Sonos Previews '27voice' AI Assistant and Custom Agents in Latest App Update

Sonos is preparing to roll out early access to its next-generation AI voice assistant alongside a significant update to its companion application.

In the United States, users will be able to join a waitlist for the new "Sonos 27voice" assistant on November 6, with early access testing officially scheduled to begin on November 12. The rollout marks a key milestone in the company’s efforts to modernize its smart audio ecosystem with conversational intelligence.

Natural Language Capabilities and Multi-Agent Support

The upcoming 27voice assistant handles standard audio controls, such as starting music, transferring playback to another room, grouping and ungrouping speaker setups, and setting timers. Beyond basic commands, Sonos designed the system to interpret complex, conversational requests through natural language.

For example, users can ask context-heavy or descriptive questions such as, "Play the album with a sardine tin on the cover," or multi-step requests like, "Who was the singer at the superbowl? Play their latest album on Hallway."

The assistant integrates into the broader Sonos 27 operating system update, which was introduced in September with the capability to connect AI agents directly to the application. Moving forward, Sonos plans to allow users to configure up to 10 custom agents tailored to their preferences.

Rebuilding the App Experience

The introduction of AI functionality is part of a broader push to recover from a poorly received application redesign in 2024. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad previously pledged to resolve user grievances and rebuild stability across the software platform.

In addition to voice AI integration, the latest app update delivers several practical usability improvements:

• Presets: Users can configure custom presets that combine a specific room and volume level, placing a quick-access shortcut directly on the home screen.
• Gesture Controls: Swiping on the mini player or the "Now Playing" interface now lets listeners skip tracks.
• Interface Flexibility: Listeners can reorganize their favorite audio sources and playlists.
• System Diagnostics: The update supports an iOS-only System Health feature designed to help users identify and diagnose network or configuration issues across their home speaker network.