Synaptics Teams up with Baidu in Launch of DuerOS Mobile Platform for Bluetooth Speakers, Headphones, and Wearables

Synaptics announced its AudioSmart far-field voice DSPs have been selected by Baidu, the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, for its new DuerOS Mobile Accessory (DMA) platform recently announced at the Baidu Create 2018 AI Developer Conference. Market applications enabled by combining Synaptics' low-power far-field voice DSP, with a Bluetooth connectivity IC and DuerOS, Baidu’s conversational AI system, includes a wide-variety of on-the-go products including Bluetooth speakers, headphones, wearables and automotive accessories.

Knowles Corporation announced that it has developed with Baidu and Bestechnic (BES) a new hands-free reference design for headphones, headsets and true wireless earbuds that works with smart devices powered by DuerOS, Baidu’s conversational AI system. The Knowles IA610 SmartMic supports the industry’s lowest-power, always-on voice wake capability to enable Baidu voice service on-the-go for ear worn consumer products.

Baidu, a company known as China's search engine is investing heavily in its own voice engine, artificial intelligence (AI), and even hardware technologies, following Google's footsteps. Earlier this year, Baidu acquired Raven, a Beijing-based smart home startup, and the first results of that investment have now been revealed with two voice-activated speakers that run on the company's own AI platform. The design was the result of a cooperation with a Swedish start-up, Teenage Engineering.