In an interview on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, Bose CEO Lila Snyder discusses how the company has changed since her last appearance about four years ago. Bose, which began 60 years ago selling speakers to consumers and became a leader in car audio and noise-canceling headphones, has undergone a significant restructuring. Under Snyder, it sold off Bose Professional, acquired high-end audio brands McIntosh Labs and Sonus faber, and began licensing its core technology to other companies.
As a result, Bose now operates as a B2B business alongside its consumer product line. Its technology appears in products such as Skullcandy headphones and Epson projectors. The conversation covers the challenges of becoming a software company in addition to a product company, and whether these moves respond to the potential rise of AI wearables that may resemble headphones and require substantial audio processing for voice input.
Why it matters
The discussion frames how an established audio brand is repositioning amid a headphones market already disrupted by phone makers like Apple and Samsung with products such as AirPods and Galaxy Buds.
Who should care
Audio enthusiasts, consumer tech observers, and companies interested in licensing audio technology may find the interview relevant.