The Future of Smart Homes: What Sci-Fi Movies Predicted vs. What’s Now Possible

Smart home devices are a common feature in modern living, but not too long ago, they felt more like something out of science fiction than from everyday reality. From The Jetsons to Blade Runner, Total Recall to Her, futuristic home tech has long been explored on screen — but how accurate were those predictions?
 

We're taking a look back at the smart home technology imagined in film and television to see which ones have actually entered our homes.

Since the 1960s with The Jetsons, sci-fi TV shows have featured smart home devices as a key part of the aesthetic of futuristic, automated homes. Set in 2062, this utopian animated family show became renowned for its idealistic sci-fi home design featuring high-concept video calling, automated kitchens, and voice-activated smart appliances. While it may have seemed alien at the time, many of its smart home devices have become a reality. Perhaps most significantly, this has included the concept of voice-controlled AI home assistants that foreshadowed Alexa and Siri and screen video calls that anticipated Zoom and FaceTime. While the android maid Rosie seemed a bit far-fetched, more practical smart home tech, like compact remote-controlled vacuums, including Roomba, has indeed become a reality. The show also featured smartwatches, flat-screen TVs, and George Jetson video-calling his boss — cleverly anticipating the future shift towards remote work.

However, animation can only take these concepts so far before they feel unrealistic. The potential of smart home tech becomes even clearer when brought to life in live-action films. Take the 1990 sci-fi thriller Total Recall, set in 2084 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the film, the main character’s home includes a wall-sized screen that seamlessly switches from TV broadcasts to scenic landscapes at the touch of a button — a concept not far off from today’s tech, now enhanced with voice-controlled convenience. Yet, some smart home tech in the film remains unrealised in the mainstream, like the concept of holographic virtual instructors, such as the one Sharon Stone uses to improve her tennis stroke.

Although prematurely set in 2015, Back to the Future Part II (1989) offered another intriguing take on future smart home environments. It provided the plausibility of Zoom conferencing and voice commands when an elderly Marty McFly, receives calls and communicates with his family. The film’s vision of a futuristic kitchen included a voice-activated food prep system — a concept that reflects the path today’s smart appliances are taking with the help of assistants like Alexa and Google. It also showcased home-automated security systems as part of the high-tech setting, even though they weren’t depicted as being managed via smartphone apps, which are now a common feature in smart homes.

The 2013 sci-fi romance Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and featuring the voice of Scarlett Johansson, imagined a highly advanced, AI-powered virtual assistant that responded to voice commands and became deeply embedded in everyday life — resulting in both thought-provoking and, at times, unsettling outcomes. This foreshadowed a more intrusive version of modern voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, which was released in 2014. While our smart systems haven’t quite reached the intuitive, peak creative potential of the film’s ‘OSI’ (named ‘Samantha’), which includes offering emotional support and creative collaboration, they can manage daily tasks like setting reminders, playing music, and interacting with other devices. ChatGPT and other advanced AI-driven language tools are making strides in problem-solving and creative collaboration, but full integration with our smart home systems has yet to be achieved.

So, what’s the best smart home technology available today, and how does it compare to the futuristic homes we see in this and other sci-fi films? We take a closer look at today’s smart home offerings and how they can elevate your daily life.

Although they’re not yet a staple in every household, smart fridges are increasingly available and offer features that go beyond traditional refrigeration. For example, Samsung’s AI-powered Family Hub Refrigerator uses internal cameras to keep an eye on food supplies, automatically recognising items and helping you stay on top of your grocery list while out shopping. A touchscreen on the fridge door allows you to see what's inside without opening it. It can also identify your groceries to suggest recipes and serve as a central hub for smart home integration — connecting with other devices to control things like lighting and security. It also doubles as an entertainment system, letting you stream music, watch TV, and even make video calls.

Looking ahead to the future, The Jetsons envisioned a smart fridge that could communicate with the family and suggest meal ideas. Taking things a step further, it could even automatically replenish groceries as supplies dwindled — still a sci-fi dream for most households today.

