Could Apple HomePod soon get multi-user voice control?

Apple’s HomePod might be the best-sounding smart speaker we’ve heard, but it isn’t without limitations - among which is the fact it can only support a single user.

Well, multi-user support for HomePod and other Siri-using devices could be on the way. A patent for ‘user profiling for voice input processing’ was today granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as spotted by Apple Insider.

However, the patent doesn’t make it clear that this is Apple’s intention, only the possibility for voice recognition for user identification has been granted.

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Becky is a hi-fi, AV and technology journalist, formerly the Managing Editor at What Hi-Fi? and Editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. With over twelve years of journalism experience in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices.

In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.