ADT Bets $170 Million on AI That 'Senses' People Through Wi-Fi

In a major move to define the next generation of home security, ADT announced Tuesday the acquisition of AI firm Origin AI for $170 million. The purchase centers on a specific, emerging technology: the ability to detect human presence and activity by analyzing disruptions in a home's Wi-Fi signals.

Unlike camera-based systems, Origin's AI is trained to interpret signal patterns to distinguish human movement from pets, and to identify activities like walking, sitting, or lying down. ADT's Chief Business Officer, Omar Khan, confirmed the company has been testing the technology and plans to integrate it into its platform next year, with commercial rollout slated for 2027.

The potential applications range from practical automation—like adjusting a smart thermostat when people are moving about—to critical safety features, such as alerting caregivers if an elderly resident's routine is broken or providing firefighters with occupancy data during an emergency.

Privacy, however, is the immediate and central question. ADT emphasizes that the system does not use cameras, record video, or create personal identity profiles. It cannot name who is in a home, only infer their location and motion. This offers a layer of discretion compared to visual surveillance.

Yet the capability to know when residents are in bed or eating dinner inherently creates a new data stream about private life. Broader concerns exist about how such sensitive occupancy data might be shared, following documented instances where local law enforcement information has been accessed by federal immigration authorities for raids.

ADT's challenge will be to balance the technology's clear safety benefits against the legitimate unease it generates. The success of this high-stakes investment will depend entirely on the safeguards and transparency ADT builds around its implementation.

Source: CNET