But Apple, Google, Amazon and even Microsoft are still betting on smart speakers, and their motivations go well beyond simply selling more gadgets. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)Unlike Apple, Amazon and Google, Microsoft hasn't launched its own smart speaker hardware. Over time, smart speakers will "become a hub or a gateway to connect your smart home appliances," said Bob O'Donnell of TECHnalysis Research. Paving the way for a voice-controlled futureSmart speakers also serve as a proving ground for the voice-processing technology in which Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft have all invested. Apple's new products6:05Bob O'Donnell of TECHnalysis Research sees smart speakers as a step in the ongoing metamorphosis of human-computer interaction.

Source: CBC News June 12, 2017 09:00 UTC