This year at CES, the Parks Associates team saw many new technologies that are making the connected home experience more valuable through more “smarts” in advanced applications across security, energy, controls, entertainment, and lighting. AI, hubs, smart home communications protocols, and safety and security solutions are all major trends at CES 2025.
Trend 1: AI is in Everything Now
Artificial Intelligence is enhancing the smart home, offering intuitive and efficient user experiences through edge and cloud processing, as well as generative and agentic AI. According to Parks Associates data, 26% of home security system owners or intenders are interested in video analytics for event-specific recognition, such as differentiating between people, packages, or vehicles.
Examples At CES 2025:
- Swann Xtreem4K Camera uses AI for facial recognition and motion analysis, reducing false alarms and enhancing security through real-time alerts, recording capabilities, and two-way audio to deter intruders.
Trend 2: The Smart Home is Moving Back to the Hub
The smart home market is fragmented between solutions requiring hubs and Wi-Fi solutions without a hub. The next evolution in the smart home to increase integration now includes devices functioning as both individual solutions and hubs. While only 6% of consumers prioritize hubs, features like ecosystem connectivity remain crucial, with 56% valuing Alexa for control and 32% desiring security system integration. Manufacturers are seeing the need to build the hub capability into many products — the consumer need not educate themselves on hub technology to receive the benefits.
Examples At CES 2025:
- LG unveiled the LG SIGNATURE microwave second generation, incorporating hub functionality to manage LG ThinQ and Matter-enabled devices
- Aqara showcased the Panel Hub S1 Plus and other wall-mounted hubs, providing interactive and versatile controls within the smart home environment
Trend 3: Multi-protocol is the Future
The resurgence of the smart home hub is propelled by advancements in smart home protocols by groups like the Thread Group and Connectivity Standards Alliance, enhancing the functionality and appeal of connected homes. These protocols, along with the required hub/router hardware, create a more interoperable experience. However, relying on the consumer to make sense of these protocols hinders adoption, which is why chip manufacturers are building the technology to use multiple protocols.
Examples At CES 2025:
- Trident IoT and Semtech partnership: Focuses on developing multi-protocol chips that simplify integration for smart home companies, catering to various use cases and pushing the boundaries of device interoperability within the smart home sector.
Trend 4: 2025 is the Year of the Smart Lock
Smart lock adoption stands at only 9% ownership among US internet households. Manufacturers must make ease of operation a priority to drive growth. Technological enhancements, such as NFC and ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies, have emerged, allowing locks to operate based on proximity, offering enhanced security and convenience. In 2025, these features will be common to newly released locks, pushing manufacturers to seek further innovations to stand out in the competitive market, such as creating sleeker designs, integrating hub technology, or expanding smart lock applications beyond the front door.
Examples At CES 2025:
Trend 5: Security Devices Have Matured, but with Few New Features and Applications
Adoption of the smart home is led by video doorbells (22% peak in Q4 2023) and smart cameras (20% peak in Q4 2023) as Parks Associates survey of 8,000 US internet household shows. To stand out, manufacturers are enhancing their offerings with innovations that promote whole-home security and emphasize privacy and adaptability.
Examples At CES 2025:
- Lockly Vision Prestige: Combines a door lock with an integrated camera, enhancing security with video feeds for increased visibility.
- Pawport: Offers a secure pet tunnel featuring dual doors, adding another layer of protection and convenience for pet owners.
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