Remember Smarthomes in 2016?

Okay, picture this: 2016. Pokemon Go was HUGE. The Mannequin Challenge was a thing. And everyone was buzzing about "smarthomes." But were they REALLY smart? Or just kinda...connected?

Let's be real, the AI wasn't exactly HAL 9000. More like...a slightly helpful robot butler who occasionally forgot where he put your keys. But hey, progress is progress, right?

What "AI" Actually Did Back Then

In 2016, "AI" in your home mostly meant voice control. Think Amazon Echo and Google Home. You could ask it to play music, set timers, and maybe even control your lights if you had the right setup.

It wasn't about robots doing your laundry. It was more about automating simple tasks. Which, honestly, was still pretty cool. Imagine telling your lights to turn off without getting up! Peak laziness achieved.

The Good, The Bad, and The Slightly Annoying

The good stuff? Convenience. Playing your favorite song without touching your phone? Yes, please! Also, some security systems were getting smarter, learning your routines and alerting you to anything out of the ordinary.

The bad? The AI wasn't always accurate. Misunderstood commands were common. "Play 'Bohemian Rhapsody'" often turned into "Playing 'Baby Shark' for the next three hours." Also, privacy concerns were starting to bubble up, which is never fun.

And the annoying? Setting everything up! Getting all your devices to talk to each other could be a real headache. It felt like you needed a computer science degree just to turn on a lightbulb.

Was it Worth It?

So, was AI in the home in 2016 life-changing? Probably not. But it was a glimpse into the future. It showed us the potential of connected devices and automation. And, let's be honest, it was kinda fun to yell commands at a speaker and have it actually do something. Even if it sometimes played the wrong song.