Sonos' improved Voice Control points to an intriguing smart home future
Reports suggest that Sonos is preparing to compete in the evolving smart speaker market, readying new hardware and an AI-backed overhaul of its voice assistant.
Sonos is preparing to launch new hardware this fall, according to recent reports. The company is also expected to introduce a major AI-powered upgrade to its voice control system, aiming to compete with smarter assistants like Google Gemini and Apple Siri. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad emphasized during an earnings call that AI will be a key focus of the company's comeback.
The hardware upgrades include new products such as the Sonos Play and Amp Multi, along with app redesigns. FCC filings suggest that Sonos is preparing to release the Ace Ultra headphones and potentially a successor to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Conrad acknowledged that the 2024 Ace headphones had limited integration with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, lacking access to Sonos Voice Control and only able to communicate with select soundbars.
The company's hardware lineup includes speakers and soundbars of various sizes, making it a smart home audio company first. Sonos Voice Control is currently limited to basic device controls, information, and low-level tools, with music control being less reliable for specific requests. However, the app serves as a hub for connected music, podcast, and radio station apps, which could be leveraged to make Sonos Voice Control more conversational and contextual.
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