Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini smart speakers can now recognize the sound of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and send a notification alert to your iPhone or iPad.
The feature, known as Sound Recognition, was first announced in January 2023, alongside the launch of the second-generation HomePod. However, it required the revamped HomeKit architecture, which was released in November 2022 but then pulled in December. Following the release of macOS Ventura 13.3 and iOS 16.4, the new HomeKit architecture is available again, and Apple has enabled the Sound Recognition feature.
The Sound Recognition feature uses the always-on microphone inside the HomePod to listen out for a home's existing smoke and carbon monoxide detector. When it hears the alarm, the HomePod sends a notification to your iPhone or iPad via the Home app. This means you don't need to invest in new internet-connected smoke alarms systems, as the HomePod can simply enhance the utility of your existing "dumb" offline smoke alarms. If you have HomeKit-compatible security cameras in your house, the notification will include a live video feed so you can remotely assess what's happening.
While the Sound Recognition feature can be a valuable tool for enhancing home safety, Apple emphasizes that it should not be relied upon in circumstances where users may be harmed or injured, or in high-risk or emergency situations. It serves as an additional layer of protection and convenience, but users should always follow established safety procedures and guidelines for dealing with emergencies.
The smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sound recognition processing is run on-device locally on the HomePod, so no data is uploaded to Apple's servers or shared. If video from a HomeKit camera is included with a notification, this is sent to your iPhone using end-to-end encryption.
To enable Sound Recognition, follow these simple steps: open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, then navigate to the Home Settings -> Safety & Security screen. There, you can enable the Sound Recognition feature. In addition, you can manage critical notification alerts from supported safety and security devices in your home, and even allow home members to "check in" and listen to the sounds in the home. It's worth noting that the Sound Recognition settings can also be accessed via a HomePod's dedicated Settings. Simply perform a long press on the HomePod's tile in the Home app to access its settings.
(If the Safety & Security section is dimmed out, ensure your HomePod and all other Apple devices are up-to-date with the latest software.
Sound Recognition safety features are already available on iPhone and iPad, targeted at deaf or hard-of-hearing users. Your device can listen out for alarms, pet noises, the sound of breaking glass, and more. Enable these alerts in Settings -> Accessibility -> Sound Recognition. It will be interesting to see if Apple expands the HomePod's sound recognition capabilities to include those supported on iPhone and iPad.