The AI-powered home. Once confined to the realm of science fiction and movies, is all around us. While many of us have been benefitting from smart devices for several years, AI improves our lives that little bit more.
Artificial Intelligence enhances our smart devices so that they learn to adapt to their environment. In essence, they simulate the human ability to learn and react. This ability to flex with the changing environment streamlines our lives, with much less need for input from us. From the smart assistant learning to choose movies and music that suit our tastes, to the intelligent thermostat adjusting the temperatures of our houses to fit our personal comfort levels, we’re using AI in our homes every day.
Here we take a look at some of the reasons why we love our AI devices.
We Love the Convenience
There’s no denying that AI smart tech is convenient. AI appliances are becoming increasingly interconnected, so they can all be managed from a single device or app, regardless of the manufacturer.
Gone are the days when you needed a separate remote for the TV, Hi-Fi and Blu-ray player and had to hunt down the back of the sofa for them. Just unlock your smartphone with the AI face recognition software, flick to the right app and turn on the device of your choice. Misplaced your smartphone? No problem, get the friendly voice assistant to help you out.
Need to turn on the lights? You don’t even have to move from the sofa! Running late from work and haven’t started cooking dinner? You can start pre-heating the smart oven from your car.
For the multitaskers amongst us, AI is a God-send. How many times have you been in the midst of cooking, only for the doorbell to ring? With AI tech, you can check who it is and tell them to leave the parcel on the doorstep, all while slicing your carrots.
AI Boosts the User Experience
AI-powered smart TVs and smart assistants are almost invisible to us now. These amazing bits of kit learn our preferences for almost all media consumption. Watch a particular TV show on a regular basis? The smart TV will recommend to you half a dozen new shows with the same actors and actresses, or a similar genre.
Likewise with music. AI music devices not only learn who your favourite bands are, they also learn what you like to listen to at particular times of the day. So you won’t be woken up to heavy metal when your 6am alarm goes off (unless you’re that way inclined!)
In the kitchen, AI-powered refrigerators can identify the foods that you buy on a regular basis and check in with you when your stock is running low. Going a step further, some smart refrigerators will even go the extra mile and place an online order at your local supermarket. You’ll no longer be able to blame other household members for not replacing the milk!
Through the power of AI, you’re made to feel unique and heard, which makes you feel valued as a consumer.
AI Improves Our Independence
For some of us, AI opens the doors to independence. Convenience aside, the ability to answer the door remotely, start a video call with voice commands or dim the lights down for the night empowers us. We no longer have to rely on another person to carry out these tasks, unless we choose to.
Even babies just beginning to talk are able to use AI smart technology. Some babies learn to say "Lexa”. As children get older, they understand how to ask Alexa to play their favourite song, TV show or read a story. Alexa may not always understand, but it’s just one new way that children are learning independence, with support from AI technology.
On the other end of the age spectrum, the older generation is also benefitting from the independence afforded to them through living in AI-powered homes. As the Covid pandemic showed, smart technology enabled families to stay connected with older or at risk family members through the use of video conferencing technology, even when they couldn’t be together in person. The older generation could also maintain their dignity and independence using AI to control everything in their homes, from the temperature to the doorbell.
Home security has also improved drastically with the introduction of AI-powered smart doorbells and security cameras. These devices can help us to feel more reassured staying alone in our homes late at night because we’re able to check who’s at the door before we open it. They also give us peace of mind when we’re away, with AI devices alerting you when someone’s at the door or entering the property. Some AI supported devices will even help you call the police at the click of a button.
AI technology helps us all to be independent and gives us the freedom to live our lives as we choose. Independence is a vital part of human DNA, boosting our overall sense of self and mental wellbeing.
AI Appeals to Our Need to be Economically Savvy
An important selling point of AI appliances in the home is the promise of saving us money. As the cost of living rises day-by-day, many of us find ourselves turning to AI appliances to help us manage the impact.
AI-powered thermostats are a key part of your household’s armoury against rising energy bills. Through an app, you can set your house’s temperature to an eco-friendly and sustainable level, remotely turn the heating off when you’ve forgotten and teach the AI software to recognise when you’ve left the building.
Smart light bulbs have revolutionised the way we light our homes. These light bulbs typically use less energy and last longer than a traditional light bulb. So although they cost more upfront, in the long run you’re saving money. Plus the AI technology allows you to remotely turn off the lights when you’ve gone away for the weekend and left the bathroom light on, turn them on to make it look like someone’s home, or adjust them to match your normal living pattern.
With AI technology, not only are people saving money at home, they're also doing their bit for the environment. It’s a win-win.
AI-Powered Devices are Increasingly Affordable
Affordability has greatly contributed to the rise in popularity of AI-powered smart devices. In 2016, the original Amazon Echo was released in the UK at a cost of £149.99, while today the latest 4th generation version comes in at £89.99. Many smart devices introduced a range of devices at different price points and functionality, ensuring there was something to suit everyone’s budget.
Not only is the cost of smart technology coming down all the time, but economies of scale have also started to come into play, further fuelling the popularity of AI in the home. Many smart devices can be managed via a single app, and connected to an existing home network, so the main cost is the device itself. This integration means that people spend less time trying to get up to speed and adding a new device becomes a no-brainer.
The affordability of AI devices means that many households are making the most of smart devices to run their homes efficiently, securely and often with a sense of fun!
AI-Powered Homes are Here to Stay
With so many clear benefits, it’s little wonder that the popularity of AI-powered homes is on the rise. In a relatively short space of time, AI has integrated seamlessly in our day-to-day lives, from safely asking a smartphone to give directions without removing our hands from the steering wheel, to turning the external lights off for the night.
It’s not just consumers who believe in the power of AI, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the value of interconnectivity. The UK government has set a target of bringing gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage nationwide, and 5G coverage for the majority of the population by 2030. With such a substantial investment in improving connectivity, AI-powered homes are here to stay.
Top comments (1)
For some reason this reminds me of "There Will Come Soft Rains"