---
title: 'Why Some Tech Is Way More Reliable'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=rVydOhCTDJ0'
video_id: 'rVydOhCTDJ0'
date: 2026-08-06
duration_sec: 150
---

# Why Some Tech Is Way More Reliable

> Source: [Why Some Tech Is Way More Reliable](https://youtube.com/watch?v=rVydOhCTDJ0)

## Summary

This video, filmed at CES 2026, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Texas Instruments (TI) tests smart home devices for reliability across multiple wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter. It highlights TI's end-to-end product portfolio and the integration of edge AI to reduce false positives in security systems.

### Key Points

- **Testing at scale** [00:01] — TI's test lab features a huge bookcase with more than 280 access points and 60 cell phones to simulate real-world Wi-Fi environments and ensure devices connect reliably.
- **Multi-protocol testing** [00:41] — TI tests software against various protocols including Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, 2.4 GHz, and sub-1 GHz technologies. Every software release is tested against devices like a Zigbee light bulb, a Thread door lock, and a Wi-Fi cell phone access point.
- **Affordability through manufacturing** [01:09] — TI owns its manufacturing process and process nodes, which allows them to optimize for Wi-Fi and produce parts efficiently, keeping costs down while maintaining reliability.
- **End-to-end portfolio** [01:37] — TI offers a full product portfolio from Linux processors with Wi-Fi to Zigbee sensors, enabling customers to build automation, thermostats, and sensors on the same platform.
- **Edge AI for smart detection** [01:51] — By adding edge AI capabilities, TI's presence detection can distinguish between a person and a dog, reducing false positives and power consumption in security systems.

### Conclusion

Texas Instruments emphasizes rigorous multi-protocol testing and cost-effective manufacturing to deliver reliable smart home technology, while edge AI enhances device intelligence to minimize false alerts.

## Transcript

this video here at CES 2026. And if you've ever wondered why some smart home devices are more reliable than others, well, I got a sneak peek behind the scenes to figure out why. In our test lab, we've got this huge bookcase and
we've got more than 280 access points. We've got 60 cell phones. We're always We're always making sure that things someone's going to have, but what I can do is keep finding the newest products,
world, and making sure things just connect wherever you're using Wi-Fi. Like how TI Tech helps power the Home Depot of Pharaoh's smart home devices. interesting to hear about all the testing that goes on to make those Wi-Fi
devices so reliable, but it goes beyond Wi-Fi to the other protocols as well. At TI, we have everything from Wi-Fi 5 GHz to Ziggby to Thread to Matter, all that 2.4 forward even sub1 technologies. So every time I release software, we're
going to test the software against this Ziggby light bulb and this thread door lock and this Wi-Fi cell phone access point, right? Is it going to connect to all of our software through these tests every time we release. So it's not just
about reliability. You got to make it affordable, too. Well, TI does that as well. And here's how TI, we have our own manufacturing process, right? We own the process node. We develop it so it works best for Wi-Fi, right? Our manufacturing
sites around the world, our assembly sites around the world. By being having build the Wi-Fi parts that solve those problems. And owning the process not together really efficiently. Anything from our Linux processors with Linux
Wi-Fi attached to some of our Ziggby sensors down here. Really, we've got the full endtoend product portfolio. That way a customer can build be it building automation, be it thermostats, be it sensors and building on the same
with this tech, they showed one example that solves an age-old smart home problem. What we've been able to do by adding these edge AI capabilities is now the PR instead of on off can see is it on, is it a person, is it a dog. So a
new level of differentiation and this is really great because it can help reduce power uh and more importantly false positives, right? Nothing's worse than if my alert goes off because my dog walked across the living room. I don't
a security issue, if someone's in my house, maybe I care more. To learn more, You'll be shocked to learn how much Texas Instruments is doing in the tech