars Story joined his inspiration for an Alexa-powered robotic companion, a fascinating, animatronic re-creation of the robot was born.

Take one 1966 Greyhound bus, add about $70,000 worth of interior renovations, meticulous carpentry and lots of imagination and you would end up with this mobile tiny home, currently up for sale by its imaginative owner.

Pishon Lab's much-lauded Tapplock smart lock turns out to be not as "unbreakable" as the company claims after hackers and penetration testers prove the locks can be cracked in seconds, both physically and through software hacks.

Smart appliance manufacturer Sengled is continuing the expansion of features and applications to its most popular products, starting by adding color and rhythm features to its Element smart light bulbs.

Formerly available by invitation only, Amazon's new fashion-friendly Echo Look is hitting the broader market in a big way with new features that allow users to capture, pair, rate, and take suggestions on their wardrobe and outfits. The Echo Look made its grand debut in February.

A man in Warren, Ohio recently learned the consequences of storing his handgun in the broiler when his girlfriend decided to some baking, leading to the inevitable hail of bullets, multiple injuries, and a burn.

New research by non-for-profit global security association ISACA has revealed that security experts believe that malware, ransomware, and denial of service attacks continue to pose a threat to smart city infrastructure, including the energy sector, communications, and financial services.

Petra the friendly African grey Congo parrot has earned quite the following after learning to use her family's Amazon Alexa to turn on and off smart lights and other smart home devices at will.

New York City-based architecture firm Buildt has created a unique way to break down the city's growing pollution problem by combining a high-tech mineral-based facade with a photo-catalytic compound that turns harmful nitrous oxide into harmless water and gas.

California is making a huge investment in solar power by mandating that all new homes, condominiums, and apartment buildings be outfitted with solar panels beginning in 2020, a move that will cost homeowners more up front but also boost energy savings in the long run.

A Texas family received an unwelcome surprise when their Samsung washing machine exploded over the weekend. The incident was the latest in a rash of explosions that have plagued Samsung since it revealed the potential for harm in 2016, following nine reports of injuries including a broken jaw and an injured shoulder.

Bissell offers a wealth of products for pet owners including vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, steam cleaners, and pet hair tools. For pet owners, its latest product, the Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro, boasts features that are designed to clean up after furry friends with gusto.

Vayyar Imaging has been making inroads into the smart home, health care, and automotive fields since it was launched in 2011; now a new series of smart 3D-imaging chips are unleashing an even more powerful potential for monitoring people, places, and things without optics.

Consumer Reports, working with market research company Gap Intelligence, has discovered that washing machine prices are rising, though whether tariffs are to blame is unclear. Goldman Sachs say prices could go 8 to 20 percent higher in the coming year. It's uncertain whether tariffs are the cause or not.

Tile's latest partnership will enable Comcast cable’s customers to use their Xfinity X1 Voice Remote to locate Tile's Bluetooth-enabled devices, tags and other dongle-equipped devices anywhere and display the results of their search directly on the television to augment its home automation platform.

Pioneering smart home security device manufacturer Canary is offering appreciation and paying tribute to first responders this May by working together with State Farm and Verizon to donate more than 10,000 Canary all-in-one home security devices to first responders across the country.

The Reolink Go is the Hong Kong-based company's latest security camera, offering a 4G LTE mobile platform alongside a weatherproof design, rechargeable battery and optional solar panel, making it perfect for challenging sites like farms, construction sites, or boat docks.

A Belgian startup called Slow Cabins is offering isolated, off-the-grid, and self-sustainable cabins for rent by couples, families, entrepreneurs, and artists who are looking for a last-minute secret getaway that allows for a few peaceful days of zero-impact life in a relaxing setting.

The smart home technology manufacturer Nest, with an assist from Habitat for Humanity, is celebrating Earth Day with an ambitious country-spanning initiative designed to help low-to-moderate income families gain access to affordable energy solutions and benefit from local energy assistance programs.

The smart home market is projected to be worth up to $40 billion by 2020, so it's no wonder that smart home developers are battling it out to win over consumers. A new market has recently opened up as homebuilders begin to integrate smart home technology. Who's winning? You might be surprised.

Innit and Chef'd are teaming up to revolutionize the growing customized meal delivery market by integrating Chef'd's popular ingredient shop into Innit's intuitive mobile platform. The end result is an app-based service that helps users plan, purchase, and prepare meals worthy of a restaurant experience.

Why is dishwashing the worst chore for women? A new study by a nonprofit organization that studies family dynamics discovered some very interesting answers.

Is Google working on a digital babysitting service? A patent filed in Europe in 2015 seems to show the logical extension of its forays into the smart home market, describing a digital babysitting platform with a variety of features to help protect infants and children from harm.

They times are changing again; property management company Entrata recently performed a survey of renters and found that the majority of them value smart home technology over traditional amenities like pools and workout rooms.

Architects around the globe are turning to a new concept described as "vertical space," stacking small podlike dwellings vertically on existing buildings, as a way to ease homelessness.