Apple’s iOS 18 is set to revolutionize the HomeKit platform by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) smarts, promising users a true smart home experience. Reports suggest that Apple is working on making iOS 18 the biggest update in years, with AI at the core of its development.
The concept of AI has been thrown around for years, but recent advancements in technology, such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Photoshop generative features, have showcased the potential of a truly smart system. Apple aims to bring these capabilities to HomeKit, making its smart home ecosystem more intuitive and intelligent.
One of the defining factors of the new generation of AI systems is the ability to communicate our goals and let the system determine the best way to achieve them. This is especially relevant in the context of HomeKit scenes, which can be tedious to create, requiring the inclusion of multiple accessories.
For instance, setting up a scene for bedtime may involve the need to switch on low lighting in the bedroom while simultaneously turning off all other lights. In the current system, every light that might have been left on in other rooms needs to be explicitly included in the scene, resulting in a time-consuming process. With AI integration, users could simply instruct HomeKit to switch on low lighting in the bedroom and turn off all other lights without manually adding each one to the scene.
The true AI approach ventures a step further, allowing users to express their intent and enabling HomeKit to determine the necessary actions to achieve it. For instance, instead of specifying the devices required to adjust the temperature in the living room to 68°F, users could simply tell Siri their desired temperature, and the system would automatically adjust the settings using the appropriate heating or cooling devices.
Arriving home at night could also become more seamless with AI. The current system may activate the entrance hall lighting as soon as the smart lock is unlocked. However, an AI-powered system could track movement throughout the home and predict lighting needs. For example, it would learn that upon reaching the living room, the user prefers the Living Room Relax scene and the hall lighting off.
With the introduction of Matter support for appliances, HomeKit could leverage presence detection to optimize functionalities. For instance, it could wait until everyone has left the home before automatically running the washing machine, thereby avoiding disturbance caused by noise. Similarly, watering the lawn could be triggered based on recent weather conditions rather than set timings, ensuring the soil is adequately watered.
Intelligent security features are also within the realm of possibility. HomeKit could raise alerts if the front door smart lock unlocks without accompanying presence detection, indicating a potential security breach. It could even detect anomalies such as water flow through pipes without any corresponding appliance activation, signaling a potential water leak. Additionally, an AI system could detect rising room temperatures with no apparent reason and alert users to a potential smoldering fire, taking into account factors like thermostat settings, weather conditions, and the position of blinds.
Apple has been incorporating AI features into its products for over a decade. The launch of Siri with the iPhone 4S in 2011 marked a significant milestone in bringing intelligent assistants to the mainstream. The company has also been at the forefront of AI-powered computational photography, with features like Portrait Mode.
As Apple gears up for iOS 18, it is crucial to leverage the advancements in AI capabilities. HomeKit is just one aspect where AI could significantly enhance user experience. Even products as mundane as Numbers could benefit from AI integration, enabling users to retrieve specific data without complex formulas.
With the introduction of AI smarts, iOS 18 has the potential to revolutionize not just HomeKit, but the entire Apple ecosystem, making it more intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly. By empowering users to communicate their intent and allowing the system to handle the execution, Apple can deliver a truly smart home experience that transforms everyday tasks. As users eagerly anticipate iOS 18, the inclusion of AI capabilities seems like the logical next step.
Do you have your own ideas on how Apple could make iOS 18 smarter? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.
