From the beginning of the World War I with Alfalfa dog and Li Shishishi, the term 'artificial intelligence' quickly entered the public field of vision and has also become one of the annual hot topics in the technology circle.
However, compared to the highly sophisticated Alpha dog, consumers are more familiar with another AI product, which is the "smart speaker."
In this highly competitive 'Hundred Box Battle' this year, we not only saw the powerful platform giants Ali, Baidu and Xiaomi, but also Rokid, which specializes in smart hardware production. We went out to ask if they had the same layout of smart speakers Why?
In fact, from the earliest Amazon Echo smart speaker, based on alexa voice assistant super interaction has always been the most important advantage of intelligent speaker, and Amazon Echo smart speaker has made a good market share in foreign countries, consumers for such products Accreditation is also higher.
According to market research firm data, Amazon Echo in the first nine months of this year sales have exceeded 20 million units, ahead of Google Home's 700 million units, the end of the year is expected to exceed 30 million mark to become dominate the tens of millions Grade star product, which undoubtedly also stimulated the sensitive nerves of domestic manufacturers.
According to German market research firm GfK data monitoring, January-August 2017 domestic smart speakers total sales of over 100,000 units, and with the double eleven promotional frenzy, sales of smart speakers also reached a peak, only the Lynx Elf The sales of more than one million, y also seems to allow people to see the smart speaker in the country's broad prospects.
However, domestic smart speaker companies also have different positioning for the products, which are also fully reflected in the product side, basically smart speakers can be divided into three categories: the first is the millet, Ali, Jingdong, Lenovo and other 'big companies ', Behind generally have a huge business ecosystem, smart speakers just to access the platform needs, thereby promoting their own business ecosystem.
Followed by Rokid, go out to ask, Broadlink and other intelligent hardware companies, they are more focused on the product, focusing on improving the product above, not only concerned about the smart speaker itself, while more emphasis on voice Interaction, connect smart home future development above.
The third one is a content company represented by Cool Dog Pandora and Himalaya. It hopes to promote the transmission of high-quality audio content through smart speakers, and the functions of the products are also mainly defined in the content of the play, but the smart It is clear that this mode of operation also helps to enhance the user experience of listening to scenes and to narrow the distance between the user and the content.
Here we have to look at different companies have different products how different.
1, a strong platform for the company's entry
Speaking of this year's domestic smart speaker development, not only a separate product 'performance', but also let us see the platform-based companies in promoting the development of the industry's great strength.
Millet launched from millet AI speakers, and then Ali's Lynx elf, cheap not only allows consumers to more intelligent speakers such products, but also deepens the user's initial understanding of artificial intelligence, played a very high role of education market.
As an integrated platform for smart hardware industry, Xiaomi AI Speaker and Lynx Elf as strong market competition in the smart speaker, and low-cost strategy has become the common means of competition between the two products, and such means in this year's results Equally flattering.
This is evident from the sale of over one million units by Lynx at a subsidy of $ 99 for Double Eleven to see that 'burning money' is undoubtedly the most powerful means to enter the market.
Although Xiaomi and Ali are taking a low-cost route, but the product is positioned on the difference is obvious, Xiaomi AI speakers mainly rely on has been connected to more than 85 million smart devices Miyagi MIoT platform advantages, you can control eight categories of smart rice Home equipment.
For devices that have not been connected to the MIoT platform, they can also be controlled through Mickey smart sockets, smart patch panels, wall switches, Mickey AC mate and other gadgets, and this is also a powerful "backstage support" for millet AI speakers.
Consumer awareness of the product more inclined to smart home control platform, and this is the reason why smart speakers are the most important reason for the platform-based companies.
As the world's largest Chinese search engine, Baidu to join the melee of smart speakers out of the expectation of people, and equally surprising Baidu raven H smart speaker itself, which uses a modular design, the top of the matrix touch screen are free Demolition, while the speaker cabinet materials also used a special high-temperature nylon glass carbon fiber, enough to see that Baidu is still under this product Kung Fu.
In addition, Baidu's search engine, Baidu Encyclopedia, Baidu Maps, Baidu Music, Ikki Arts ... and so on, rich business also provides a good basis for the AI learning materials and rich content.
And Ali and millet biggest difference may be Baidu raven H smart speakers did not use low-cost strategy to win over users, but also for the entire industry can play a positive role in guiding.
2, smart hardware company's counter-current insistence
For intelligent hardware companies, the product is undoubtedly the most important, in the face of strong platform-based companies to join, the only adhere to artificial intelligence technology and smart speaker products may be the best way out.
To go out to ask the company, for example, has now launched two Tichome and Tichome Mini two smart speakers, the former mainly to indoor use scenarios, while the latter for the portable features, the size is more compact, and the difference in function In fact, not large, in addition to songs as an important use of the scene, while smart home control is also one of the most important goals.
To go out and ask the CEO Li Zhi-fei's words: Giant's burn-in wars, and will not be out of the market of intelligent hardware vendors, but for the entire smart speaker market will have a very good role in promoting this is smart hardware vendors themselves can not Independently done.
In addition, such as Rokid this hardware and voice technology by the team independent research and development, independent control of artificial intelligence technology company, and through the latest if Qi moon stone smart speakers, we can see that they are intelligent speaker products themselves Polished and perfected.
Rokid is also the only smart speaker manufacturer that controls wake-up words in two syllables, making dual-syllables not only wake up faster than traditional four-sonic wake-up, but also make it more natural for users to use smart speakers.
At the same time, Rokid if Qi Moon stone voiceprint recognition and direction recognition is another major technical highlights of its products.
3, content production company's homeopathy
As we mentioned earlier, among the many smart speaker manufacturers, the addition of content companies has also injected a new vitality into the smart speaker market. Taking the Hiaya smart speaker as an example, it mainly focuses on content Himalayan seamless access to high-quality audio content, while users can interact through the voice, more convenient access to content.
Obviously, however, the obvious advantage of competing smart speakers is obviously much weaker, and the coverage of user groups will be greatly limited. At the same time, other smart speakers will also be accessed through third-party cooperation More content, so for content-based smart speakers, the challenge seems larger.
to sum up:
Smart speaker industry in 2017 can be described as bustling, many manufacturers in the fierce competition, consumers actually get more benefits.
Have a deeper understanding of such products, whether Xiaomi, Ali such a strong platform for joining the 'box battle' company, or go out to ask, Rokid such technology-focused, the product itself, the intelligent hardware company, are intelligent Speaker industry has played a catalytic role in promoting.
And then the artificial intelligence more quickly spread to ordinary users, but also allow people to have a more accurate look forward to the future of artificial intelligence.
