Google’s New Smart Thermostat Has (Yes, You Guessed It) Artificial Intelligence Features
We have AI in our phones, AI in our glasses . What about artificial intelligence in our thermostats? Often forgotten home technology is getting a smart AI upgrade thanks to Google and the new 4th generation Nest Learning Thermostat.
Living in New York, I don’t think much about thermostats. I just use a regulator attached to the window air conditioner. But for anyone who enjoys central heating/cooling (I’m jealous), the game has seriously upped the game over the past few years, and Google’s new Nest learning thermostat looks like a cross between a clock and a bloated smartwatch.
That’s not to say the minimal piece of round glass is anything new, but this year’s model has thinner bezels, a 60% larger display, new customizable home screens inspired by the Pixel Watch, and plenty of set-it-and-forget-it features. AI mind.
This year’s model does seem to be more “learning” oriented than ever. New features debuting this year include Dynamic Vision, AI-powered energy saving with Smart Schedule, and on-the-fly adjustments paired with the new Nest temperature sensor.
Since the Nest Learning Thermostat has such a large and beautiful display, it would be a shame if it only showed the temperature at all times. This is where Dynamic Farsight comes in, allowing you to customize the screen to display the time, temperature, weather and/or outside air quality depending on how close you are to it. For example, you can set its screen to show a simple analog clock at a distance and more detailed weather data up close.
In the meantime, we hope that Smart Schedule will help you recoup some of the cost of purchasing a smart thermostat. Here, the AI will create schedules for you in which it will adjust the temperature based on your activity. If it detects that you are always in the office (due to the lack of traffic in your home) during certain hours, it will suggest a schedule that will keep the temperature closer to the baseline while you are away, except for the hour or so before you are gone . return where it will gradually increase or decrease the temperature to the desired value. You can automatically implement suggested changes or manage them manually in the Google Home app.
The Nest Learning Thermostat can also adjust the temperature based on conditions experienced during a given day. Every Nest Learning Thermostat comes with Google’s new temperature sensor, and if the thermostat detects your home will be warm enough without intervention, it will temporarily turn off the heating. You can connect up to six temperature sensors to the thermostat, and each additional sensor costs $39 individually or $99 for a set of three. The temperature sensors are also compatible with the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat, although Google hasn’t said whether automatic temperature adjustment will work with older models.
In addition to daily temperature adjustments, the Nest Learning Thermostat can also monitor the performance of your HVAC system over time, alerting you to inconsistencies, such as if it was set to cool your home but the temperature remained the same. If you have a ventilation system, the thermostat will also adjust the amount of outside air used based on the detected air quality.
Pre-orders for the Nest Gen 4 Learning Thermostat are available today for $279 in the US and $379 in Canada. Delivery will begin on August 20. Available colors: Polished Silver (Grey), Polished Obsidian (Black) and Polished Gold (Gold).