Artificial intelligence (AI) is always making the news these days, and it is already having a significant impact on many industries. One industry that will almost certainly be affected is the air conditioning industry. So what does the future hold for AI air conditioning? Let’s take a more in-depth look.
Impact on Jobs
When we talk about AI and robots, one of the first worries surrounds the effect it will have on jobs. But where air conditioning technicians are concerned, it’s unlikely to take many jobs away.
The reason for this is that air conditioning tradespeople have a very skilled job to do. They carry out multiple specialised tasks rather than the same single task on repeat, and the human element is essential in everything from installation to air conditioning maintenance.
Humans are likely to benefit from the advancements made in AI, which will help to make their jobs easier.
Air Conditioning Units
As AI becomes more prevalent, air conditioners are likely to change. What will happen to them? They are changing all the time, becoming more efficient, and we can assume that AI will enhance this.
AI air conditioning and heating could involve breakthroughs that enable air conditioning units to provide more accurate and efficient cooling, for example, although it’s still unclear where these advancements will be made. Perhaps they could even self-repair when air conditioning units fail.
Smarter Units Are Coming
For a taste of where things are going in terms of AI air conditioning, there have already been some exciting developments made thanks to smarter technology.
Consider Mitsubishi Electric’s development of the 3D i-See Sensor in its latest units. This sensor is smart enough to analyse the temperature of the room and detect the hot and cold areas – as well as whether the room is occupied and how many people are in it.
The sensor scans the room and divides it into zones, measuring the temperature in each zone. It then determines the right level of cooling required. And when there is no one in the room, it detects this and switches to an energy-saving mode.
Impact of the IoT
When discussing AI air conditioning, it’s essential to mention the Internet of Things (IoT), which is also going to have a significant role in the future of air conditioners.
It is already starting to appear in our homes, with more devices becoming connected to the internet. Soon, not only computers and phones will be connected to the internet, but fridges, cars – and air conditioners too.
This could lead to your air conditioner turning on when you are 15 minutes away from home, cooling your home to the perfect temperature when you walk in the door without wasting energy.
AI Will Play a Large Role
We know that AI will play a significant role in many industries. Along with robotics and the IoT, it will almost certainly affect air conditioning, from design to manufacture to use.
But the truth is, we are unsure precisely what AI air conditioning will involve – or anything else for that matter. Air conditioners will undoubtedly get smarter, and improvements will keep being made, but for now, we have to wait and see precisely how AI will impact the industry.