● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact3 neutral
Sonos Launches 27voice AI Assistant Early Access and New Presets
Key points
- Sonos 27voice AI assistant enters early access on November 6.
- The assistant supports natural language for music and speaker control.
- New Presets allow quick playback of music at specific volumes in rooms.
- Features include setting timers and interacting with smart home accessories.
- The update is part of efforts to address previous app redesign issues.
- Sonos 27voice will have a wider launch next year.
- The problematic app update occurred two years ago.
- The app update caused much-loved features to disappear.
- The app update caused older speakers to have connection problems.
- The app update broke accessibility features.
- The CEO was fired after the app update debacle.
- The app update was for the company's first headphones, the Ace.
Sonos 27voice AI Assistant Launching
Sonos announced that its new voice assistant, Sonos 27voice, will be available for early access testing starting November 6. This release is part of a broader software update rolling out this week. Users in the US can sign up for a waitlist for the assistant, with access beginning on November 12.
Enhanced Voice Control Capabilities
The Sonos 27voice assistant offers natural language understanding, allowing for more complex requests such as identifying music by album art or artist. It can control playback on Sonos devices, move music between rooms, group and ungroup speakers, and set timers. Additionally, it provides basic voice assistant functionality like weather updates and interaction with supported smart home accessories.
Introduction of New Presets
Alongside the voice assistant, Sonos is introducing new Presets in its app update. These presets allow users to configure music playback at a specific volume in a designated room. Once created, these presets appear directly on the homescreen for quick activation, enabling users to start music playback rapidly.
Context and Previous Updates
The introduction of Sonos 27voice and the new Presets are part of the company's ongoing efforts to refine its software experience. These updates follow a previous app redesign in 2024 that received user criticism, which Sonos CEO Tom Conrad has committed to addressing. The 27voice assistant was initially teased as a feature within the new Sonos 27 software, with early discussions focusing on third-party AI assistant support.
Updates
- Sonos 27voice will have a wider launch next year.
- The problematic app update occurred two years ago.
- The app update caused much-loved features to disappear.
- The app update caused older speakers to have connection problems.
- The app update broke accessibility features.
- The CEO was fired after the app update debacle.
- The app update was for the company's first headphones, the Ace.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Sonos is rolling out a new natural-language voice control feature, "Sonos 27voice," through a cautious beta program. This approach follows a problematic app update two years ago that led to customer dissatisfaction and the CEO's dismissal. The company is seeking detailed feedback from a small group of beta testers before a wider launch next year.
Sonos is rolling out an app update that introduces new Presets for quick music playback and prepares for the beta launch of its AI voice assistant. The AI assistant will allow natural language commands for music control and speaker management, addressing previous app redesign issues.
Sonos is launching its new voice assistant, Sonos 27voice, in early access on November 6 as part of a software update. This new assistant offers natural language understanding and broader general knowledge capabilities, aiming to improve upon previous voice control features and integrate with Sonos 27 software.