Samsung’s new smart home features include household maps with ‘AI characters’

Samsung’s new smart home features include household maps with ‘AI characters’

Samsung introduced new features for its SmartThings home automation platform during its CES 2024 keynote. Now Plus, a dashboard screen, will appear on select Samsung TVs, showing smart home device info and indoor temperature as you approach. A quick panel offers shortcuts for device control and finding lost smartphones.

A new "map view" for SmartThings displays an interactive map of the home with device locations. This can be created manually, from a photo of the floor plan, or with Samsung's lidar-enabled devices like Ballie or JetBot.

In an interesting addition, SmartThings maps feature "AI characters" representing family members and pets, responding to real-time conditions like temperature.

Maps are created in the SmartThings app and can be viewed on supported Samsung TVs, Family Hub smart fridges, and M8 monitors.