PulteGroup is going all in on smart homes. The company's new model smart home in Atlanta's Sandy Springs neighborhood is another sign of the rise of the Internet of Things in the city.
Along with the new subdivision, Pulte announced that every new residence it builds going forward will be fully smart home-ready, equipped with "state-of-the-art electrical guts," able to be used with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, smart door bells, locks, smart switches, security cameras, and garage doors all controlled via mobile apps, Curbed reports. Homebuyers will not be required to use their home's smart capabilities.
A rebellion by our robot helpers might not be on the horizon quite yet, but more and more homes are being delivered in metro Atlanta—and beyond—that will listen to and keep an eye on their inhabitants. “Maybe you’ve been flirting with Google or already have strong feelings for Alexa,” said PulteGroup CEO Ryan Marshall in a press release. “We let you pick the roommate you want.” And while it’s nice to tell your home when it’s time to “Turn on smooth jazz in the kitchen”—as PulteGroup’s VP of sales and marketing Sean Clancy did at the Sandy Springs house—most people, he said, prioritize security over entertainment when using the system.