At the Snapdragon Summit held in Hawaii on Wednesday, Qualcomm introduced its latest innovation, the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 chip, signaling a significant advancement in the world of audio devices, commonly referred to as “hearables.” This new technology aims to infuse headphones and other audio wearables with a suite of AI-driven features, enhancing user experience in unprecedented ways.
These upcoming headphones, while resembling traditional audio products, promise to deliver a range of new functionalities. For instance, AI could be utilized to enrich sound quality and enable headphones to adapt intelligently to the environment. This includes features such as recognizing nearby sirens and automatically lowering music volume to prioritize user safety. Additionally, some models, like the recently unveiled Plaud One, will offer real-time translation and note-taking capabilities, showcasing the potential for multitasking in audio technology.
Qualcomm envisions the Sound Elite Gen 2 chip powering a diverse array of audio devices, including earbuds, headphones, and even audio glasses. The term “future multimodal wearables” points towards an evolving market that could introduce entirely new product categories yet to be imagined. Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm’s senior vice president, noted the unpredictable nature of innovation, stating he is often surprised by what partners create using their technology.
Key Features of the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 Chip
The Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 chip boasts a footprint 30% smaller than its predecessor, while doubling its AI capabilities and reducing power consumption by up to 40%. This trifecta of improvements is designed to enhance user experience significantly. Qualcomm aims for this technology to usher users closer to a personalized AI future, where interconnected devices like watches, phones, and other wearables will respond to individual needs more intuitively.
These hearables are crucial in realizing the vision of personal AI, positioned to facilitate both auditory input and output. Asghar emphasized that as AI becomes integrated into daily interactions, users will naturally expect to communicate with it in more conversational ways, rather than solely through screens.
Another innovative feature of the Sound Elite Gen 2 chip is its direct-to-cloud connectivity, powered by micro-power Wi-Fi 6E technology. This advancement allows for efficient Wi-Fi connection capabilities akin to Bluetooth, with reduced power requirements and enhanced speed, enabling devices to be always-on and ready for real-time interaction.
The chip will also support Qualcomm aptX Lossless for superior audio quality and Qualcomm XPAN for extended connectivity ranges that surpass traditional Bluetooth limitations. Additionally, AI will enhance functionalities such as active noise cancellation and voice clarity by optimizing support for multiple microphones.
As the market evolves, keep an eye out for the next generation of devices utilizing this chip, which promise to offer more personalized and intelligent audio experiences than ever before.
Editors’ note: Katie Collins’ travel costs were covered by Qualcomm. The judgments and opinions of CNET are our own.
