Should Smart Speakers Be Better After 10 Years?
November 12, 2024
Smart speakers are now a staple in many homes, with popular models from Amazon, Google, Apple, Sonos, and Bose. Amazon and Google models are particularly user-friendly, but selecting the right speaker depends on your priorities — whether that’s sound quality, smart home integration, or added features like a touchscreen.
Despite their widespread adoption, many users feel that smart speakers haven’t become significantly “smarter” over the years. Alexa, for example, was envisioned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos as a futuristic, all-knowing assistant similar to Star Trek’s “Computer.” Today, Alexa powers over 40 million Echo devices, processing billions of commands weekly. However, its functionality remains largely the same — playing music, providing weather updates, setting timers, and performing basic tasks like reminders and home automation.
While useful, these assistants have yet to achieve the proactive intelligence originally promised, leading some to wonder if the technology has reached a developmental plateau.
Amazon’s original Echo smart speaker, launched in 2014, was a groundbreaking device that introduced the world to Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. Priced at $179, the cylindrical, voice-activated speaker could answer questions, play music, and control smart home devices. This innovative concept quickly gained popularity, establishing Amazon as a leader in the smart speaker space. Debbie and I have one of these still in use in a spare bedroom, specifically due to the audio quality of the speakers. I understand Amazon’s goal to make the units smaller and more affordable for mass appeal but I think doing it at the expense of audio quality may not have been the best route.
Two years later, Google released its own competitor, Google Home, which was less industrial in design and featured Google Assistant, a voice assistant with advanced language processing and broader integration with Google services. Google Home’s integration with Chromecast also added new possibilities for entertainment, positioning it as a strong alternative to Amazon’s Echo.
The smart speaker market expanded dramatically with the introduction of compact, affordable devices: Amazon’s Echo Dot in 2016 and Google’s Home Mini in 2017. Priced around $50, these smaller speakers made voice assistants accessible to a wider audience, leading to a rapid adoption of smart speakers across households. Apple joined the race in 2018 with the HomePod, focusing on high-quality audio but struggling with Siri’s limitations and a high price point.
Today, smart speakers are common in many homes, used for setting alarms, managing smart devices, playing music, and more. However, despite their popularity, Amazon has reported substantial losses in its device division. The current trend hints at a new era with AI-enhanced smart speakers, as Amazon and Google explore generative AI integrations to make voice assistants more proactive and responsive.
Ultimately, Amazon’s Echo launched a tech revolution, making the vision of an always-listening, home-based virtual assistant a reality. Admittedly, I was excited when we first brought Alexa into our home because of the capabilities but is this it after 10 years — playing music, providing weather updates, setting timers, and performing basic tasks? Will AI propel smart speakers to the next level? Despite public fears or misunderstanding of AI? Personally, I’m excited for the future of smart speakers and smart home technology but just like the promises of flying cars and robot maids, the future isn’t coming fast enough for me.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on smart speakers. Which model(s) have you used? Simple use of smart home integrated? Have they met your expectations? Have you thought of ways to use them that is different or innovative? Let Debbie and I know what you think in the comments, DMs and emails as we really enjoy hearing from you. Thanks again to all those following Debbie and I through our home building journey. It’s great to hear your success stories and suggestions as we move through the process. And if you like the content I’m posting each week, don’t forget to ‘Like’ and ‘Follow.’
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