The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to objects and products that are interconnected and communicate through digital networks. Now this technology is paving ways into the home appliance industry with astonishing speed. Start-ups and more established tech companies are investing heavily in this industry, by launching smart home products. That is, many large tech companies, like Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung, have invested in ‘Home kits’ or ‘SmartThings’, hub devices that can be installed in consumers’ homes to connect other appliances with. In this way, consumers can remotely control lighting, heating, and security systems (Tech Radar, 2019). The modern home can hence be stated to become more automated, and smart.

Next to developments in lightning, heating and security, there are advancements made in traditional kitchen, washing, garden or bathrooms products. This may seem unconventional, but these seemingly simple products are now equipped with digital strengths. Amazon recently developed the ‘Alexa Smart Oven’, which is a convention cooking, air fryer and food warmer that is connected to an Alexa device (The Verge, 2019). Laundroid was created last year, which is an automated washing machine that washes, dries and folds your clothes for you. Smarts beds now exist that track and improve your sleep habits, such as the one from EightSleep (EightSleep, 2019). Every home appliance you can think of has been or will be made smarter. There are smart barbecues, robotic mops and robotic vacuum cleaners, smart pool cleaners, smart sprinkler controllers, and even smart lawn mowers that can eventually connect with the other smart home devices. A future in which your bathroom is handsfree or your kitchen has refreshments or food ready-to-go, is not that improbable as before.

Some might say that the advancements are admirable, however, but it does raises questions. That is, how far are we willing to go with regards to the IoT and advancements in the products around us? It will make our lives easier, that is for sure. The advantages are clear for the elderly and disabled, determined when looking at safety and security. Sensors could be installed to help detect fire hazards within elderly homes and such, and robots can help with caring tasks. The benefits for healthy and young people, however, seem less clear. Being able to outsource almost all tasks at home will create more and more free time for us. If we do not have to cook, to clean, to do groceries or to garden, what will we devote our time to? More time for our professional lives, hobbies, families and friends? Or will it result in an increase in obesity, addictive behavior for drugs, alcohol, gaming and such, or a lack in social interaction, leaving us more lonely? More importantly, we will rely even more on technology. Today, many around the globe already suffer from a ‘tech addiction’ (Chris Kesser, 2018), with risks like reduced sleep to depression. What will such an increased reliance on technology do to us?

https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/25/20883867/amazon-smart-oven-features-specs-price-release-date-alexa-echo-dot

http://www.helloeffie.com/

https://www.techradar.com/best/best-home-automation-systems

https://www.pcmag.com/article/303814/the-best-smart-home-devices-for-2019

https://eightsleep.com/product/smart-bed/

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/smart-home-automation.html

https://chriskresser.com/how-a-technology-addiction-can-hurt-your-health/

The possibilities of Artificial Intelligence are far-reaching and are predicted to have a transformative impact on many industries across the economy. For the healthcare industry, however, the applications promise to be life-changing (Forbes, 2019). By recreating human cognitive functions, AI can increase the access, affordability and effectiveness of healthcare services. In this way, activities that were once done by doctors or nurses could be taken over by algorithms.

An example of the way in which AI will bring considerable changes is the ‘Baby Cry Translator’, developed by researchers from the University of Northern Illinois. That is, the team created an algorithm based on automatic speech recognition that can detect the differences in pitch and frequency of baby cries (Smith Sonian Magazine, 2019). The recognition of the differences can then be used to identify whether the baby is crying because of hunger, tiredness, or sickness. The degree of urgency can also be considered, which can help doctors to quickly figure out which babies need immediate attention. The effectiveness of doctors, and even parents, can thereby increase.

An application of AI that identifies emotions is, indeed, life-changing. Ethically, however, it will likely be called into question. Parents are protective of their babies, and predicting human emotions is a challenging task for AI. As shown, emotions that are generalized across populations do not necessarily give accurate results (Smith Sonian Magazine, 2019). The consequences of inaccuracy in such a setting validate the ethical concerns. In addition, the researchers have stated that the Baby Cry Translator could be beneficial at home.  Psychologists and pedagogues will likely challenge this view, arguing that technology would reduce paternal bonding.  Mothers and fathers  create the quality of recognizing the cries of their baby and signaling what is the matter. In this manner, they bond with their babies and become familiar with them.

By taking this interesting new application as an example, I hope to have sketched the ways in which AI will be ethically challenged. Personally, I think that AI could do a great job in increasing the effectiveness of doctors; but some cognitive skills should remain limited to humans. Changes should be embraced in the healthcare industry and I believe that technology can provide a significant help to doctors and nurses. However, we should be cautious of not letting AI take over human interaction. Are we prepared for the transformative power of AI in the healthcare industry?

Forbes, 2019: https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-intelai/2019/02/11/ai-and-healthcare-a-giant-opportunity/#29ab13784c68

Smith Sonian Magazine, 2019: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/translator-baby-cries-yes-please-180972486/

Hackernoon, 2019: https://hackernoon.com/how-ai-is-transforming-the-future-of-healthcare-industry-f6020cc18323