I really like voice assistants, not just because it's my job to like them, but because they're useful for multitasking. And conversational AI is making them much better.
Still, there's a catch: Voice assistant apps like Alexa, Google/Gemini and Siri download and analyze your voice data. Changing your privacy settings can't block all of that, especially if you want the latest AI features.
At CES 2026, smart home company IAI Smart showcased an alternative for those concerned about voice assistants overhearing too much conversation or compromising their privacy. It's the company's newly expanded Emerson Smart home device line, powered by SmartVoice technology to respond to your voice commands.
"That still sounds like a voice assistant," you may say. But the key behind Emerson Smart's innovation is that all the voice assistant tech lives solely on the devices themselves. They have mics, plus speakers to confirm commands, and built-in algorithms to recognize wake words and orders. But that's all.
Those wake words include "Hey fan" for the tower fan line, "Hey heater" for the fan heater models, and even "Hey air fryer" for the SmartVoice air fryers, which have 100 cooking presets and can recognize more than 1,000 voice commands. The Emerson Smart line also includes smart plugs that can recognize over 30 commands for scheduling, timers and other settings.
All voice command algorithms live directly on Emerson Smart devices, without apps or internet connections. IAI Smart
These device voice assistants work entirely without Wi-Fi connections, without apps and without sending a single bit of voice data to companies. You simply plug them in and start giving commands.
While we saw immense amounts of AI at CES, privacy considerations were harder to find. One example was the growing adoption of presence-sensing technology, which CES home companies used to detect people without the need for cameras or face recognition. IAI Smart's offline voice assistants are another welcome sign for those who prefer not to send their comments into the clouds of corporate data.
Certain Emerson Smart products are now available for purchase, including tower fans starting at $90 and smart plugs starting at $25.