This welcome session marks three decades of CONNECTIONS™ and the industry evolution it has tracked. Parks Associates will highlight milestone shifts in connected home, energy, security, and health, and the partners who helped shape them. The stage is set for an afternoon focused on what the next wave of AI and services will bring.

Across decades, the connected home has evolved in so many ways. Join this forward-looking session that connects the biggest lessons from the last 30 years to the disruptions ahead. Experienced leaders across the connected home will share how technology cycles, consumer expectations, and business models have changed and which patterns are repeating. The discussion closes with bold forecasts on where AI, platforms, and ecosystems take connected living through 2056.

A community network redefining connectivity for smart devices – designed for coverage & range even in areas where Wi-Fi cannot reach. It is secure and free to connect!

This panel explores how AI is reshaping how brands acquire, onboard, and retain smart home customers. Speakers share strategies for personalization across the full buyer journey, from discovery to daily use, while respecting privacy expectations. The focus is on measurable impact: how AI creates higher conversion, lowers churn, and better lifetime value through smarter engagement.

Join this lightening round on the most important shifts happening across connected living markets right now. Speaker delivers concise, takeaways on AI, interoperability, customer value, and monetization.

Celebrate three decades of CONNECTIONS™ with an evening reception bringing together the “BEST of the BEST” across the connected home ecosystem.

Sponsored by Johnson Controls

Sponsored by Becklar

Sponsored by Moen

Parks Associates opens with the latest consumer and industry research on how connected living is expanding beyond devices into service-based ecosystems. The session highlights the fastest-growing categories, emerging AI use cases, and shifting consumer expectations about “smart” living. Attendees will gain a clear view of the role of tech giants, the hardware as a service model, and forecasts of the smart home product categories.

This panel explores how AI is elevating home safety through proactive monitoring, better detection, and more relevant alerts. Speakers will discuss what consumers value most and where trust, accuracy, and response still need improvement. The conversation connects these advances to new service bundles and recurring revenue opportunities.

Panelists break down which monetization strategies are proving sustainable as IoT and AI mature. Expect real-world examples of subscription layering, outcome-based services, and partner-driven bundles. The focus is on what drives adoption and retention—and what doesn’t—in today’s connected home market.

This keynote looks at how investors evaluate AI-driven connected home companies and platforms. It connects product intelligence and data strategy to valuation metrics like growth potential, margins, and customer lifetime value. Attendees will hear what signals the market rewards and what risks can limit scale.

A deep dive into multifamily and managed living environments as major growth engines for connected services. Panelists discuss how AI improves operations, resident experience, and service delivery across property portfolios. The business lens centers on scalable deployment, stakeholder alignment, and long-term revenue models.

Thirty years ago, HomeLink became the most-used connected feature in the car — the same year Parks Associates launched CONNECTIONS. In this conversation, Gentex reflects on what three decades of quiet, durable innovation reveal about the future of the connected home, and why the experiences that last are rarely the ones that shout the loudest. Expect a candid discussion of partnership, property sensing, and the discipline of building for the tenth year, not the first.

Sponsored by Calix

This panel examines the trust gap created by AI-enabled homes and always-on data collection. Parks Associates and industry leaders outline what consumers expect in transparency, control, and protection. The session translates those expectations into practical security approaches that reduce friction and support adoption.

Make CONNECTIONS - Speed Networking is a structured, fast-paced session designed to maximize meaningful connections in a short time. Attendees will rotate through brief, focused conversations with multiple attendees. This is a great way to make new CONNECTIONS!

Houston College, in cooperation with the Smart Building Industry, has developed a program pipeline to address the labor shortage in the following areas: Security, Smart Home Integrators, Energy, and Home Health.

With “Hands On” entry-level skills, students starting day one are preparing to go straight to work after graduation. Come see how your Company can start this program in your community and solve your skilled-worker shortage.

Panelists examine how utilities and platform providers are leveraging AI to make the home a responsive, grid-interactive energy hub. This session features speakers talking about the  orchestration across ERs, EVs, rates, and demand response to create new service value. The business takeaway: where utilities can drive engagement and monetize beyond commodity energy.

Older adults and caregiver market is an incredible market to serve. This panel looks at aging-in-place and community living as a major driver for connected services. Speakers discuss AI-enabled safety, wellness monitoring, and caregiver support that fit real consumer needs. The session also highlights sustainable business models for serving seniors at scale.

Featuring Shanya Gill - TIME Kid of the Year Honoree

Join us to recognize the 40 Tech Leaders of Connected Living during the this networking reception.

Join us for a 30th year CONNECTIONS Nightcap Celebration, featuring a classic Old Fashioned or one of your favorite beverages and a light evening snack. A relaxed night to toast 30 years together and good company.

Sponsored by Becklar

Parks Associates presents new research on how network performance, service models, and AI are shaping device demand. The session connects consumer expectations to purchase drivers, upgrade cycles, and willingness to adopt new connected categories. Attendees will leave with a clear read on where demand is accelerating and what constraints still limit growth.

This panel examines how ISPs can expand beyond connectivity into smart home services through strategic bundling. Speakers will discuss partnership models, managed services, and AI-enabled experiences that drive ARPU and retention. The conversation focuses on what consumers will actually pay for and how ISPs can scale offers across segments.

As the connected home ecosystem expands, the battle for customer ownership is intensifying among platform providers, service operators, and emerging vertical players. This panel explores who ultimately controls the customer relationship—through data, billing, and the user experience—and how that power is shifting in the age of AI-driven services. Industry leaders will debate the strategies, partnerships, and business models that will define the next generation of connected home ecosystems.

A forward-looking discussion on where investment is flowing as intelligent living ecosystems mature. Panelists will outline the most promising AI-driven categories, platform plays, and service layers expected to scale by 2030. The session ties market forecasts to concrete opportunities for growth, differentiation, and long-term value creation.

Sponsored by Smart Spaces