Xiaomi is launching a $45 Amazon Echo alternative

[Polycount]

Smart speakers have quickly become a must-have household gadget for tech enthusiasts everywhere. Devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are inexpensive and capable of far more than just music playback -- from a simple pizza order or requesting an Uber to full smart home control, when integrated with devices like Philips Hue lightbulbs or Nest thermostats.

Given the rapid adoption it's no surprise that other companies have begun to jump on the smart speaker bandwagon. Apple is the last of the big household names with their HomePod which will retail at a premium $349.99, and reports have circulated that Facebook is seeking to create their own Echo alternative as well.

Today, Xioami has officially joined their ranks with the announcement of the Mi AI, a smart speaker that seeks to compete on the Chinese same market, but at a fraction of the price. Whereas the Amazon Echo retails for $180, the Xiaomi Mi AI will only run you about $45 (or 299 RMB).

In terms of pricing, the smaller Echo Dot ($49.99) is the only smart speaker that comes close to the Mi AI - but it's lacking many of the premium features that Xiaomi's alternative will have like its six-microphone array.

At least on paper the device has many of the same features as the full Echo, such as third-party service compatibility and smart home control functionality, so it seems like a pretty good deal. However, software is key here, so it's no surprise Mi AI will only be available in China initially, with no plans to bring the device to other markets just yet.

Xiaomi will roll out the first Mi AI devices this August, in the form of a limited beta testing program.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/70312-xiaomi-launching-45-amazon-echo-alternative.html

 

[psycros]

Who in their right mind would want a microphone in their home that's connected directly to Chinese intelligence services?

 

[Reehahs]

Who in their right mind would want a microphone in their home that's connected directly to Chinese intelligence services?

Who in their right mind would want a microphone in their home that's connected directly to ANY intelligence services?

Lol, there fixed it for ya.

 

[Kibaruk]

Who in their right mind would want a microphone in their home that's connected directly to Chinese intelligence services?

Who in their right mind would want a microphone in their home that's connected directly to ANY intelligence services?

Lol, there fixed it for ya.

Yeah well, you would imagine that some have better ethics than others... maybe not... still I do worry more about the Chinese or Russian government spying than I would for others...

 

[OutlawCecil]

*sigh* I get tired of hearing paranoid people complain about privacy and spying. I've said it before and I'll say it again. NO Intelligence agency anywhere has a room full of people listening to random microphones in random houses. There's 7 billion people on the earth most of which live stupidly-boring lives. If you think somebody is on the other side of that microphone listening to your wife's daily juicy office gossip, your being paranoid! Why the he11 would anybody care or devote time and resources into that?

AT MOST, they may have low-grade ai designed to listen and pickup on key words and begin a recording or flag that microphone as being of importance. But again, unless your the president of the country, I doubt you'll ever be listened to.