Deako shows ML presence demo

Deako posted a demo showing machine-learning presence detection turning lights on without anyone touching a switch. (x.com) The company says its new Intelligent Switches use millimeter-wave radar, a sensor that can pick up presence and small movements without cameras. Deako says that data feeds an algorithm it calls Deako Intelligence. (deako.com) On Deako’s Adaptive Lighting page, the company says the system runs on an in-home Intelligent Hub and can learn wake patterns, room occupancy, and weekday-versus-weekend routines. Deako says that lets lights turn on before a person enters a room and turn off after they leave. (deako.com) Presence sensing is a step beyond the motion sensors already common in bathrooms and hallways. Deako says traditional motion switches can shut lights off when someone is still, while millimeter-wave radar can keep detecting a person who is sitting, reading, or working. (deako.com) The pitch lands as smart-home companies try to move automation away from phone taps, voice commands, and fixed schedules. Deako says its hub stores switch data locally and processes the model in the home rather than sending that sensing data to the cloud by default. (deako.com) Deako has been pushing that broader platform story in 2026. In an April 2 press release, the Seattle company said it had launched Deako Intelligence, shipped more than 32 million products, and installed its systems in more than 350,000 new-construction homes through partnerships with more than 50 builders. (prnewswire.com) That builder footprint matters because Deako’s hardware is designed around a modular backplate already installed in the wall. The company says its Intelligent Switches snap into existing Deako connectors in minutes, without rewiring or an electrician. (deako.com) Deako is also tying the sensing system to other smart-home standards. The company says the hub can bridge certified Matter over Wi‑Fi, Zigbee, and Thread devices into the same platform, so presence data can shape lighting and other automations across the home. (deako.com) The company’s recent patent filings show where it thinks the category is heading. Deako said on April 2 that its 17 smart-lighting patents now include one for occupancy prediction, a clue that it wants lighting to anticipate movement instead of merely reacting to it. (prnewswire.com) For now, the video is a product demo, not a full technical paper or third-party test. But it shows Deako trying to make the light switch fade into the background by turning presence itself into the control. (x.com)