Integrating AI-Based Voice Control with Home Assistant

Installation Home Assistant OS
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Hello everyone,

I’ve been exploring ways to enhance my smart home setup by integrating AI-driven voice control capabilities directly into Home Assistant. While I’m aware of existing integrations with platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant, I’m interested in implementing a local, AI-based voice assistant that ensures privacy and offers customization.

I recently came across discussions about privacy-focused voice assistants, which inspired me to delve deeper into this area. This led me to explore alternatives that could work seamlessly within the Home Assistant ecosystem.

Has anyone here successfully integrated a local AI voice assistant with Home Assistant? I’m particularly interested in:

  • Privacy-Focused Solutions: Implementations that process voice commands locally without relying on cloud services.
  • Hardware Recommendations: Suggestions for microphones and other hardware that work seamlessly with Home Assistant for voice recognition.
  • Software Integrations: Experiences with software like Rhasspy, Mycroft, or other AI-driven voice assistants that can be integrated locally.
  • Challenges and Solutions: Any obstacles faced during integration and how they were overcome.

I believe that integrating a local AI voice assistant can significantly enhance the Home Assistant experience by providing faster responses and greater control over data privacy.

Looking forward to hearing about your experiences and recommendations!

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I didn’t integrate local ai voice assistant but I was and am experimenting with local ai.
The basic problem with local ai, from whatever I tried, is that you need a powerful comp to run it.
Usually it likes a lot nvidia gpu.
If you are willing to spend extra on probably dedicated pc running just local ai then it might be worth the effort, but for now, imo life is a bit better with that hassle.

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Yup.

Have a look at this to see what might be involved.

This particular project is no longer being supported (the developer died), but the code on Github still works. I have it running and the results in terms of speed are comparable with Amazon Alexa. It was expensive, though, even buying parts on Ebay.

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1. Using Rhasspy (Free and Open Source)

Rhasspy is one of the best options for a local voice assistant because:

  • It’s completely free and open source.
  • It doesn’t require powerful hardware (it can run on a Raspberry Pi).
  • It supports direct integration with Home Assistant.
  • It focuses on privacy since it operates entirely locally.

How to Get Started:

  • Get a Raspberry Pi (such as Pi 3 or Pi 4), which is a small and inexpensive device (around $35–60 depending on the model).
  • Install Rhasspy using Docker or via a dedicated OS image.
  • Connect a USB microphone or use a built-in microphone (you can buy a simple one at a low cost).
  • Set up your custom voice commands and link them to Home Assistant automations.

Estimated Cost:

  • Raspberry Pi (Pi 3 or Pi 4): around $35–60.
  • USB Microphone: around $10–20.
  • Total: about $50–80 only.

2. Using Mycroft Mark II (Free Versions Available)

Mycroft is another open-source voice assistant, and there are free versions you can use:

  • Mycroft Core : A free version that can run on any computer or Raspberry Pi.
  • Precise Wake Word Engine : A tool for detecting wake words (like “Hey Mycroft”) that works locally.

How to Get Started:

  • Install Mycroft Core on a Raspberry Pi or an old computer you have.
  • Use a simple microphone (USB or even a built-in microphone on the device).
  • Link Mycroft with Home Assistant via API.

Cost:

  • If you already have an old Raspberry Pi or computer, there will be almost no cost.
  • If you need to buy a Raspberry Pi and microphone, the cost will be similar to Rhasspy.

3. Using Home Assistant + Local STT/TTS

If you don’t want to install new software, you can use the built-in speech-to-text (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS) features in Home Assistant:

  • STT (Speech-to-Text) : You can use services like PocketSphinx or Vosk , which are local and free.
  • TTS (Text-to-Speech) : Home Assistant supports local TTS engines like PicoTTS or eSpeak .

How to Get Started:

  • Set up a USB microphone and connect it to your Home Assistant device.
  • Configure STT and TTS in Home Assistant settings.
  • Create automations based on voice commands.

Cost:

  • If you’re using your current Home Assistant setup, there will be almost no cost.
  • If you need a USB microphone, it’s simple and inexpensive (around $10–20).
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A note about PicoTTS. There is a bug such that a message between 16 and 32 characters in length comes out as gibberish. The workaround is to pad it with punctuation to make it more than 32 characters.

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