With HomePod sound recognition, your Siri speaker will send a notification to your iPhone (with live video if available) if it detects a fire alarm sound.
- If your smart uses smoke and carbon monoxide sensors, your HomePod will send a notification to your iPhone when it detects smoke.
- It uses sound recognition to detect alarm sounds made by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, even if they are dumb as a rock.
- If your smart home has HomeKit cameras, the notification will include a video so you can better understand what’s going on away from home.
Your HomePod can now detect smoke detectors
Apple Sound Recognition is available on iPhone with iOS 14. It can let your phone notify you when it recognizes certain sounds in your environment, such as a crying baby or a doorbell. And now sound recognition is available on the first and second generation HomePod and HomePod mini.
Sound recognition on your speaker Siri can listen to alarm sounds from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, even if you have an outdated, “dumb”model.
This feature will notify you of an emergency any time your HomePod picks up a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm. And if your home has HomeKit-compatible security cameras, the notification will include a live video feed so you can remotely assess what’s going on.
Naturally, this feature will be most useful when you are away from home. However, people with hearing problems will find it especially useful at home, as they may not be able to hear the smoke or carbon monoxide alarm going off.
How Sound Recognition Works on HomePod
The company says you should not rely on this feature if you “could be hurt or injured”or in “dangerous or emergency situations.”
To use this feature, you need to update the Home app to the new Apple architecture. Listening and sound processing is done on every HomePod in your smart home. Confidentiality is guaranteed as no data is uploaded to Apple’s servers or transmitted.
How Sound Recognition Works on HomePod
According to TechCrunch, this feature is available for use starting today. No software update is required to enable this feature other than iOS 16.4.
Sound recognition is available on iPhone and iPad with iOS 14.0.
You can control it by toggling the Sound Recognition switch in Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition. Optionally, select Sounds to select the types of sounds you want to recognize, such as baby crying, cat meowing, dog barking, glass breaking, door knocking, car horn, etc.
To detect device alarms, doorbells, sirens, and other electronic sounds, tap Sounds, then select Custom Alarm, Custom Device, or Doorbell.