Google is set to take on Siri in a battle of the smart assistants.

The search giant is set to unveil an iOS app version of its popular Google assistant later this week at its I/O developer conference.

The firm is expected to release the app as Apple is putting the finishing touches to a smart speaker based on its Siri technology.

It is believed the app will combine the chat-style function* in the Google Allo version of Assistant and the voice-controlled* version found on Android.

At the unveiling of its Home speaker in May, Google boss Sundar Pichai said: “We think of the assistant as an ambient experience that goes across devices — this is more than just phones, it will be on devices they wear, in their car and in their living rooms.”

The leading tech companies are all competing to assist consumers in their online activities such as shopping, since that gives the companies a better chance of selling advertising or other services.

Home-based systems like the Echo are taking on more importance with the advent* of improved voice technology, according to Julie Ask, an analyst at Forrester Research.(SD-Agencies)