Katarzyna Petru
Roku introduces one of the largest updates to its Smart TV system in history. The most important novelty? Artificial intelligence that allows you to converse with the television almost as if it were a human. The new version of Roku Voice has gained conversational features that aim to match the experience known from Google TV Gemini.
A television you can really talk to
Until now, voice commands on Roku were limited to simple commands like "open Netflix" or "stop the film". Now the system goes much further. You can ask:
"What genre is the fish in Finding Nemo?",
"How scary is The Shining?",
and the assistant will respond naturally, as if in a conversation with a human.
The new AI in Roku Voice can also suggest further questions and recommend films that you can launch with a single click or voice command. Want to know about good action movies? The assistant will immediately provide a few titles – and just one word is enough to start the show.
Better content searching and discovery
Roku is also expanding its searching and browsing features. A new button “Ways to Watch” will appear with movie trailers, showing where a particular title can be watched – for example, on Netflix, Disney+, or on the ChooseTV channel. The search function will be added to additional sections of the system, including the Live TV Zone and the live TV channel guide.
More features for sports fans and Bluetooth listening
The Bluetooth Headphone Mode, previously available only on select Roku televisions, will now also be available on Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus devices. This is great news for those who prefer watching in silence – with sound only in their headphones. Athletes and fans will also receive the Roku Sports section with Live Scores – displaying match results on tiles – as well as Reminders, which will notify about upcoming matches on smartphones.
For those who prefer to watch with a delay, a “no spoilers” mode has been added, hiding results and avoiding spoiling the fun.
Changes also in the mobile application
Roku is introducing enhancements not only on televisions but also in its mobile application. In the coming weeks, the following will appear:
Find My Remote – remote locator,
Sleep Timer – automatic shutdown,
New shortcuts and subtitle tools,
and a “Rate” button that allows users to rate a film or series and synchronise ratings across devices.
The For You section will receive new navigation divided into films, series, and sports, making it easier to discover content.
When will the update reach users?
Roku has not provided a specific release date but has confirmed that new features will be delivered to users in the coming weeks. The update will first be available to customers in the USA, where the company has the largest user base, and then to the rest of the countries.
One thing is certain – with this update, Roku is entering a new era of interaction with the television, where AI not only executes commands but can also engage in conversation.
