Xiaomi adds voice calling to its smart speaker

pulse

November 6, 2017 4:03 PM

Chinese electronics company Xiaomi has partnered with communications company Agora to bring voice calling to its Mi AI smart speaker

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Calling is emerging as a key feature for smart speakers. Amazon and Google both rolled out voice calling on their smart speakers earlier this year. The voice interface that smart speakers use lends itself naturally to voice calling, since people using the devices are talking to the AI assistant, giving commands, and receiving audio feedback and information — it’s just a short step to move from talking to that voice assistant to talking to a friend or family member.

A key part of Amazon’s unveiling and marketing campaign for its Echo Show smart speaker, for instance, was its ability to act as a stationary, voice-activated communication platform. This has also been a key feature that has differentiated Amazon’s Echo speakers, which support Alexa-powered calling, from third-party Alexa-powered speakers, which don’t as of now.

The spread of connected devices is creating anxieties for some consumers, and introducing tools to reinforce social bonds into devices could alleviate those fears.Nearly a quarter of respondents to a recent Mozilla survey stated that they fear losing touch with other people as connected devices continue to take over. Calling features are a way for people to take those connected devices and maintain their relationships with other people, rather than become more isolated from others. Calling features also enable smart speakers to integrate more fully into people’s lives and everyday routines.

Here are some of the key takeaways: