Smart home management company Nice is officially launching Mylo, its new native voice assistant available with the NiceOS 8.9 software upgrade.
According to the Carlsbad, Calif. company, the context-aware Mylo is embedded directly into the Nice Home Management platform and is designed to understand user location and device preferences so users can manage media, cameras, climate, lighting and security using natural language.
The company says interfaces can be configured to be associated with a specific area or media zone, allowing users to issue commands without needing to specify a location or unique device name. The voice assistant can be personalized with male or female voices and customized acknowledgement sounds.
While the voice assistant is marketed as a customer experience tool designed to make controlling smart home systems easier and more intuitive, Nice says it can also help dealers avoid complex programming, streamline installations, and reduce support calls.
The company also bills its new native voice assistant as a faster option than third-party solutions, producing faster results from user commands.
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The company also says the voice assistant is secure, with data encrypted for user privacy.
No programming is required, and the assistant offers instant device and system awareness, the company adds.
It also works with popular multiroom audio provider Sonos, offering voice-activated music control. This comes after Nice last year became the first partner to achieve a Works With Sonos certification.
Users can also execute multiple commands with a single phrase, such as adjusting lights and playing music in the same command. In addition, users can create custom voice commands to trigger any event map function, the company adds.
The Nice Voice Assistant is also compatible with Nice SC100, SC300, SC150, and SC350 controllers running Core OS 8.9 or later, paired with ITP Touch Panels and Nice HR40 remotes. This integration enables users to manage and synchronize their home systems, combining control over media, lighting, shading, and more into a unified experience, the company says.
Nice joins the growing number of smart home control platforms integrating AI and voice assistant leveraging advancements in natural language programming and AI in general. For example, Josh.ai has integrated ChatGPT into its platform for more intuitive voice control. Control4 and Savant can now also leverage Apple’s Siri to control home systems.
In the more DIY-focused systems, Google, Amazon, Apple and others are improving their respective AI voice assistants to provide a more intuitive smart home experience.
Paul Williams, global managing director of Nice’s home management business unit, says smart home voice control needs to be simpler and more intuitive, which is what led the company to implementing its AI.
“We’ve listened closely to our dealers to understand the needs of their customers and we are thrilled to deliver a solution that truly transforms the way users interact with and manage their home,” Williams said in a statement.
In its announcement, Nice also pledges to continuously update the voice assistant with over-the-air updates, adding new features, language support, accent comprehension and a more intelligent voice control experience.
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