Next generation Australians invested around $9.2B in smart devices over the last year, suggesting they now view them as crucial to running their daily lives.
The study by Samsung Electronics found Australians aged 18 to 40—collectively known as Millennials and Gen Z or GenMZ—reported relying on smart devices like TVs, phones, tablets, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and vacuums to help manage their lives.
Rather than the novelties of a decade ago, intelligent, networked appliances are seen as adding assurance, security and a sense of connectedness, no longer just there for entertainment, but to bring efficiency and responsiveness to managing homes.
But with the arrival of generative-AI we’re about to get a lot more out of all those smart gadgets. For example Amazon’s Alexa+ and Google’s Gemini just introduced new speakers, home displays and cameras with evolved assistants that take the mess out of the smart home. And Apple’s upgraded Siri isn’t far behind either.
For example cameras will now do more that just show pictures or video, but can tell you specifically what just happened, recognise familiar faces, connect with neighbourhood cameras to find lost dogs, or let you ask questions like “When did the gardener arrive last week?”.
Its the same with speakers which are getting more “human” with conversational responses & knowledge. You’ll be able to say “set a timer for roasted carrots”, ask them to play a specific podcast or even ask “my dishwasher isn’t draining. What should I check first?” and then call for service.
You can now also automate without the app headaches or need to manually create routines just by describing what you want. For example ask Gemini to “make me feel safer” and it will check doors are locked & windows closed. They’ll also understand your life & learn habits—who’s home during the day, what doors should be locked after 10 pm and when to adjust routines and alerts based on those patterns.
Twenty years ago we introduced Smart Wiring, but getting people to see how smart their homes would become was a challenge. Clearly younger generations now understand its potential and are likely to become even more high tech as the gadgets and systems get smarter.
What hasn’t changed of course is the role of copper. It may no longer bring in broadband the way it used to, but it’s in every appliance, every bit of electricity, behind networked home systems, and, now, delivering Artificial Intelligence.
