TiVo is enhancing its devices with advanced voice recognition features through a collaboration with Pindrop, a technology startup located in Atlanta, which is now making its voice recognition and personalization technologies available for use in consumer electronics.

These new voice capabilities are taking the place of TiVo’s previous implementation of the Alexa voice recognition service, which was discontinued without significant announcement last year.

TiVo initially focused heavily on integrating with Alexa approximately two years ago; however, the move to Pindrop’s services demonstrates a dynamic market for voice-activated technologies, with various providers competing with Amazon and Google in the smart home sector.

By incorporating Pindrop’s services, TiVo users will now have the ability to search for programs and manage their devices using voice commands. Pindrop’s technology, originally created as a fraud prevention solution for financial institutions and large corporations, offers capabilities beyond standard voice recognition.

Pindrop’s technology can distinguish between individual voices, creating possibilities for customized programming experiences, allowing each user to access their personal accounts for services like Netflix or Amazon through simple voice instructions.

“Our goal extends beyond simply understanding spoken words; we aim to comprehend the surrounding circumstances to enable intelligent system responses,” explained Jon Heim, Senior Director of Product & Conversation Services at TiVo. “The ability to identify different household members by their voice is an example of this contextual understanding, allowing us to deliver a uniquely personalized experience for each individual.”

It is a noteworthy development.

When multiple users ask the question “What should I watch?” TiVo devices can now present tailored content recommendations based on each user’s preferences. Should a different household member pose the same question, the device will display a different set of suggestions.

This functionality requires users to actively enable it, and while Pindrop’s technology can differentiate between speakers, the speaker’s identity remains confidential. 

Pindrop has already deployed this service with eight of the ten largest banks in the United States, as stated by Pindrop co-founder and CEO Vijay Balasubramanian. The partnership with TiVo to enter the consumer device market represents only the initial step in this expansion.

The company has also established a partnership with SEI Robotics, a manufacturer of white-label Android devices.

Pindrop is financially stable and well-positioned to fund its expansion into the consumer device market, currently operating with an annual revenue run rate approaching $100 million, according to Balasubramanian.

The company’s next planned initiative is to introduce its voice recognition service into automobiles and other connected consumer products, as indicated by Balasubramanian.

“[We’re] working with automotive manufacturers… they are currently evaluating the technology,” he said.