Baidu Launches AI Home Theater System and Xiaodu Smart Display 1S Assistant

On Feb. 28, Baidu launched two new AI-based IoT smart devices for the Chinese market– Xiaodu TV Mate and the Xiaodu Smart Display 1S. The former is an innovative 3-in-1 smart device with integrated functions of a home theater system, 4K high definition set-top box, whereas the 1S is a smart speaker with abundant content and upgraded ‘Kids Mode’.

SEE ALSO: Baidu’s DuerOS Runs on Over 100 Million Smart Devices

Xiaodu TV Mate, the first 3-in-1 AI home theater system in China

Xiaodu TV Mate is an innovative AI-based home theater system and the first-of-its-kind in China, integrating a home theater, set-top box, and smart speaker. Xiaodu TV Mate providesquality audio and visual experience by supporting high-fidelity audio and 4K+HDR visual output. It is also equipped with the industrial leading far-field speech recognition technology that is able to successfully activate devices five meters away, 99 percent of the time. It will also make intelligent content recommendation based on user information and preferences.

As Xiaodu TV Mate has built-in AI assistant capabilities, users can use the device as a smart speaker, perform tasks such as searching for content, control intelligent devices at home, and listen to music or news, even when the TV screen is turned off.

Xiaodu Smart Display 1S

Xiaodu Smart Display 1S is the latest addition to Baidu’s line of smart speakers with touchscreens. The 1S, designed by the famous speaker designer Wai-loong Lim, comes with 18 upgrades such as higher resolution video calling, improved audio algorithms for better sound quality, and 100 percent faster wireless data transmission compared to the previous model.

Xiaodu Smart Display 1S interfaces with an extensive content library through collaboration with content providers such as iQiyi, QQ Music, Qingting FM, and Douyu. 1S users can access over 10 million songs, a substantial number of videos, and children’s education resources. Recently, Baidu reached an agreement with the leading online audio content provider, Ximalaya, allowing 1S users to access Ximalaya’s 100 million+ high quality audio content.

Xiaodu Smart Display 1S also comes with upgraded Kids Mode that has an improved interface, industry-leading speech recognition optimized to recognize children’s voices, and text-to-speech system that can be customized with children-friendly voices. The Kid’s Mode puts special emphasis on protecting children from long screen time, close screen distance, and inappropriate content.

“Xiaodu smart speaker and displays are entering millions of households in China as a reliable virtual assistant. With the launch of these two Xiaodu products, Baidu has established an AI product ecosystem with integrated software and hardware. We will continue to build AI assistant services that are everywhere, improve user interaction with the devices, and make a complex world simpler through technology,” said Jing Kun, General Manager of Baidu’s Smart Living Group.

According to Strategy Analytics, Baidu ranked fourth in its share of the global AI assistant market, during the fourth quarter of 2018, and number two in China. By the end of December 2018, the total installments of DuerOS – Baidu’s conversational AI platform that powers smart speakers and other voice activated devices – reached 200 million and total voice queries doubled for the past eight consecutive quarters, reaching 1.6 billion in December, 2018.

Featured photo credit to Baidu