IT Home reported on October 15 that tech media CNET posted a blog yesterday (October 14) stating that, due to hardware limitations, Apple has confirmed the first-generation HomePod mini smart speaker will not support Siri AI, while the successor, the HomePod mini 2, will support Siri AI.
Regarding the reason, according to a statement obtained by the media, Apple stated that the chip and memory configuration of the first-generation HomePod mini are insufficient to provide the computational power required for Siri’s AI to run large language models locally.
IT Home, citing a blog post, reported that Apple stated in its statement that Siri AI is currently available on the HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K (second generation and later models).
For a long time, the original HomePod mini has maintained strong market adoption due to its compact design and high value for money, with many users relying on it to build smart home ecosystems. While the original model can still function as a standard Bluetooth speaker and basic smart home hub, users seeking the newer, more intelligent Siri with contextual understanding will likely need to purchase the second-generation model, which features a new high-performance chip.