Following the success of the Amazon Echo, we saw it spawn devices like the Google Home and the Apple HomePod. Given Samsung’s competitive nature, it was reported that Samsung might have something similar in the works that would be powered by Bixby. However accord to the latest reports out of Korea, that may no longer be the case.
In a report from The Investor, it seems that Samsung might have given up on their plans to launch a Bixby-powered speaker. The device, apparently codenamed Vega, was in the works for more than a year, but it seems that Samsung has decided that such a device might not be very marketable.
The source was quoted as saying, “Samsung currently does not view Al speakers as marketable, as the global market is already dominated by unbeatable Amazon and the Korean market is too small to make profits.” It is true that Amazon’s Echo speakers are pretty dominant at the moment given their varying price points, but considering that the market is still pretty new, the number one spot isn’t necessary set in stone yet.
According to analyst Kim Jong-ki, he suggests that Samsung may instead take a wait-and-see attitude instead of jumping right in. At the moment Bixby Voice is only just rolling out in the US, so it remains to be seen if the service is used often enough and is well-received for Samsung to consider a Bixby-powered speaker in the future.