The voice assistant uses Microsoft technology and is now in the beta phase to test it for a period to check if all its features are working properly before reaching the market shelves.
Users will be asked what accent they have, so their voices can be used to train Beeb. However, the BBC was quick to say that they will not keep any recordings, only the transcripts of a few seconds after users say "OK, Beeb" that wakes up the assistant.
The media company announced last year that it was working on a voice assistant called "Beeb." It aims to help customers to be able to use the voice assistant technology regardless of their accent. The other assistants currently available in the market are still having difficulty understanding accents, particularly in the United Kingdom, where people of various accents live across the relatively small geographic size.
Will Beeb work with my smart speaker?
Like other voice assistants, Beeb can be used on various smart speakers. Users need to ask "Play Radio 1" (or any specific show), and it will work right away through its BBC Sounds App. However, how to make it work would depend on the speaker that will be used.
Below are instructions on how to use BBC Sounds on Google Home, Apple HomePod, and Sonos while BBC is still working on supporting other devices.
Google Home
For Google Home, users may listen to all BBC radio stations live by saying, "OK Google, play [radio station]." They may also choose to listen on-demand to most BBC podcasts from the BBC Sounds app.
Users must first connect the speaker to the same WiFi network as the Chromecast device and play something on the BBC Sounds app.
Once the device detects Chromecast, look for the Chromecast icon or the Available Devices option at the bottom of the playback page and tap on it. Then, choose the device where the audio will be played through. Allow a few seconds for it to connect, then any program or station can now be played through the Chromecast device.
Apple HomePod
Use Homepod to listen to all of BBC's live and on-demand content using AirPlay on iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch through the BBC Sounds app. Users may also check the Apple Support website to get detailed instructions on how to use AirPlay.
To use AirPlay, make sure the devices meet requirements. Users may stream audio to multiple speakers with AirPlay 2. They need to add a compatible speaker or smart TV to the Home app and assign them to a room.
To use Beeb on AirPlay audio using an iOS device, open the app, tap Airplay, then tap a speaker or multiple speakers.
Sonos
Listen to BBC content through select Sonos devices using the AirPlay from the BBC Sounds app on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, make sure they are connected to the Sonos speaker.
Once connected, start playing the live stream, podcast, or on-demand program, then on the playback screen, tap the AirPlay icon and select the Sonos speaker or speakers where the audio will be played.
Want to try Beeb?
According to Engadget, The early version of Beeb is now available for the UK-based members of Microsoft's Windows Insider program. Those who are interested in participating may download the app from the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft plays an important role in the development of the voice assistant as BBC uses its Azure AI services to build the technology for this software. Interestingly, users will be able to get live and on-demand radio, podcasts, music mixes, news, and even weather updates using the first version.
Well, to test the voice assistant, users may also ask Beeb for a joke, and they will get something from BBC comedy writers. If they ask Beeb for a QI fact, then host Sandi Toksvig would be there to reply.
Insiders may choose from the following wake command to start using the service after saying, "OK, Beeb."
"Update me" (for news update)
"Tell me a joke"
"Play Radio 1" (or a specific show)
"Tell me a fact" (for trivia from QI or Quite Interesting)
"Do you like Killing Eve?"
"Will you be my boyfriend?" (or other curveball questions)
Meanwhile, The Telegraph has shared a video on how Beeb sounds like.
BBC's ambitious vision for Beeb
Aside from accessing BBC radio, music, podcasts, news, weather services, and getting responses to some queries based on BBC programs, BBC promises to add news features in the "coming weeks and months."
The media company also has an "ambitious vision" for its voice assistant, but Beeb certainly has a long way to go.
"Ultimately we envision that Beeb will be available across a wide range of devices, including smart speakers, mobiles, televisions, and many others," said a BBC representative.
The representative also said that while not everything will work perfectly from day one on this first version, he is optimistic that "the future Beeb assistant will be able to do a lot more."
Microsoft's Windows Insider program members who use the May 2020 Windows 10 operating system update can simply install Beeb from the Windows Store if they are already using a BBC account for BBC's streaming services, iPlayer, and Sounds.
