Chen (Dreame): ‘In the smart home of the future, AI makes the decisions and people are in control’
Here’s how artificial intelligence, privacy and interoperability are reshaping the smart home and our relationship with consumers.
-U71528414132kzv-1440x752@IlSole24Ore-Web.jpg?r=650x341)
It’s there, but you can’t actually see it. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the invisible driving force behind the connected home, enhancing devices’ ability to interpret their surroundings, adapt their behaviour and carry out actions in real time. It’s been talked about for years, and now perhaps the time has come to ask: just how far can its autonomy go? And what impact will it have on device costs and the relationship between brands and consumers? We discussed this with Sean Chen, Managing Director for Western Europe at Dreame, one of the most dynamic players in the smart home market.
Will AI become the real controller of the home, rather than people?
Artificial intelligence should simplify everyday life by taking care of routine tasks. In products such as robot vacuum cleaners or lawnmowers, it helps to recognise obstacles, adapt cleaning or mowing strategies, and react automatically to different situations. In this sense, AI is already making many small operational decisions every day. However, people must always retain control, and our aim is not to replace human decision-making, but to make technology more useful, intuitive and reliable. As AI continues to evolve, we expect it to become better at understanding context and user preferences, whilst remaining a tool at the service of people.
Will the inclusion of on-device AI lead to higher list prices?
Innovation always requires investment, but we believe that advanced technology should be accessible to as many users as possible. Our strategy is not simply to integrate artificial intelligence for its own sake, but to implement it where it creates significant value, improving performance, convenience and the user experience. As technologies mature and are adopted on an ever-wider scale, AI features will become increasingly accessible across different product categories and price ranges.
Who will manage the relationship with the end consumer: the vendor, AI or the smart device ecosystem?
The customer. Artificial intelligence and connected ecosystems are tools that help users manage their homes more efficiently and with less effort. Consumers must have the freedom to choose the products, platforms and services best suited to their needs; our role is to offer useful experiences and ensure transparency and control over how they interact with our products.
How is the data collected and processed by AI managed and protected?
Privacy and security are of paramount importance, and users must always be aware of how their data is used. For robot vacuum cleaners and robotic lawnmowers, the environmental information collected via sensors and cameras is primarily processed locally, directly on the device. Dreame complies with the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, where cloud services are involved, data is only uploaded with the user’s consent and processed in accordance with applicable regulations.
