A new enemy in the old home? how smart homes will change the experience of home for the elderly

A common wish—in fact, maybe the most important wish—among the elderly is to live as long as possible in their own home. Home, in this context, denotes a place someone is familiar with, has control over, and that is sheltered from unwanted outside influence or scrutiny [1]. For older people, the familiarity of this space is especially crucial: They are so familiar with every step of the staircase, every door handle, and every light switch that they are able to maneuver through their home safely, even while physical and cognitive capabilities decline. I observed this myself: My great-aunt, over 90 years old and having lived more than 30 years in her apartment, moved precisely and without incident through her living space despite having gone blind. She had achieved complete symbiosis with her home, knowing where each and every thing was located like she could still see it. Is AI going to ruin this relationship with one's home?