Baidu, Ainemo launch smart speaker with screens

Baidu DuerOS, in cooperation with Ainemo Inc, a technology innovation company dedicated to building smart home hardware terminals and services, launched a smart speaker with screens called Xiaodu Zaijia on Monday.

With the accelerating pace of modern social life, the pressures of work and long distance have separated family from one another. By using artificial intelligence, Xiaodu Zaijia aims to help close the distance between family members and let people enjoy time at home.

Making tools understand more of people's needs was something that interested Robin Li, founder and chairman of Baidu. "Xiaodu Zaijia is a new category, a new species, representing a new direction," he said.

"The difference between common smart speakers and the ones with screens is the same difference between radio and TV," Li said. He priced Xiaodu Zaijia at 599 yuan ($95.5), making it affordable to many families.

Jing Kun, DuerOS Division General Manager of Baidu, announced DuerOS had so far answered a total of 2.4 billion questions, been loaded into 50 million devices, landed more than 80 main control devices, over 10 million daily activated units, about 16 million partners and more than 10,000 DuerOS developers.

According to Song Chenfeng, founder and CEO of Ainemo Inc, voice interaction, large demand for content and companionship among family members are three trends in this field.

"In order to better create a smart home life, four smart accessories, TV sticks, ready-to-use sockets, smart microphones and smart fitness equipment will be released this spring," Song said.

Niu Yilin contributed to this story.