Earlier quoted context omitted.
Asahi Linux (and likely MacOS too) uses the resistance of the speakers coils to detect overheating of same speakers and reduces volume.
That's the same principle used by cheap solder stations to regulate the tip temperature without employing a thermal sensor: they measure the heater resistance, presumably during the off state of the PWM signal that drives the heater. In that case the measurement is less accurate than using a real sensor, still good enough for cheap solder stations where a few degrees don't make a big difference.
They'd probably have to do that anyway.