A new survey of smart speaker owners found that only 6% of them are currently using the device to control smart home devices like lighting and heating.
Interestingly, even for HomePod – which is a very music-focused device – playing music was only the third most common use …
The IHS Markit study found that answering a question and checking the news or weather led the way, with discovering and controlling music in third place. Controlling other smart home devices is currently the least common use of a smart speaker.
However, the company told us this is expected to change rapidly.
The firm counted some 4,100 connected devices on the market at the beginning of this year, and says it is only a matter of time before voice becomes the primary means of controlling them.
One driver of connected devices is expected to be the insurance industry, likely offering premium discounts for those who use anti-flood devices.
The survey was carried out across the US, UK, Japan, Germany and Brazil among 937 smart speaker owners.
