Synaptics, Baidu Team Up On Voice-Based AI Tech

“First unveiled at the Baidu Create 2018 AI Developer Conference earlier this month, the solution holds considerable potential in the China market, where Baidu says its DuerOS AI platform is already being used by over 200 partners in 25 million devices.”

Synaptics and Baidu have joined forces, announcing that the former’s AudioSmart far-field voice digital signal processors (DSPs) are being integrated into the latter’s DuerOS Mobile Accessory (DMA), a conversational AI platform.

Baidu’s DMA solution is designed for integration into Bluetooth-enabled speakers and headsets, infusing them with voice-activated AI interaction. First unveiled at the Baidu Create 2018 AI Developer Conference earlier this month, the solution holds considerable potential in the China market, where Baidu says its DuerOS AI platform is already being used by over 200 partners in 25 million devices. Now, it’s poised to generate further interest through its use of Synaptics’ DSP technology, which has previously been embraced by major names such as Harman Kardon and Microsoft.

In a statement announcing the collaboration, Donghui Jie, the Deputy Manager of the Baidu DuerOS Business Unit’s AI Ecosystem department, explained that “it is through partnerships with industry-leading, innovative companies like Synaptics that we are able to strengthen and grow our partner ecosystem as well as accelerate technological development, further enabling consumers to realize cutting-edge voice-interactive experiences with DuerOS-powered hardware products.”

The newly-announced collaboration is only the latest in a longstanding partnership between the companies, with Synaptics having previously worked with Baidu on the Skyworth X1 Pro and other smart speaker products for brands such as Doss, Linekong, and Suning.