Can AI truly replace traditional home automations?

[Ephemer_Leader]

I keep seeing people say AI voice assistants can replace old automation rules, but I’m not convinced yet. I’ve been running smart home setups for years here in Connecticut, and while the new AI tools are getting better, they still miss context a lot of the time.

Sure, they can learn when you usually get home or turn off the lights when no one’s around, but I’ve had mine trigger random things when the house is quiet or forget routines it’s “learned.” The predictability of traditional rules still feels more reliable. Has anyone actually ditched manual automations entirely and let the AI run things on its own? Curious if it’s as smooth as they make it sound, or if you end up babysitting it anyway.

 

[Arus_Auster]

AI assistants still don’t handle conditional logic well. They guess instead of deciding. I keep traditional automations for stuff that needs precision like garage doors, HVAC schedules then let AI handle “suggestions” like dimming lights or music preferences. It’s smarter as an assistant, not a manager.

 

[Templar_Angelo]

AI works okay for broad habits, but it’s still blind to context. It can tell motion stopped but not that I’m watching a movie. I use AI to suggest automations, not control them. Once I like a routine, I lock it in as a rule. Best of both worlds that way.