Sonos 27 Lets ChatGPT Control Music Across Its Speaker System

Sonos is adding AI control to its connected-speaker system through Sonos 27, its next-generation audio operating system. The update includes a Sonos assistant for music and mood curation, plus an Early Access connection for outside assistants and agents, including ChatGPT.

Sonos says Sonos 27 will arrive through a software update for all Sonos S2 products, though some features will be limited to particular devices. New app navigation, Sonos 27mcp in Early Access, and portable surrounds are scheduled to begin rolling out September 8.

Two paths to AI control

Sonos 27voice is the company’s own assistant for music and mood curation. Sonos 27mcp is the connection for outside assistants and agents; Sonos says ChatGPT users will be able to ask it to play music anywhere in the home from a phone or computer without leaving their conversation.

A software reset after the app failure

Conrad became interim CEO in January 2025 and took the permanent role six months later. He inherited the consequences of Sonos’ 2024 app redesign, which caused widespread customer problems, including speakers that failed to work reliably.

Conrad has said Sonos became too focused on individual hardware products, rather than software experiences that benefit the full platform. Sonos 27 is intended to provide a new foundation for products to work together as a system.

Features that put the system approach to work

• Sonos Positioning Technology uses high-frequency sound to locate a speaker and change its role in the system. Sonos says that enables portable surrounds, allowing Move 2 or Sonos Play speakers to become rear surrounds when moved into place.
• Beam Ultra is a mid-size soundbar with what Sonos describes as true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos. General availability is scheduled for September 29.
• Ace Ultra is designed for deeper integration with the system. Its headphone-linking feature, which moves sound between the headphones and nearby speakers, is scheduled to enter Early Access on September 29, initially exclusive to Ace Ultra.

The open-platform pitch has a limit. Google’s Gemini assistant is not available on Sonos devices because of Sonos’ relationship with Google, according to the framing of Conrad’s interview with The Verge. Sonos has also previewed Custom Agents, which it says will let people create agents with their own model, persona, and voice.