The Philips Hue app is getting an AI chatbot

We’re seeing more and more smart lighting brands turn to AI when it comes to helping users pick the perfect lighting scene, and now Phiilips Hue is jumping on the bandwagon. 

Set for release “in 2025,” the new AI assistant will serve up “personalized lighting scenes based on mood, occasion, or style,” according to a Hue press release. 

A screenshot provided with the announcement shows a chat window in the Hue app, with a query that reads, “Give me a scene for a garden party.”  

A response from the AI-powered “Hue” chatbot says, “Give me a sec… Here are some scene suggestions for you,” followed by a series of possible lighting scenes. 

Besides suggesting existing light scenes, Hue’s AI assistant will be capable of “generating a new one if there isn’t a good match,” a Hue rep told me. 

The chatbot will also help you adjust the color and brightness of your Hue lights. 

Philips Hue isn’t the first smart lighting brand to incorporate an AI chatbot in its app. Plenty of other smart light manufacturers have beaten Hue to the punch, including Govee and Nanoleaf, albeit with mixed results. 

Besides its new AI assistant, Hue had some other announcements to make Tuesday, including new features for its line of Hue Secure security cameras. 

Starting today, Hue’s security cams will be able to detect the sound of blaring smoke alarms, similar to the functionality of Amazon Echo and Google Nest devices. 

Speaking of Amazon and Google, Hue cameras will finally be able to stream video feeds to Alexa and Google Home devices, filling a gaping hole in Hue Secure’s feature set. 

Enhancements are also coming to Hue’s iOS widgets and voice control capabilities, allowing users to view camera feeds and change system settings directly from their handhelds. 

Hue Secure users are also getting a new accessory: a 3-meter USB-C power cable, which should allow for greater freedom in terms of camera placement. The cable will ship this March in the U.S. and Canada for $19.99. 

Finally, the Philips Hue Sync TV app, which syncs your Hue lights with the images on your TV, is coming to a new TV manufacturer: LG.  

The app, which previously only worked with Samsung TVs, serves up dynamic and synchronized lighting for content from streaming apps, gaming consoles, or anything else on the screen, including 8K and Dolby Vision-enhanced video. 

One thing that hasn’t changed about the Philips Hue Sync TV app is the price: a lofty $129.99. Luckily, there’s a $2.99/month subscription option for those who’d rather not pony up for the one-time fee.