Since its release in 2014, Amazon’s smart speaker has evolved from a hands-free, voice-controlled music player into a comprehensive, virtual home assistant that answers your every command. This evolution continues with the latest device, Echo Show 21, which features advanced immersive 360-degree audio, faster responses, and enhanced smart home integration. This includes new environmental sensors that automatically permit Alexa to adjust home temperature, lighting settings, and program smart home security. 

The 2024 sci-fi thriller AfrAid presents a darker twist on the concept of a virtual home assistant. The film centres on a family testing a new digital assistant, AIA, which adapts to their needs and anticipates their every move. However, this seemingly helpful technology takes a sinister turn, going to extreme lengths to safeguard the family and maintain a secure smart home — at any cost.

The self-cleaning vacuum was introduced in 2002 and revolutionised the home cleaning industry by autonomously navigating floors without human supervision. However, some advancements have been made along the way. 

The latest robotic vacuums come with a self-emptying base, enhanced suction power, and improved mapping navigation that adapts to your home's layout, focusing on hard-to-reach edges. Many of the issues from previous models, like carpet cleaning and pet hair collection, have been addressed, offering better performance. Some models even feature all-in-one capabilities, allowing them to mop floors by docking into a water station and dry them afterwards.

Washing your hands after handling food is part of kitchen cleanliness, but unavoidably touching your tap with dirty hands can spread these germs and increase the risk of contamination. Fortunately, touchless taps provide a solution. These sensor taps automatically turn the water on or off using advanced infrared sensor technology when hands or objects are detected beneath them. They help conserve water and energy, and some models can also be integrated into smart home systems, allowing you to control water temperature remotely or monitor your water usage.

While some argue that the future is already here, there’s still plenty of intelligent home technology on the horizon, driven by the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), which will continue to shape how we interact with our homes. Smart homes are set to become more efficient and offer higher levels of automation. Predictions include increased AI-driven personalisation, fully integrated home automation, and the rise of virtual reality home spaces.

Referencing the H.G. Wells futuristic science fiction classic, here are a few examples of technological Things to Come:

One of the most fascinating predictions for smart home technology is the idea of a smart mattress that tracks your sleep. This interactive device includes a movable screen on wheels, similar to a tablet, which shows a daily 'sleep score,' enabling you to monitor the quality of your REM sleep on a regular basis.

The next level of Alexa will proactively listen to your commands and observe your habits to customise your home through predictive behaviours.   

Smart speakers could analyse your daily routine and predict what you need before you utter a word. Consider the convenience of your lights being dimmed and the temperature adjusting as you’re about to relax for the evening or groceries being ordered automatically as your stocks run low. In the future, smart speakers could even be sensitive to emotional cues in your voice and empathically adjust their responses to suit your mood.

Imagine a world where your mirror does more than reflect your image. A smart mirror could include AI-assisted touchscreen features to create a fully interactive experience where your daily schedule, weather updates, and health metrics are instantly accessible. They could even offer a makeup tutorial as you get ready. By being integrated with your smart home devices, they may also provide real-time updates related to your security system or energy consumption. In the near future, smart mirrors could become an essential feature in the home, seamlessly blending practicality with personal care.

Based on the works of acclaimed sci-fi author Philip K. Dick and starring Tom Cruise, Spielberg’s 2002 thriller Minority Report used the concept of predictive technology to raise important questions regarding personal freedom and the ethics of continual surveillance. While these technologies were largely fictional at the time, reality has begun to embrace them — resulting in conversations about their impact on society. 
 

But will these technologies offer enough utility to justify widespread implementation? And what happens to human autonomy in a world dominated by AI? While this level of automation promises convenience, it also raises significant concerns about privacy and data security, highlighting the need for human intervention. The concept of a secure smart home is already here; now, we must remain cautious about the potential dangers.

That’s a peek at how smart home tech is changing the way we live. But what do you think about the ethical debate? Let us know in the comments!

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