How Americans Smarten Up Their Homes

Amazon held a special event on Thursday to announce nearly a dozen new devices, including an Alexa-equipped wall clock and, somewhat perplexing, a semi-smart microwave that connects to an existing Echo device to add voice commands and order more popcorn (literally).

While a microwave and wall clock seem like curious choices to add voice capability to, yesterday’s announcements are a clear sign that Amazon wants Alexa devices to be everywhere, including the kitchen. At this point, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise for the company to unveil a smart toilet paper holder, equipped with a Dash button that prevents you from ever running out of paper again.

As the following chart illustrates, smart household appliances have yet to make a big impression on consumers. According to a 2017 Statista survey, the category lags behind other areas of the household both in terms of smart device ownership and future purchase intent.