Google Launches $100 Home Speaker With Strong AI, Weak Audio

@markgurman With the products Google has with their Google TVs, Gemini Speaker and Ring Door Bell, the advantage should clearly be in Google's favor, but at best it's murkey.

@markgurman Paired with Google Nest Doorbell, indoor, and outdoor camera's makes it awesome. You can ask it when a package got delivered, when the dogs went out, if your wife ad any guys over when you were at work ect.

@business If the AI is excellent but the speaker sounds worse, Google may have accidentally answered the question: it's an AI device that happens to play music, not a great speaker with AI.

@markgurman Google’s new Gemini speaker is a ripoff of HomePod Mini.

When will companies in the Android ecosystem realize that every slavish copy of an Apple product simply advertises that Apple’s products are the ones with value and the Android ecosystem versions are cheap imitations?

@markgurman Looks like a late stage tumor. They used to be so good at in-home gadget design.

@markgurman $100 Gemini will sell.

Apple's real play: Siri talking to HomeKit.

If that integration actually works, Apple doesn't need breakthrough.

@business It’s disappointing that the audio quality falls short, as I believe top-tier tech should always prioritize performance alongside innovation; hopefully, a future software update or a pro version can fix this.

@business Google Homeの100ドルという価格戦略は、オーディオ品質を犠牲にした速攻戦だ。廉価な兵糧で戦線を広げる手法は、その後の補給ライン崩壊を招く恐れがある。

@markgurman When is Apple launching the new HomePods?

@markgurman Siri has a lot of catching up to do if she wants to compete with Gemini in the smart home ecosystem.

@business All the more reason to bring back Chromecast Audio. Add the AI chip and a microphone array, then let people connect it to their own sound systems. Audiophiles already have speakers they like. The value is the AI, not another mediocre speaker.

@markgurman Gemini speaker is fine, but the real action will be Apple's side.

@markgurman Ich selbst finde den ältesten Amazon Echo Dot immer noch besser als den neuesten HomePod. Mal sehen wie sich der neue HomePod inkl SiriAI schlagen wird .. 👀

@markgurman 👀

@business The feedback suggests that AI integration alone is not a guaranteed differentiator. Users ultimately judge products by the value they deliver in daily life.

@markgurman Ironically enough. It looks very similar to an Apple HomePod

@markgurman As early as this year? GMAFB.

@business The AI era is changing what consumers value. A smart speaker with average sound but exceptional AI may still win because people are starting to buy intelligence, not just hardware. The next tech battle is usefulness, not specs. #AI #Google