Apple is planning its own Amazon Echo killer

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Tim Cook

AP

Apple CEO Tim Cook

Apple is working on its own smart speaker, similar to Amazon's Echo device, The Information's Amir Efrati reports.

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Sources tell Efrati that the company is building a voice-activated device powered through its virtual assistant, Siri, that could let people ask questions or complete activities like setting a timer.

The market for such home appliances, powered by artificially intelligence-enabled virtual assistants is heating up.

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Amazon's Echo has been a surprise hit for the company and Google just announced its own plans last week to make a similar gadget called Home.

At the same time, Apple is reportedly also preparing to start let outside developers make their services available through Siri.

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Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through hispersonal investment company Bezos Expeditions.

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