Apple executive Phil Schiller revealed he is not a fan of the Amazon Echo or Google Home smart speakers.
A top Apple executive revealed he is not a fan of either Amazon ‘s Echo or Google Home’s speakers, amid speculation that the company could be releasing its own rival product.
In a recent interview with Gadgets 360, Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, took a dig at the devices—which have voice assistants built in.
« My mother used to have a saying that if you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all, » Schiller said.
Home and Echo both allow users to speak to them and get responses, or carry out « smart home » tasks like managing the thermostat and ensuring security.
Apple has yet to release its own product, but a noted analyst recently said that the company is working on a device to rival Amazon and Google.
« There is an over 50 percent chance that Apple will announce its first home AI product at WWDC in June, » KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note. WWDC is Apple’s annual developers conference.
Schiller did however give his thoughts on Siri, Apple’s own voice assistant, and acknowledged that there are situations where a screen would not be needed.
« For example, if you’re driving (and) you want Siri to work for you without having to look at the screen, that’s the best thing, » Schiller said to Gadgets 360. « Or maybe you’re across the room, and you want to ask Siri to change the song you were listening to – you don’t have to walk over and back (and you can use Siri instead) . »
He added that while a voice assistant is « really beneficial » at times, having access to a touch screen device was still essential.
« So the idea of not having a screen, I don’t think suits many situations, » the executive told the publication.
« For example if I’m looking for directions and I’m using Maps, Siri can tell me those directions by voice and that’s really convenient but it’s even better if I can see that map, and I can see what turns are coming up, and I can see where there is congestion, I understand better my route, and what I’m going to do, » Schiller said.
Read the full Gadgets 360 interview here.
