Sonos has announced an early access program for its new voice assistant, Sonos 27voice, starting November 6. The feature arrives as part of an update to Sonos 27 software and is intended to be tested with a smaller group before a full 2027 release. Sonos 27voice can control playback on Sonos devices and perform basic voice assistant tasks such as setting timers, interacting with supported smart home devices, and providing weather information. Distinct from prior offerings, 27voice is designed to understand and respond to natural language and answer questions across a broader range of general knowledge. Example usages include asking it to identify a specific album by describing it in a mood or genre, or querying current sports results with up-to-date answers. If the system works as described, the feature brings Sonos closer to other modern AI assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa integrations. To participate, users must request early access in the Sonos app and receive approval. The company notes that testing is limited to a smaller user group ahead of a broader 2027 rollout to collect feedback and avoid past friction from a 2024 app redesign. In addition to Sonos 27voice, the update introduces Presets—saved groupings of music and playback settings—and System Health, a tool for iOS that shows system status and can flag issues with speakers or network connections.