IoT news of the week for Jan. 21, 2022

The FTC and the DOJ issue request for comment on the FTC’s merger guidelines: This is a huge story for the tech industry because it’s seen as a response to overly permissive M&A over the last decade, which has led to tech companies having outsized power over employees and suppliers and distorting markets. The notice is a first step to the agencies creating new merger guidelines to address an economy where value is driven by data, technology consolidation, and more. For decades, antitrust law has focused on consumer harms, specifically companies consolidating and then raising prices. But it’s clear that the new merger guidelines will focus on more than just higher costs for consumers at checkout. The notice asks for input on a variety of topics, ranging from how M&A might affect labor markets to how to build models to measure anticompetitive effects in the modern economy. It’s only 10 pages and worth the read, if only to get a sense of how nuanced merger reviews might become. And for a take on FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan’s interview the day after the notice was released, hit up Protocol. (FTC, Protocol) — Stacey Higginbotham

Computer vision comes to coffee robots: If you read the story about NRF and technology, you know that computer vision is going to play a large role in retail IoT strategies, for better or worse. But computer vision may also provide your robot barista with skills that are good enough to drive the adoption of more robots in food service. At least that’s what Meng Weng, the CEO of Artly, and the former CTO of a computer vision company that was purchased by Amazon and then saw it become the basis for Amazon’s Rekognition computer vision service, hopes. Artly operates robot baristas that have computer vision advanced enough that it can “learn” from watching videos of human baristas performing a task (even mimicking humans creating latte art) as well as recognize necessary items for making the perfect cappuccino, even if those items are misplaced. The technology here is impressive and could go far beyond coffee-slinging robotic baristas. (Ottomate) — Stacey Higginbotham

Xiaomi has released new security guidelines for its devices: I love when companies think about how to best secure their connected devices and I love it even more when they share their thoughts for others to dissect or follow. So I was happy to read through Chinese gadget maker Xiaomi’s latest security guidelines. The 55-page document is really comprehensive covering everything from encryption requirements to making sure developers turn off debugging capabilities on finished devices before they ship. On the software side, Xiaomi advocates for a software bill of materials and disabling telnet. I don’t know if this will build trust for folks worried about buying a device from a Chinese company, but I wish more vendors put this sort of thing out (and then followed it). (Github) — Stacey Higginbotham

Nanoleaf will no longer sell its original Light Panels: Nanoleaf will no longer sell its original triangle-shaped Light Panels that launched in 2016. This means if you want to buy expansion packs or accessories, get them before they run out. (They’re also on sale.) I asked Nanoleaf if the shift from an active product to a “legacy product” means that Nanoleaf Light panels will stop getting security updates, but that’s not the case. The spokeswoman assured me, “support for Light Panels will be offered indefinitely. Customer support and app features will all be available, including Group Scenes—allowing users to control their Light Panels with current and future Nanoleaf products.” As an owner of the original Light Panels, I am glad Nanoleaf is handling this clearly and continuing security updates and relevant support. Now, if only it would fix the bug that keeps turning my Nanoleaf Elements on at random times during the night. (Nanoleaf) — Stacey Higginbotham

Facial recognition and the IRS? If you’re not a U.S. citizen, be glad that you don’t pay your taxes to our Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Starting this tax year, the IRS is requiring any online tax filing or review of your tax documents to use an account through ID.me. This is a third-party, for-profit company that offers identity verification to various customers. Apparently, the IRS is its latest customer, which means that in addition to providing ID.me with images of identification (a passport, a driver’s license, etc), you’ll also need to upload a selfie. The company says you can delete your biometric data at any time, but this report suggests that doing so equates to deleting your account completely. What could go wrong with the IRS and a third-party company having facial identification data of U.S. citizens? (KrebsOnSecurity) — Kevin C. Tofel

Ambient.ai raises $52M: There’s no lack of companies specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) these days, but they all seem to have a different approach. For Ambient.ai, that approach is to be the computer brains between cameras and people. By interpreting what’s happening in front of a security camera, for example, the company says its AI can route the appropriate information to the right people. Or the AI can create “personal signatures” of what people often do and interpret the context of what’s happening in real time. This is all scalable, meaning the AI can monitor hundreds of live feeds with accuracy and without the fatigue that human resources would feel doing the same. It sounds legit to me and clearly investors agree, as Ambient.ai raised $52 million this week, although it hasn’t detailed what it plans to invest the funds in just yet. (TechCrunch) — Kevin C. Tofel

Smart home security tech is coming to vehicles: Although I would have expected this news to come out of the Consumer Electronics Show, Ford and ADT announced a joint venture this week. It’s called Canopy and together the two companies will invest up to $100 million to back it. The idea is to provide vehicle security, both inside and outside. The joint press release from Ford and ADT touted this as a breakthrough technology, but smart home owners have had access to what Canopy is providing for years. Essentially, this tie-up brings ADT-connected cameras and monitoring services to upcoming Ford vehicles. Even if it’s not a “breakthrough,” I explain why I think it’s a good idea and the first of many similar such partnerships. (StaceyOnIoT) — Kevin C. Tofel

A smart home wishlist for 2022: This article crossed my news feeds on Thursday and I thought it was worth the share. In it are seven things the author wants to see brought to the smart home between now and 2023. I don’t disagree with any of the items, particularly since Matter is the first one, and because the last one is what I’ve been clamoring for since 2018 or so: a “smarter” smart home that acts more on its own based on learning models and data. (Android Central) — Kevin C. Tofel

Forget trucks; future goods may be moved by autonomous electric trains! Parallel Systems, which aims to move more goods at a lower cost than trucks, emerged out of stealth mode this week. The company, founded by three former SpaceX engineers, has a prototype train container system that’s both autonomous and electric-powered. Each 20-foot shipping container is automatically placed on two small train-like platforms thanks to sensors and cameras. These platforms can chug down tracks alone or in groups, depending on where the container needs to be delivered. Hopefully, existing rail lines connect all of the places those goods need to go. (ArsTechnica) — Kevin C. Tofel