AI is still one of those words that sparks a strong mix of excitement and hesitation, and that's largely because it's increasingly finding its way into our homes. It almost feels expected to be woven into the latest gadgets, to the point where every new product seems to need an AI feature to be considered worthwhile.
However, as someone whose job is to cover, review and test the latest smart home tech, I don't think that's what makes this area truly useful.
I've come to realise that the best smart home gadgets are often the ones that make the annoying tasks disappear. It might be controversial to say, but none of that necessarily needs AI – it just needs technology that solves a problem you actually have.
There's always going to be a temptation to focus on the flashy side of smart home technology, and whether that comes from childhood fantasies about being a spy or living on a spaceship is another question entirely. Most launches these days can certainly make it feel that way, but some of the most useful gadgets are also the least exciting.
One of the best smart plugs isn't going to be the most impressive gadget in your home, and it's certainly not going to be the most attractive, but it can automatically turn a lamp on before you arrive or switch off an appliance when you don't need it. The same goes for smart lighting. You don't need an AI-powered bulb that understands your mood if all you want is for the hallway light to turn on when you walk through the door. All you need is a simple schedule or perhaps a motion sensor to trigger it automatically.
A robot vacuum is another good example. As a smart home reviewer, my attention naturally goes to things like suction power, mopping capabilities and the quality of its navigation and cameras. AI features such as automatic carpet detection and smart object recognition are impressive, but if the robot doesn't actually clean my home to a good standard, then I don't really care how clever it is.
That's not to say AI doesn't have a role to play. In fact, a lot of the time, it's quietly ticking away in the background without us even noticing. It can help security cameras better recognise people and pets, allow voice assistants to understand more complicated requests and even help your home adapt to your routines automatically.
However, the latest AI features shouldn't be the benchmark for deciding whether a smart home product is useful. You shouldn't have to think about whether your lights will turn off or whether you've left the heating running. When smart home tech works properly, these things just happen.
