What is Google Home, and how does it compare with Amazon's Echo?

The small speaker, which is controlled by using the phrase “OK, Google”, triggers Google Search as well as Maps and Translate software to answer queries and provide information.

The speaker, which was first released in the US last year and can be used to play music, also uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to understand context and answer follow-up questions to your initial voice commands.

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But its real purpose is to control other smart home products, including light bulbs and thermostats, as well as TVs and other speakers connected using Google’s Chromecast devices.

Google’s theory is that once you’ve bought the speaker, you’ll want to buy the other bells and whistles from them, too.

For the moment, Amazon, with the benefit of a few extra months in the marketplace, has the bigger range and the most functionality.

Google Home’s Suveer Kothari said: “With your permission, Google Home can assist you in planning your day, based on information like your calendar entries or flight information from your Google account.

“But if you’d rather keep things to yourself, you can turn off personal results any time in the Google Home app with a single swipe.”

Artificially intelligent voice assistants have become increasingly popular products among technology firms, with Samsung announcing its own take on the subject, Bixby, last week to rival Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri, which are already in use.

Home will cost £129 and will be available in a range of colours, Google said.

The tech giant also announced it was launching its Wifi router - Google Wifi - in the UK.

The device, which will also cost £129, uses technology called mesh Wifi, which Google says uses multiple routers to evenly spread internet signal throughout the home.