Zuckerberg programmed his AI butler to ignore his wife's voice commands

By Rick Stella August 29, 2016

zuckerberg resolution 2017 mark 5 1500x1000 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Earlier this summer, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared sparse details of how an innovative AI butler he’s created will help manage his home life. Essentially a voice-activated smart home controller — that’s also able to whip up some fresh-made toast — Zuckerberg’s inventive personal assistant also appears to have a new trick up its sleeve, and one which likely won’t sit well with Zuckerberg’s wife, Priscilla Chan. According to the Facebook chief himself, only he can utilize the AI’s connectivity with his home’s thermostat as he specifically programmed it to only recognize his voice. Not his wife’s. We’re sure even billionaires can be relegated to a doghouse at times.

While speaking in Italy Monday, Zuckerberg enlightened the attending crowd with a few more details about his JARVIS-like helper, saying he’s hoping to have a working demo up and running by September. In addition to its toast-making skills, which became public knowledge in June, the AI bot is also now able to control the lights and thermostat in Zuckerberg’s home. It was while revealing this new feature that the Facebook boss launched into how he’s built the thing to only listen to him.

Zuckerberg talking in Italy this week — Zuckerberg talking in Italy this week Facebook

“[That’s] much to the chagrin of my wife, who can now not control the temperature because it is programmed to only listen to my voice,” he joked, according to Recode. “Which is one of the perks of being an engineer, you can do that.”

The comment elicited an expected laugh from the audience before Zuckerberg reneged a bit on his claim saying, “I’ll give her access once I’m done.”

Despite him currently being the only one to control his home’s temperature, the AI butler also reportedly has the ability to open the home’s front gate as Zuckerberg approaches it via facial recognition technology. Though the system only exists by way of brief explanations from Facebook’s first-in-command himself, it’s starting to sound like his futuristic vision of an AI-powered assistant is as close to reality as ever.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…

Smart Home

Are robotic pool cleaners worth it?

The Airper Seagull SE robotic pool cleaner at the bottom of a swimming pool.

The worst part of owning a swimming pool is taking care of it From filter maintenance and skimming debris from the surface to managing chemicals and more, you'll likely find yourself hanging out around the water more often than you're actually in the water. Robotic pool cleaners are designed to alleviate this pinch point of pool ownership by giving you back your time and automating most of your tasks.

But are robotic pool cleaners worth it, or are they a gimmick that still require heaps of manual input? Here's a closer look to help you decide if one would be a good addition to your backyard.
Budget-friendly devices are often a hassle

Smart Home

Best Buy cut this air fryer’s price in half, down to just $25

The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer near food.

If you want your food crispy all over without having to deal with draining a ton of oil, your best bet is to use an air fryer. They're never too expensive and there are always great air fryer deals going on, but you'll rarely find one with a price like this. Right now, the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Analog Air Fryer is half off, moving its price from $50 to $25. To pick yours up today all you need to do is tap the button below. If you're interested in our take, however, be sure to keep reading.

Why you should buy the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer
The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer holds up to about 2.5 pounds of food, heats up to 400 degrees, and has easily-removable dishwasher-safe parts. If you notice it is "analog" that is because it has a 60 minute shut off timer to give you peace of mind and an easy way to time your cooking. Of course, this means there aren't a ton of digital options, buttons, and settings. However, this can be a plus for some and possibly you. Not every item in the home needs to be "smart" and less can certainly feel like more.

Smart Home

Revolution Cooking’s high-speed smart toaster is $100 off today

Someone using the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster in the kitchen.

If you're thinking about getting a new toaster for your kitchen, why not go with a high-speed smart toaster? Best Buy is currently selling the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster with a $100 discount, slashing its price to $250 from $350 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before this offer expires though, so if you're interested, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right now in order to secure the savings.

Why you should buy the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster
Are smart kitchen gadgets worth it? The answer is a resounding yes, and the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster will show you why. With this kitchen device, you'll no longer suffer from burnt or uneven toasts as it's powered by the brand's InstaGLO heating system. The technology will start toasting your bread in just two seconds without any need for preheating. You'll get bread that's crunchy outside and moist inside every single time, which is a huge upgrade over the inconsistencies of traditional toasters.