Open-XiaoAI Bridge: messaging bridge for Hermes Agent

Server that connects a flashed XiaoAI smart speaker to AI services, including the Hermes Agent API Server

What Open-XiaoAI Bridge does

Open-XiaoAI Bridge opens up the closed ecosystem of the XiaoAI speaker and routes voice conversations to outside AI backends. Supported targets are the Hermes Agent API Server and other /v1/chat/completions services such as OpenAI, Ollama and LM Studio, plus QwenPaw, OpenClaw and xiaozhi-esp32-server. Each feature has its own on and off switch, so only the integrations you need run.

It supports custom wake words in Chinese and English, and different wake words can route to different AI services or to different OpenClaw agent sessions. Continuous conversation lets you keep talking without repeating the wake word, and voice activity detection and keyword spotting run before recognition. An optional HTTP API plays text or audio on the speaker remotely. This repository contains only the server side: the speaker must be flashed with SSH enabled and run a separate Rust client. The README is written in Chinese.

Key features

Connects to the Hermes Agent API Server and other OpenAI-compatible chat services
Also bridges QwenPaw, OpenClaw and xiaozhi-esp32-server
Custom wake words in Chinese and English, routable to different services or OpenClaw agent sessions
Continuous multi-turn conversation that can be interrupted by the XiaoAI wake phrase
HTTP API for remote text-to-speech and audio playback on the speaker
Docker Compose deployment or a local build with uv and Rust

When to use it

Talking to a Hermes Agent through a smart speaker at home
Giving several wake words to one speaker so each reaches a different AI backend
Sending spoken notifications to the speaker from scripts through the HTTP API

Who it is for: Home-lab users with a XiaoAI speaker who want voice access to a Hermes Agent or another AI backend.

How it fits with Hermes Agent

The bridge lists the Hermes Agent API Server as one of several OpenAI-compatible backends it can talk to, next to OpenClaw, QwenPaw and others.

How to install Open-XiaoAI Bridge

These commands are copied from the project's README. Check the repository for the latest steps before you run them.

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/coderzc/open-xiaoai-bridge/main/config.py
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/coderzc/open-xiaoai-bridge/main/docker-compose.yml
docker compose up -d

Requirements: A XiaoAI speaker with updated firmware, SSH enabled and the Rust client installed; VAD and KWS model files from the releases page (plus an ASR model for local_asr or xiaozhi); Docker Compose, or uv and Rust for a local build.

Note: The repository contains only the server side; the speaker has to be flashed and run a separate Rust client.

FAQ

What is Open-XiaoAI Bridge?

Open-XiaoAI Bridge is a server that connects a XiaoAI smart speaker to external AI services such as the Hermes Agent API Server, OpenClaw, QwenPaw and xiaozhi-esp32-server.

Does Open-XiaoAI Bridge work with Hermes Agent?

Yes. It can connect to the Hermes Agent API Server through its OpenAI-compatible integration. Enable it with the OPENAI_ENABLE environment variable and point it at your Hermes endpoint.

What do I need to run Open-XiaoAI Bridge?

You need a XiaoAI speaker that has been flashed with SSH enabled and is running the Rust client, VAD and KWS model files, and Docker Compose or a local uv and Rust toolchain. An ASR model is also needed for local_asr or xiaozhi.