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Sonos reportedly readies new hardware and AI-backed Voice Control overhaul to compete with Gemini and Siri
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Reports indicate Sonos is preparing new hardware and an AI-powered upgrade to Sonos Voice Control, with CEO Tom Conrad naming AI as a focal point of the company's comeback on an earnings call.
An AI-overhauled Sonos Voice Control would need to move well beyond today's narrow device controls into conversational, contextual interactions, a significant capability gap. The move positions Sonos against Google's Gemini-equipped speakers and Apple's anticipated Siri AI HomePod, raising expectations for what smart home assistants must do beyond playing music.
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Reports indicate Sonos is readying new hardware as soon as this fall, including Ace Ultra headphones and a potential successor to the Sonos Beam Gen 2.
Sonos Voice Control currently handles only device controls, basic information, and limited music requests, with reliability degrading as requests become more specific.
CEO Tom Conrad acknowledged on an earnings call that the 2024 Ace headphones launched with too little ecosystem integration, lacking access to Sonos Voice Control entirely.
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