HomeTech.fm Episode 551 - Fingerprints, Floods, & Futureproofing
Nov 21, 2025
Explore the thrilling intersection of AI and neighborhood safety with claims that smart tech could reduce crime. Discover the latest in Zigbee 4.0's long-range capabilities and hear about a groundbreaking leak sensor from Shelly. Dive into Kaleidescape's new compact server for cinephiles and see how Wyze's upgraded smart lock does in real-world testing. Alongside tech reviews, the hosts share personal project updates and humorous takes on quirky smart home setups!
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Episode notes
Conference Filled With Agentic AI Demos
- Gavin attended Microsoft's Ignite and found the conference dominated by agentic AI demos and agent management tools.
- He observed demos of agents emailing other agents and worried about job displacement.
AI-Powered Doorbells Promise Safety And Risk
- Ring's CEO Jamie Siminoff argues AI plus widespread Ring adoption could drastically reduce neighborhood crime.
- Hosts warn this raises surveillance, facial recognition, and data-sharing risks tied to private camera networks like Flock.
Require Opt-In And Verify Anonymity Controls
- Allow opt-in sharing of smart-home footage with law enforcement rather than mandatory pooling.
- Verify anonymity and consent controls before trusting platform police-request features.