Last week, it was reported that a team at Google has been developing a device internally known as Chirp, which will be launched as a competitor against the Amazon Echo. The device is said to incorporate Google's voice assistant and search platforms, similar to how Alexa powers the Amazon Echo.
It was said that the device will likely not be a part of the upcoming I/O Conference of the company. However, a new report by the New York Times claims that the hardware will actually be at the event, and it will be named Google Home.
Google Home, the company's entry into the voice-activated smart home device market, will be able to answer questions asked by users and is capable of carrying out basic tasks. Sources who wish to remain anonymous told the New York Times of the device's presence at its upcoming annual developers' conference.
The device is said to be gearing up for a fall launch, confirming the earlier report that it will be released within the year. The early announcement of the device at the I/O Conference will probably serve as a warning to the popular Amazon Echo, launched less than two years ago but already sold about 3 million devices. In addition, making developers aware of such an upcoming device could have them start creating a software to go with Google Home so that they will be ready once the hardware is officially launched.
The technology that will be powering up Google Home, specifically Google's intelligent personal assistance and voice search, has long been expected to be included in the I/O Conference. The OK Google voice assistant has long been making the lives of Android users more convenient, but Google has not yet brought the technology into a smart home device.
Google Home will have to compete with an ever-evolving Amazon Echo, which is constantly being updated to add more capabilities. One of the new features said to be coming to the device is the ability to find lost items, with Amazon investing between $250,000 and $500,000 in a Bluetooth technology company named TrackR.
