Smart Home Sensing: A New Chapter in Security

ADT has just bought a startup that can tell when people are moving around inside a house, using Wi‑Fi signals instead of cameras. The purchase cost about $170 million and will be added to ADT’s future security products by 2027.

The company that sold the tech, Origin AI, works with algorithms that learn normal patterns of Wi‑Fi noise. When a pattern changes, the system can guess that people are present and whether they’re walking, sitting or lying down.

This kind of sensing is different from the face‑recognition systems seen in other smart home gadgets. It does not record video or store personal details, only the general presence and activity level of occupants.

ADT says it plans to use this data for smart automation—like turning the thermostat up when several people are home—or for better alarm accuracy. A feature could alert a care facility if an elderly resident stays in bed longer than usual, without having to look through a camera.

However, the same data could also reveal when people are watching TV or eating dinner, which some argue is a privacy intrusion. Because the system cannot identify who is where, it keeps identities hidden but still tracks movements.

The company also hinted at sharing presence information with first responders or local authorities in emergencies, such as showing how many people are inside a building on fire. This raises questions about potential misuse for law‑enforcement searches or raids, especially after reports of data being shared with federal agencies.

Whether the technology will be a boon or a threat depends on how ADT chooses to handle it. The firm has not yet released detailed privacy safeguards or usage limits, so the debate about benefits versus risks is still open.

Consumers who value privacy will need to watch how this new feature evolves, while those looking for smarter home protection may welcome the added convenience.