We have witnessed rapid advancement in technology from pristine laboratories with exacting conditions in our daily lives. Phones have shrunk to fit in our hands, packing maps, flashlights, and entire libraries into tiny microchips. Seemingly in a flash, we’ve seen TV technology go from massive cathode ray tubes with elongated backs into the slim clearer-than-life displays that adorn our walls today.
The current trend is in artificial intelligence, which promises to hasten the pace of development. Although improvements will be incremental, just as seen in the past, they will seem eons faster, especially in the realm of consumer electronics. With AI at the helm, our living spaces are poised to become more intuitive, efficient, and responsive.
Already, AI has made significant inroads into our homes – this was among the key messages on display at this year’s CES event. Each year, the Consumer Technology Association brings together industry players to showcase breakthrough technologies and innovations poised to take the world by storm. At CES2024, the power of AI was in full splendour.
In the realm of consumer electronics, AI’s true potential lies in its ability to create a seamlessly integrated environment where devices connect and collaborate to enhance the lives of users.
This starts with the ability that AI has to personalise user experiences. With various sensors and nodes installed in homes – either as part of appliances or independent parts – AI algorithms can analyse data coming from the sensors to understand individual preferences and habits.
Through AI, a TV can learn the environment it is in by analysing room brightness to provide optimum lighting, and the size of the room to understand the acoustics, as well as the end user viewing and picture quality preferences driving the experience to a whole new level.
AI can also help enhance the efficiency and sustainability of your homes by optimising usage of energy and water resources. Consider a smart washing machine equipped with AI. It can determine the optimal wash cycle based on the type of fabric, availability of load and even the type of laundry detergent.
At the manufacturer level, AI helps in the innovation and design of products, often leading engineers and designers down paths that they would otherwise haven’t explored.
Even with its advantages, the deployment of AI in consumer electronics raises ethical considerations. Responsible AI use involves ensuring that the systems are designed and deployed in ways that are fair, transparent and accountable.
Data security and privacy emerge as key considerations to be made in the pursuit of added convenience for consumers. AI models are built by processing vast volumes of data, and its integration into consumer electronics is no different. AI-powered devices collect tons of user data ranging from daily routines to diets and preferences. Ensuring this data is protected is paramount.
By embracing AI responsibly—with the users’ wellbeing in mind— we can create a future where homes not only enhance quality of life but also uphold the highest standards of safety and ethics.
Lee is LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director.
