3 ways a smarter Siri could make me rethink the HomePod over Sonos and Bose

It's been three years since Apple released the HomePod, and in that time, competitors like Sonos, Bose, Denon, and Amazon have made significant strides in smart speaker technology. While these companies have improved fidelity, whole-home audio support, and smart home integration, Apple's HomePod still holds a major advantage: its seamless integration with Apple's device ecosystem and the potential for a smarter Siri. The current limitations of Siri are well-known, but Apple is expected to announce significant generative AI upgrades to its voice assistant during this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

If these upgrades deliver on their promise, here's how a reborn Siri could make me rethink the HomePod over Sonos and Bose. One area where a smarter Siri could shine is in music discovery, playback, and playlist creation. Imagine being able to ask Siri to create a playlist for a specific occasion, like an upbeat evening with friends and family, using Apple Music's AI-generated playlists.

You could also ask Siri to play songs or existing playlists that fit a certain vibe or feature a specific artist or genre. With more conversational capabilities, Siri could use context to queue music outside of your library, rather than being limited to exact titles, artists, or albums. But a smarter Siri could do more than just improve music playback.

It could also become a more capable and integrated digital assistant. For example, you could ask Siri to help with tasks like comparing flights and hotels for an upcoming trip, generating a route in Apple Maps, or even providing recipes based on ingredients you have on hand. Additionally, a more integrated Siri could bridge the gaps between Calendar, Reminders, and Contacts, allowing for more seamless interactions between Apple devices.

The potential for a smarter Siri is particularly compelling when compared to other smart speakers on the market. While speakers like Sonos and Bose offer integration with Amazon Alexa, they have limitations when it comes to accessing Apple device content. Since Siri can serve as a more thorough voice assistant for Apple users, extending its capabilities in your home could transform it from a simple hands-free helper into a deeply integrated digital assistant.

Ultimately, if Apple delivers on its promise of a smarter Siri, the HomePod could become an even more attractive option for those invested in the Apple ecosystem. With its potential for enhanced music discovery, smart home integration, and digital assistance, the HomePod could gain a significant edge over competitors like Sonos and Bose.