Page 21 - bne_newspaper_May_31_2019

bne Tech
May 31, 2019 www.intellinews.com I Page 21
Yandex launches AI-powered smart home gadgets and video stream features
EWDN in Moscow
Yandex, the NASDAQ-listed Russian Internet giant, has announced two high-tech, AI-related novelties, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).
The company unveiled what it touts as “Russia’s first smart home ecosystem”. It is powered by Alice, the smart assistant, which Yandex launched two years ago and made the news in sometimes surprising ways.
“Alice can now turn on lights, adjust a thermostat, control a TV, or even make coffee,” claims Yandex, which has dealt with manufacturers such as Philips, Redmond, Samsung and Xiaomi to make their smart home products compatible.
In addition to supporting third-party smart home de- vices, Yandex is releasing a range of its own gadgets – the ‘Smart Bulb,’ the ‘Smart Plug’ and the ‘Smart Remote Control’, says Yandex’s press release.
One year ago Yandex launched a Google Home- style smart speaker, dubbed Yandex.Station, also using Alice’s AI capacities.
Yandex also announced that its users are now pro- vided with personalised video stream for live and on- demand video on Yandex.Live, the company’s stream- ing content platform. A new HDMI dongle, dubbed ‘Yandex.Module,’ is also being launched to enable users to stream Yandex.Live to their TV screens.
Yandex.Module is integrated with Alice: thus,” users can control the media player with their voice via the Yandex Search App, Yandex Browser, Yandex.Station or any other Alice-enabled smart speaker,” as explained by the company.
bne Tech
We have launched a new publication bneTech
A FREE newsletter covering technology, blockchain, ICOs, TMT and all aspects of the "new economy" in Emerging Europe, Central Asia and MENA.
*Please note by clicking the button you give permission for bne to send you e-mails as per the EU's GDPR rules.
SIGN UP HERE