After launching its online store, Google Singapore has introduced its smart speaker Google Home.
It has taken the technology 16 months to reach SouthEast Asia, and alongside the Google Home Mini the speaker will be sold through retail stores such as Challenger, Courts and StarHub, as well as online from tomorrow.
There is no word on when the newer Google Home Max will be made available, reports CNet, nor if Google Home will be rolled out elsewhere in Southeast Asia. However, it was launched in India last week and in Japan late last year.
Singapore’s version of the speaker will support Singlish, and have access to local services such as public transportation chatbot Bus Uncle.
Google has also enabled multi-user support for Singapore, and will be able to deliver personalised schedules or music based on who is asking.
“We’re seeing a transition from a mobile-first world to an AI-first world,” says Google VP of product management Rishi Chandra. “We’re looking to reinvent all of our products to make it more natural to use them, and we think voice is going to be a big part of that. Voice can fundamentally change how you interact with computers.”
He says Home has been designed around Google’s privacy framework. “We want to be transparent and give user control.”
User data across all Google platforms, including Search and Home, can be managed on a single backend, enabling users to easily view and delete their information.
