Artificial Intelligence has exploded in popularity and been accepted by millions of homes globally. Smart speakers, an AI-based device, have a world of opportunity for growth. Much of that opportunity comes from the surge in demand for multifunctional devices, the growing disposable income of consumers, and growing interest towards technological products among millennials.
Artificial intelligence (AI) impacts our lives in a big way, as it helps solve complicated problems, make decisions, and offers reliability and cost-effectiveness. Over the years, improvements in AI have led to the development of several innovative products. One of them is a smart speaker, a wireless speaker that can perform a wide range of tasks such as playing music, reciting calendar events, providing information about the weather, recent news, flight, traffic, etc., setting alarms, ordering items, and controlling smart home devices and home entertainment systems. Unlike other digital objects at home such as computers and smartphones, which need to be carried from one place to another to be used, smart speakers are designed to be static. For instance, Amazon Echo and Google Home hear the user’s voice and obey their commands wherever they are in the house. Thus, smart speakers bring a real revolution in the user experience.
The smart speaker industry witnesses a robust growth at present, owing to factors such as rapid increase in the number of smart home devices, surge in need for multifunctional devices and rise in adoption of technological products among millennials.
An array of companies entered the smart speakers market as a response to the growing demand for smart homes. For instance, in October ’18, Facebook Inc., the social networking giant, launched a smart speaker called Portal with the aim of video calling easy. In August ’18, Bose Corporation, a leading audio equipment developer, introduced a new wireless smart speaker called Bose Home 500 along with new smart sound bars. The multinational technology company Google LLC came up with a smart speaker with a display, which operates on AI-based Google Assistant. Samsung, a South Korean multinational conglomerate, unveiled its first ever smart speaker called Galaxy Home in Brooklyn. The product is powered by the company’s own AI voice assistant called Bixby for voice commands. LG recently revealed its plans to launch two new ‘ThinQ’ branded WK7 and WK9 smart speakers.
Facebook Introduces AI-powered Smart Speakers
Facebook released a pair of AI-powered smart video communication speakers, Portal and Portal +. The products have tablet-size screens, smart camera, and built-in AI technology. Featuring a 10-inch 1280×800 display, the Portal allows one to video chat with others via Facebook Messenger. The Portal + comes with a 1920×1080 pivoting display which measures 15-inch. The smart camera in the devices helps identify movements all around and automatically zooms to keep everyone in view. The innovations allow users to have a convenient and hands-free experience.
Bose Unveils Alexa-Powered Smart Speaker
A wireless smart speaker and two smart soundbars namely the Bose Home Speaker 500 for music, and the Bose Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500 for music and home theater introduced by Bose are powered by Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa. The devices are compact in nature and feature mic technology which allows for consistent and powerful voice pickup. They also feature support for AirPlay 2, which allows for streaming content from Apple devices. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Alexa built-in, the home speaker and soundbars deliver access to millions of songs and skills for entertainment, smart home control, and more.
Google Launches Smart Speaker with Display
Google disclosed its plans to launch display-equipped smart speakers in August ‘18. The exclusive product would be added to the Google family of smart speakers and operate on AI-based Google Assistant. The product would work on voice commands, but also allow users to play YouTube videos, view their calendars and maps. Some of the other features of the Google Home smart speaker are the high-end Home Max and the cost-effective Home Mini.
Samsung Releases First-Ever Smart Speaker
Called the Galaxy Home, the speaker runs on the company’s own AI voice assistant called Bixby for voice commands. Like Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri, Bixby can be asked questions and made to perform certain tasks with one’s voice. The Galaxy Home is also said to comprise a subwoofer for bass and be a smart device hub, which implies that the user can control smart home devices with his voice. As a speaker, the Galaxy Home is expected to deliver 360-degree sound. The speaker also features a fabric exterior like Apple’s Home Pod.
Smart Speakers by LG
The new smart speakers namely the WK7 and WK9 were unveiled by LG on October ‘18. Operating with the help of Google AssistantOpens a new window , the WK7 is a usual smart speaker. It was introduced at the CES 2018 which was held in January ’18. Talking about the WK9, it comes with a large screen run by Google’s Smart Display. It also features an integration of the characteristics of Google Assistant and a touch screen to produce visual information according to voice commands. The new products are also capable of voice-controlling all LG ThinQ connected appliances.