It sounds to me like a duplicate IP address issue - the laptop perhaps not releasing an IP address subsequently served out to another device or a static IP on the laptop not excluded from DHCP. Looking at the IP assignments on the router could be useful or perhaps just shutting off all the other devices (if practical)…

Google Now/OK Google doesn’t yet run on an always on, always listening, always charged, always home device does it? Anyone in the house can use Alexa whether they have a smartphone or tablet handy or not. I also don’t see that Google Now/OK Google can talk to Smartthings, Hue, Wink, WEMO, Caseta, TCP Connected,…

Microsoft and Google are way ahead - except that they don’t have an always listening home assistant ready to answer questions, play games, play music from multiple sources, control your smart devices, take notes, keep lists that sync with an app which will run on your Apple and Android phones, set timers and alarms,…