HomeTech.fm Episode 555 - The 11th Annual Technology.fm Fireside Chat
Dec 26, 2025
In this engaging roundtable, Adam Justice, CEO of Grid Connect, and Richard Gunther, a savvy digital technology consultant, discuss the year's biggest smart home trends. They dive into the updates in wireless protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave, as well as the impact of AI integration in voice platforms. The duo shares insights on the controversial Matter standard, vendor lock-in practices, and supply chain challenges. They also predict exciting developments in AI's role and the future of robot lawnmowers, leaving listeners with plenty to think about!
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Wireless Protocols Had A Big Year
- Wireless protocol updates dominated 2025 with Zigbee 4.0 and renewed Z-Wave activity.
- TJ Huddleston highlights that multiple protocols evolved, not just Matter, changing device choices.
AI Arrived In Smart Speakers
- Alexa Plus and Google Gemini pushed AI into mainstream smart speakers.
- Gavin Campbell calls their rollout one of the year's significant platform upgrades.
Local‑First Rebellion Against Matter
- Adam Justice describes a 'local first' rebellion from frustrated Matter adoption.
- He says he abandoned some Matter Thread devices in his business for reliability reasons.