AI Will Be the Invisible Backbone of Future Homes: Hisense MEA President, Jason Ou

From refrigerators that update your shopping list to air conditioners that adjust airflow based on where you sit, AI is transforming everyday appliances into proactive partners in family life. In an exclusive interview, Jason Ou, President of Hisense MEA, explains how smart technologies are reshaping home living in the Middle East—making routines seamless, cutting energy costs, and building sustainable, connected ecosystems designed around comfort, efficiency, and trust.

How are smart appliances, particularly with AI integration, making everyday routines more seamless and efficient for families?
AI is reshaping how we live and interact within our homes, turning everyday appliances into intelligent, intuitive allies that simplify routines and enhance comfort. Across the home, AI-enabled devices anticipate needs, streamline daily tasks, and create an environment that adapts to the family rather than the other way around.

These innovations help families spend less time managing appliances and more time enjoying their homes.
In the living room, the smart TV serves as a central control hub, giving users a 3D visualisation of their home, control over temperature and humidity, and the ability to adjust the AI air conditioner’s airflow depending on where people are in the room.

Moreover, the refrigerator doesn’t just store food; it integrates with other smart devices, and automatically adds missing ingredients to your shopping list. Even the dishwasher is smart enough to select the optimal washing cycle on its own, taking the guesswork out of household chores. By combining intelligence with convenience, these technologies redefine what a home can do, turning appliances from static tools into proactive partners that make everyday life smoother, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Beyond convenience, how do connected devices help households save on energy costs and live more sustainably?
In this region, sustainability is closely tied to household budgets, particularly with long cooling seasons that drive energy bills. Connected devices help on two fronts: firstly, by monitoring usage in real time, and secondly, by automating efficiency. For instance, laundry machines can shift cycles to off-peak hours, and AC systems can be programmed to optimise cooling without overuse.

Platforms like Hisense ConnectLife bring these insights together in one app, making it simple for families to track consumption and reduce waste. This is how smart living aligns with the region’s broader agenda on energy efficiency and sustainability.

What smart home and AI trends are you most excited about, and how do you see connected living evolving in the years ahead?
The next wave of smart living will be defined by proactivity rather than reactivity. Homes will increasingly learn from household routines and take action before we even ask them to: pre-cooling bedrooms before sleep, dimming lights for relaxation, or suggesting recipes based on what’s inside the fridge. Another exciting trend is the integration of wellbeing features into entertainment and home environments.

At Hisense, our “AI Your Life” vision is already embedding these capabilities into entertainment, air management, and appliances. The long-term evolution is a shift from connected devices to fully connected living, where the home itself becomes an intelligent ecosystem designed around people’s comfort and efficiency.

For someone starting their smart home journey, what practical steps and factors like interoperability and app/voice control are most important for creating a seamless experience?
The best way to begin is step by step. When households upgrade their appliances, it’s important to prioritise those with the latest features and integration capabilities, because that’s where the return on investment quickly becomes visible, through lower energy bills, time savings, or added convenience. As families expand their smart setup, they naturally start experiencing more of these benefits in their daily routines.

Interoperability is also crucial; homes here often combine products from multiple brands, and families don’t want to manage ten different apps. That’s why platforms like ConnectLife are designed to integrate with voice assistants and Matter-compatible devices, so families can mix and match without losing simplicity. My advice is always to choose a foundation that grows with you, rather than creating a fragmented experience from the start.

With more consumers adopting IoT devices, what steps is Hisense taking to ensure security and privacy in the connected home?
Trust is the foundation of adoption. At Hisense, we build privacy and security into our products from the design stage. Every device linked to ConnectLife goes through secure onboarding, regular firmware updates, and offers consumers clear choices on how their data is managed. In the Middle East, where digital awareness is growing rapidly, this is especially important. Our commitment is simple: innovation should never come at the cost of peace of mind.

How is smart home adoption progressing in the Middle East, and what cultural or lifestyle factors are shaping how families use these technologies?
The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing regions for smart home adoption. Families are moving quickly from experimenting with single devices to building connected ecosystems. Cultural factors like multi-generational living mean appliances need to be intuitive and accessible for all age groups, while a culture of hospitality makes seamless entertainment and comfort a priority. Cooling, entertainment, and streamlined kitchens are priorities across households, which explains why the region is embracing smart technologies so enthusiastically.

Finally, how do you see AI shaping the future of home living in this region, from entertainment and comfort to energy efficiency and sustainability?
AI will soon become the invisible backbone of home life, personalising comfort, optimising energy use, and enriching entertainment experiences. AI-powered TVs, for instance, are already delivering adaptive visuals and sound that turn living rooms into immersive cinemas. At the same time, predictive climate systems will manage temperature and air quality, while appliances work together to reduce waste and save energy. In the Middle East, this means smarter, more sustainable homes tailored to the unique lifestyles of the region.