The second-generation HomePod will be able to alert users to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that go off in their home — even if they’re away.
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But the HomePod will get even better as a smart home informant in Spring 2023, when Sound Recognition is rolled out to users via an over-the-air software update. The feature uses the microphones in the second-generation HomePod to listen in on the speaker’s environment, just like the smart speaker listens for “Hey Siri” calls. HomePod knows what smoke and carbon monoxide alarms sound like, using its S7 system-on-a-chip, and can identify when an alarm goes off. Once detected, HomePod can send a notification to the Home app on a connected iPhone letting them know an alarm was sounded.
Sound Recognition Works With Accessories
After a Sound Recognition notification is sent to a user, they can interact with the prompt in a few different ways, depending on what kind of smart home accessories they own. Users can check in with people who may be inside the home using the HomePod’s intercom feature. This allows users to hear the environmental sound of their home and speak directly to anyone inside — helping them discern whether the smoke alarm was the result of a cooking mishap or a serious incident.
The feature works best when users also have a HomeKit-enabled security camera in the same room as their HomePod. If they do, users can view a live camera feed using HomeKit Secure Video while using the intercom. This is especially useful if there is no one home when Sound Recognition detects an alarm, because users can see for themselves what the problem is — straight from their iPhone.
Users wary of the potential privacy implications of a feature like Sound Recognition should know Apple says that all smart home communications are end-to-end encrypted. By default, the company adds that no audio recordings are sent to Apple. However, it’s worth noting that Apple’s track record isn’t entirely clean. HomePod users will receive Sound Recognition in an update later this spring.