Latest news with #smartassistant
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Sonos' smart assistant is expanding from music to home control
Since its launch in 2022, the capabilities of Sonos Voice Control have expanded to include setting timers and checking the weather. But by the end of this year, the smart assistant will introduce compatibility with the Philips Hue smart home platform allowing it to also control lights through voice commands, according to Hueblog. In late 2019, Sonos acquired a Paris-based company called Snips that had created a 'private-by-design' AI voice platform. Nearly three years later, Sonos Voice Control was introduced offering users an alternative to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for controlling the company's smart speakers with voice commands. Sonos Voice Control can be used to adjust volume, group multiple Sonos speakers together, or play songs from streaming services including Apple Music and Spotify, with an emphasis on privacy since all commands are processed locally and never sent to the cloud. Its capabilities have slowly expanded over the past few years, but interoperability with Philips Hue would be the first time Sonos Voice Control is compatible with another smart home platform. Specifics on how exactly you can control Hue lights with the smart assistant aren't known, but Hueblog speculates that users will be able to turn individual lights on and off, adjust brightness, or activate scenes using voice commands. More details will potentially be revealed at a media event that Philips Hue has planned for September 3rd, 2025, during the IFA show in Berlin where it typically announces new products and services. The Verge has reached out to Sonos about this potential major expansion of Sonos Voice Control's capabilities. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew Liszewski Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smart Home Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Sonos Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Speakers Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Zawya
30-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Yango Group introduces the bilingual AI assistant Yasmina in Oman
Muscat, Oman – July 30, 2025 – Yango Group, a global tech company, has introduced Yasmina – the bilingual human-like AI assistant, in Oman. Yasmina, fluent in Arabic and English, is built into the smart speakers — Midi, Mini, and Lite, and is designed to meet the needs of users in the region through natural, intelligent voice interactions. Behind the assistant's ability to understand context and engage in natural conversations is an upgraded large language model, one of the core components of YangoAI — a suite of advanced AI technologies tailored to the GCC. Yasmina goes beyond standard functions such as music streaming and smart home control. It offers localized features, including prayer times for Muscat, traditional recipe suggestions like Omani Shuwa, and assists with planning family trips to popular destinations such as Wadi Shab. Additionally, the assistant supports faith-based activities by playing Surahs, setting Adhans, and providing accurate dates according to the Hijri calendar, helping users maintain a strong connection to their cultural and religious practices. The AI assistant encourages curiosity across all age groups by simplifying complex topics, supporting language development, and offering interactive storytelling, making it equally useful at home, in classrooms, and on the go. It has the ability to translate between Arabic and English, making it particularly useful for bilingual users and language learners, educators, and content creators. "AI technology is transforming how people live, learn, and connect, and we believe it should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. The Sultanate of Oman has shown strong momentum in embracing AI as a key part of its national digital strategy. We are proud that our ecosystem is expanding with increasingly advanced services designed to enhance the lives of Omani citizens. Through Yasmina and our broader portfolio, we remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that support Oman's vision for technological sovereignty,' said Islam Abdul Karim, Regional Head, Yango Group Middle East. "ITHCA Group, being the technology investment arm of the OIA, actively supports initiatives within its portfolio companies that aim to adapt advanced technologies to the unique needs of users. Therefore, we highly value Yango Group's contributions to enhancing Oman's digital ecosystem. The Yasmina smart speakers will help families, students, and individuals discover the capabilities of AI in ways that feel familiar and practical. We believe that such innovations are well aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040," ITHCA Group stated. The expansion reflects Yango Group's ongoing commitment to digital innovation across the region. With the launch of Yasmina in Oman, Yango Group continues its mission of bridging the gap between innovative technologies and local communities. The Yasmina smart speakers are now available for purchase through various retail and online outlets across Oman. To fully enjoy everything the Yasmina smart speakers have to offer, users need to have an active Yango Play subscription, which may be subject to applicable fees and terms. Yango Play is an AI-powered entertainment super app available across multiple countries in the GCC. About Yango Group Yango Group is a tech company that transforms global technologies into everyday services tailored for local communities. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, the company reshapes and enhances leading cutting-edge technologies from around the world into seamlessly integrated daily services for diverse regions. The mission is to bridge the gap between world-leading innovations and local communities, fostering connections and enhancing everyday living experiences. For more information, please visit
Gizmodo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Amazon Echo Pop (Newest Model) Hits Almost Free a Week Before Prime Day, Stock Is Running Low
A smart assistant is a big win for a lot of people. Being able to just shout out commands when they pop into your head, like setting alarms, asking about the weather, or finding out where you can get an emergency coffee, are all essential things these days. There are a few ways to add more of this usefulness into your life, but one of the best ways is with a good smart speaker. See at Amazon Right now you can get a lot of savings as Prime Day approaches, which means it really pays to be an Amazon Prime member at the moment. One excellent deal is that you can save yourself 45% on the Amazon Echo Pop, making it just $22 if you're an Amazon Prime member. It's normally $40, so that's not a bad discount at all. This little smart speaker is the smallest one you can get from Amazon, which makes it way easier to fit into any home. Despite it's small size, it still offers an impressive degree of sound quality and plenty of usability as well, which is what it's all about when it comes to smart speakers. It grants easy access to Alexa too, which is one of the better smart assistants, especially for those who love other Amazon smart home products. All you need to do is plug this in, and you'll easily be able to control absolutely everything about it using only your voice. That means with just one sentence, you can summon up whatever music you feel like, or ask for a recipe you need while your hands are covered in cake batter, or even get some help with some homework. You can even get things like Amazon Music, Amazon Kids+, and Hey Disney! through it as well. It just means you can keep basically everyone happy with it, and not only that, but it's built with sustainability in mind, which means it's not too bad for the environment either. That's just a nice win for everyone involved. The usual price for $40 here isn't bad at all, but there's no denying the appeal of the device at $22. It's basically the same as a couple of days of coffee for a lot of people, and you get an incredible amount of functionality for that. Just make sure you don't wait around for too long, or you'll end up missing out on this limited-time deal. See at Amazon
