Qualcomm and Baidu have teamed up to bring the Baidu DuerOS AI platform to Snapdragon processors, enabling device manufacturers to implement smarter voice recognition in smartphones and IoT hardware.
Baidu's AI tech is already available in a range of devices including mobile phones, TV set-top boxes and smart speakers, but integrating it into Qualcomm's Aqstic hardware and software means it will be available in a much wider range of devices. It will be available on Snapdragon mobile processors, including the Snapdragon 845, which will be integrated into flagship smartphones in 2018.
"Qualcomm Technologies continues to drive research into AI, and we are committed to the development of on-device AI, including audio. Qualcomm Technologies is pleased to collaborate with Baidu on AI for voice-enabled solutions," said Keith Kressin, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies.
"The collaboration with Baidu will bring AI for voice-enabled solutions to next-generation Snapdragon mobile platforms, allowing users to wake up smartphones and IoT devices using their voice in their natural language at any time and at extremely low power, while utilising Baidu's DuerOS voice services."
The collaboration offers always-on, low-power voice recognition that's triggered using the phrase "Xiaodu Xiaodu." It also features echo cancellation and noise suppression to ensure the right results are triggered rather than picking up distracting background noise.
"Through the collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, we will bring a new AI voice experience to OEMs of smartphones and IoT devices around the world," Kun Jing, general manager, Duer business unit, Baidu added.
"Leveraging Baidu's strengths in AI, big data, knowledge graph, information and services ecosystems, DuerOS will support OEMs with its strong capabilities, while providing users with more comprehensive and quality information and services to satisfy their needs."
