Analysis: Advanced Presence Sensing in the Smart Home

Advanced presence sensing is emerging as a key driver of smart home evolution, shaping the path toward ambient computing and intelligent homes.

Smart home devices and services are continually evolving toward fully autonomous solutions for consumers' homes, though the goal of a truly intelligent home remains a distant target. A key factor in the intelligent home is advanced presence sensing, which, while gaining momentum, is currently in its early stages and not widely adopted in the smart home. The concept of ambient computing, which presence sensing is a key component of, is as of August 2025 slowly inching its way toward reality. Advancements made by component manufacturers and smart home device and software companies with regard to advanced presence sensing are helping accelerate that timeline. While many of the technologies outlined in this report are in their infancy, they highlight the critical role that advanced presence sensing will play in shaping the future of smart home devices and services.