Many surveys have found that users interact with smart speakers mostly for music playing. However, for some Chinese users, maybe getting health suggestions is just as important.
Many surveys have found that users interact with smart speakers mostly for music playing. However, for some Chinese users, maybe getting health suggestions is just as important.
Global food and beverage brand Nestle has launched a smart speaker powered by artificial intelligence that mostly provides nutrition and health knowledge. It is named as XiaoAI and provides recipe and nutrition info as well as playing music for users.
According to the Chairman and CEO of Nestle Greater China, entering the AI sector brings Nestle to the global trend of AI development, and offers convenience, entertainment and education of healthy living.
China, which is riding on the trend of rapid technology change, is now Nestle’s second largest market in the world. By tapping into the growing smart speaker market, Nestle can also better understand consumers’ preferences. Besides, user data captured on the digital device may help the company further analyze customer behaviors.
Nestle XiaoAI is made under the partnership between Nestle and Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com. The smart speaker uses technology from the e-commerce company’s DingDong smart speaker system, which is powered by the largest AI voice technology provider in China Iflytek.
Nestle promised to keep upgrading the device based on customer demand and to keep looking for possible partnerships with other companies in the field.
“China’s smart speaker and voice interfaces are still in the embryonic stage and it will take cross-sector cooperation to make multi-terminal and multi-scenario services possible,” said Fang Lv, vice president at LingLong Technology, the joint venture making the DingDong speaker.
First announced in last November, DingDong is available now in China. Just like Amazon Echo, DingDong is able to play music (from Baidu), conduct online search, jot down personal schedule and control other smart home devices via voice commands. It knows both Mandarin and Cantonese.