AI for Good: Smart Homes and Abuse

How do we stop leaving household members behind in the march towards smarter homes?

A recent New York Times piece took a new look at some unintended effects of the smart home revolution. Entitled “Thermostats, Locks and Lights: Digital Tools of Domestic Abuse”, the article raises unsettling questions about how the Internet of Things can upset the balance of power in a home, and be turned against inhabitants who may not have direct control or full understanding of these devices.

“Abusers — using apps on their smartphones, which are connected to the internet-enabled devices — would remotely control everyday objects in the home, sometimes to watch and listen, other times to scare or show power.”

If you haven’t read the article yet, I encourage you to do so. Regardless of your opinion on the NYT (and mine are complicated) — this is an important piece, and one that was shared with me from a number of friends familiar with my own contributions to Internet of Things enabled products like Alexa and Cortana.

This piece leaves us with two major insights: one, that these devices can be used in unanticipated ways for real harm against household members; and two, that the harm is exacerbated by an imbalance of power.

Each said the use of…