Google’s Assistant, Chasing Alexa, Is Said to Plan Revamped Consumer Push

New online store may showcase Home, other voice-enabled devices as Amazon’s market share keeps growing

The Google Pixel 2 smartphone, from left, Home Mini voice speaker, Daydream virtual reality headset, Pixel Buds headphones and Google Home device are arranged for a photograph during a product launch event in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017.

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Google had big plans to show off wares at the Consumers Electronics Show this week, but its grand unveiling got pre-empted by rain – and outshined by rival Amazon.

The Alphabet Inc. unit set up a sprawling booth – more like a full-fledged showroom — at the technology conference in Las Vegas to highlight its products officially for the first time. On Tuesday, opening day, the space was full of Google-branded devices and speakers, TVs from partners and heavy promotions for Google's voice-based Assistant. Then a downpour blanketed the tent, forcing Google to postpone the debut of its digs.