The question most frequently asked of the owners: “Can your house kill you?” In fact, the AI makes it safer.

It’s a striking, futuristic residence that commands panoramic views, combines home with a place to work, and is controlled by artificial intelligence having its own data center. Based outside Prague, Chechoslavika, the 5100-square-foot house is done up inside in stark white and has concrete-grey and glass exteriors.  Named Villa Sophia, it’s home to the Panek family of four and is purposely low-slung so as not to block the city view for the neighbors. (The New York Times)

“The house is like a brain”

The house was designed from the ground up to be autonomous by its owner Karel Panek. He is a computer scientist who also owns Sysloop, the company whose software automates the management of the home.

Sysloop and its related hardware accounted for a fifth of the total cost of the home of about $3.6 million.

The house collects data everywhere and all the time. Sensors are built into floors, drawers, even under the kitchen table.

“It can store instructions and statements in order to apply or verify them later autonomously,” Mr. Panek told the NYT. The system also assimilates and evaluates the data it collects to come up with various solutions and their implementation.

AI capabilities

First off, the residents do not need a key to the house because the AI recognizes their arrival and opens doors accordingly. The house does not also have any switches.

It can sense weather conditions and take action suitably. For example, it can close the windows when it rains. In the case of icy conditions, it can lock the doors and heat the driveway to clear it of snow.

It can control internal temperatures as well as lighting. It is smart enough to tone down the blue component in lighting to enhance sleep.

The home can even take deliveries in the absence of the residents.

According to Mr. Panek, the house knows where everyone is and “is capable of answering questions and interpreting spoken instructions.”

The house has a piano that plays by itself. Knowing the owners’ interests, the house is also capable of reading out relevant pages from the Internet.

Philosophy

The single biggest advantage of such an intelligent house is that it frees up the owners for more constructive work.

According to Mr. Panek, they can “focus on the more important parts of life.”

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