Samsung announced today a major upgrade to its SmartThings platform that uses artificial intelligence and ambient sensing to automatically adjust home environments based on resident activities, from exercising to cooking.
Why it matters: Samsung’s integration of AI into everyday appliances like Samsung TVs fundamentally changes how homes respond to human behavior, marking a significant shift from manual smart home control to truly automated living environments.
Sensing Technology: The new platform leverages an extensive network of sensors embedded in Samsung appliances and devices to understand and respond to household activities. These sensors work together to create a comprehensive picture of home life, enabling more intelligent automated responses.
- Motion and sound detection
- Activity recognition capabilities
- Local data processing
- Privacy-focused design
Practical Applications: Samsung has developed the system to respond to specific daily activities in meaningful ways:
- Adjusts lighting for reading
- Activates air purifier for pet allergens
- Starts robot vacuum after hair drying
- Provides exercise form guidance
Privacy Approach: Unlike competing platforms that rely on cloud processing, Samsung’s system processes all sensor data locally on the SmartThings hub, addressing growing concerns about smart home privacy and security.
- Local data storage only
- No cloud transmission
- User consent required
- Encrypted processing
Looking Forward: While initial features focus on basic activity recognition and environmental adjustments, Samsung plans to expand the system’s capabilities through regular software updates and additional sensor integration.
