New 2022 Smart Audio Report from NPR & Edison Research Shows Slowing Smart Speaker and Voice Assistant Adoption

NPR and Edison Research released its annual Smart Audio Report, showcasing voice technology trends in the US. The 2022 Report highlights the increased usage of voice technology, with 35% of Americans 18+ now owning a smart speaker. In 2022, 62% of Americans 18+ use a voice assistant on any device – smart speakers, smartphones, TV remotes, in-car systems, a computer/laptop, and tablets. While suggesting growth, the report also shows adoption and usage is stalling.

With more than 60 million adults A18+ in the U.S. now owning a smart speaker, new research from The Smart Audio Report reveals how the outbreak of COVID-19 and quarantine measures are disrupting routines and shifting consumer behaviors. Other key findings from the Spring 2020 Report reveal that usage of voice commands in general has increased slightly since the pandemic, with 52% of voice-assistant users saying they use voice tech several times a day or nearly every day, compared to 46% before the outbreak.

Sonos launched Sonos Radio, a free, ad-supported streaming radio service, exclusively available in more than 10 million homes globally that use Sonos hardware. Complementing the 100+ streaming options available on Sonos, the new service introduces a cohesive way to explore radio, with a broad selection of radio available around the world today, bringing together more than 60,000 stations from multiple streaming partners alongside original programming from Sonos.

New data from the latest installment of The Smart Audio Report from NPR and Edison Research confirms that smart speaker adoption continues to grow in the U.S. with 60M adults A18+ (24% of the population) now owning a smart speaker. And with spoken word audio listening up 20% from 2014, cutting into time spent with music, it's clear the audio landscape is changing dramatically – driven by technology advancements and content preferences alike.

The Smart Audio Report Spring 2019 is part of the industry's longest-running public research series about smart speaker consumer behavior in the U.S.. The updated research reveals how smart speaker user behavior and perceptions are evolving as owners 'settle in' with their devices and the market matures out of its introductory phase. According to the survey promoted by NPR And Edison Research, seven-in-ten smart speaker owners use their device daily despite common concerns around security and privacy, while those same factors are leading reasons non-owners have not acquired a device.

With more than 43 million smart speaker owners in the U.S., adoption is going mainstream, according to the latest research from The Smart Audio Report, Spring 2018, a recurring study from NPR and Edison Research. The new data from the research confirms that new smart speaker owners are emerging as a distinct audience in terms of user profile, behavior and media habits, while the first movers in the space remain highly engaged with their devices.

When NPR and Edison Research released The Smart Audio Report in June 2017, one thing was clear: Voice-activated smart speakers are becoming a must-have device in American homes. The original report revealed that 42% of smart speaker owners consider their device "essential" to everyday life and 65% wouldn't want to go back to life without one. Now available now NPR and Edison Research, a second part of the report reveals how smart speakers influence purchase behavior.

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