CSA Releases Matter 1.4
Last week, the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organization behind Matter, launched the Matter 1.4 specification making bug fixes, improvements to device/ecosystem interoperability in addition to other refinements. The update also adds support for energy management devices like heat pumps, home batteries, and solar panels. With this update, Matter 1.4 covers nearly all connected devices for the home with the exception of Security Cameras, according to CSA’s CTO Chris LaPre.
The Circana Take:
- The enhancements to Matter will alleviate many of the concerns consumers have about owning Smart Home devices.
- Better publicity of these advancements, especially at retail where consumers are making purchase decisions and where store signage and sales associates can make a difference- would help drive awareness.
Google Integrates Smart Home Controls into Gemini
Google recently added a Google Home extension to the Gemini app, allowing users to control their smart home devices by chatting with the AI assistant. The update, available to Android users as part of a preview, will allow for natural language prompts to control devices- for example “Help me clean up the kitchen” to trigger the robotic vacuum. The feature works with security devices including locks, cameras, and doorbells but will not execute routines.
The Circana Take:
- As the smart home industry searches for ways to appeal to new users, integrations with popular AI chat bot systems will help drive interest and awareness.
- While NLP is a natural step for chatbots looking to work with Smart Home systems, it will be interesting to see how these powerful applications will impact Smart Homes in the future- specifically in areas such as energy management and smart notifications.