Voice Recognition Update Lets HomePod ID Multiple Users

“…the multi-user feature should help Apple compete with rivals like Google Assistant, which already offers personalized functions through voice recognition.”

Apple’s HomePod is getting a voice recognition update that will allow it to identify different individuals. The multi-user feature will enable the smart speaker to recognize multiple voices, which will in turn allow it to offer personalized notifications, reminders, and media recommendations based on the on the preferences of the person doing the talking.

The utility is one of several new HomePod features announced at Apple’s recent Worldwide Developer Conference. The company will be offering support for more than 100,000 international radio stations, while Handoff will allow users to share audio simply by placing their iOS device near the HomePod speaker.

A previously published Apple patent suggested that the company is looking to add Face ID and 3D hand gestures to the HomePod platform, but there is never any guarantee that a patent will become reality and there is yet to be any kind of official announcement. Until then, the multi-user feature should help Apple compete with rivals like Google Assistant, which already offers personalized functions through voice recognition.  

The HomePod update is expected to arrive with the launch of iOS 13 in September. The new features will also be available as part of the tvOS 13 operating system.

Source: Tech Radar