Synaptics’ AudioSmart Tech Supports Alexa in New Smart TVs

“Adding far-field voice recognition to our TV lineup provides consumers with a more natural and convenient viewing experience.” -Bryan Huang, Product Center Director, TCL

Synaptics‘ far-field voice technology is now being used in new smart TV’s to support their use of Alexa, Amazon’s voice-based AI assistant.

The TVs are made by TCL, a China-based electronics company that has been making inroads in the US market with its television brand. Integrating Alexa should further help along those efforts, given the AI platform’s prominence in the US; and doing so with the help of Synaptics’ AudioSmart solution should help to ensure a high level of functionality. Synaptics’ technology features acoustic echo cancellation allowing it to hear users’ even over loud audio, sophisticated voice targeting that cancels out other noise, and considerable energy efficiency.

In a statement announcing the integration, TCL Product Center director Bryan Huang commented, “Adding far-field voice recognition to our TV lineup provides consumers with a more natural and convenient viewing experience.”

Conversational AI platforms like Alexa have proven to be an important driver of Synaptics’ AudioSmart business. The company has announced high-profile partnerships with Microsoft and Baidu this year essentially aimed at enhancing the hearing of those companies’ AI systems.

TCL, meanwhile, is offering another showcase for Synaptics’ far-field voice technology as it showcases its smart TVs this week at the IFA 2018 trade show in Berlin.