The Amazon Echo, with its fantastic Alexa voice-based controls, has every major tech company kicking themselves for not thinking of it first.

Not happy with being beaten by Amazon, Google is reportedly working on its own version of the Echo, according to a report from The Information.

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Nest Labs, the company Google bought for $3.2 billion in 2014 was reportedly interested in working on the secret product. The Information's report claims tensions with Nest forced Google to decide to work on the product with its own team.

The tensions could be related with Nest CEO Tony Fadell's struggle to build out the company and maintain employee satisfaction.

Since its acquisition by Google, Nest has produced a number of hit smart home products, including the Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect smoke/CO alarm and the Nest Cam.

It makes sense for Nest, a company with experience building desirable and intuitive smart home products, to spearhead an Echo-like product that acts as a hub.

Alexa, play music. #Amazon #echo #AI A video posted by raymond (@sourlemons) on Feb 6, 2015 at 2:47pm PST

Google's work on voice commands with Google Now on Android is easily the most robust. Voice search on Android is more intelligent and full-featured compared to Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana.

As much as I love using my Echo every day, the one thing it lacks is in-depth knowledge. While you can ask Alexa to tell you the weather, read Kindle books and even call up an Uber, I constantly wish I could ask it to search the Internet, Google-style. Google's own version of the Echo could potentially integrate all the power of its search engine.

The most interesting wrinkle in all of this might be the fact the Nest Thermostat will soon work with the Echo. It's almost as if Nest is retaliating for not being put in charge of Google's own voice-controlled smart hub.

Google is holding its annual I/O developer conference in May. It's possible we may hear more about its Echo competitor then.