AI meets IoT in the Future of Smart Homes

 

Image source: IoT Times

In 10 years, your house will know where you are – you’re being tracked on your phone. Your thermostat automatically adjusts to your desired temperature before you arrive. When you get home, your car starts charging from the solar panels on top of your garage.

There’s a package that was delivered via drone sitting on your porch – it’s the medicine that was automatically ordered because health sensors in your bathroom detected this morning that you’re about to come down with a cold (before you even felt it).

Future is Here

The future of smart homes is closer than we think. According to Statista, by 2025, 75.4 billion deceives will be connected to the internet. 

Illustration: Bob Al-Greene via PCMag

These devices will include interconnected light bulbs and curtains, pet cams, health sensors, security cameras, doorbells, and locks, fridge sensors, kitchen robots, smart showers, smart appliances, smart media, and more. 

But, how exactly do these smart home devices work? 

IoT and Smart Homes

Smart homes will be made possible by the Internet of Things. Smart objects connect to the internet and are utilized on a central point (like your point or tablet). Many smart home devices will use AI and machine learning to understand your preferences and schedules to make the experience that much better (and smart).

Illustration by Jameson Simpson for TIME

And it’s not going to be cheap. “Consumers will spend $123 billion on IoT gear by 2021, according to ABI Research.” And by 2023, global spending on IoT will reach 1.1 trillion dollars, according to Statista.

While expensive, SmartHomes will play a large role in making homes more sustainable.

Sustainability and Smart Homes

Smart thermostats will allow owners to adjust the temperature of their homes while they are away. Theromats will also be able to adjust according to your schedule. When you’re away, sleeping, or in another room, the temperature will fluctuate based on learned preferences. This will save thousands of dollars worth of energy per home, according to IoT Times. 

Smart appliances will be able to self-diagnose and alert that maintenance is needed – all before anything breaks and needs to be replaced. They will even be able to communicate with local technicians to make repairs, says IoT Times. 

While the future of smart homes is inevitable, there are a few issues that can be foreseen.

Threats Posed by Smart Homes

How will smart devices maintain privacy and security? Having many interconnected devices connecting to the internet, collecting data on you, and reporting it back have serious risks. How can we ensure that all devices are secure and safe from hackers?

As new technologies emerge from different companies and players, how can we ensure compatibility and integration? 

Image: Planet Technology

Wrap-Up

Smart homes have endless possibilities. While making lives more comfortable, convenient, and sustainable, we must prioritize safety and security, too.