I think it’s bull$hit. Other than a couple of iphones — and those pretty well locked down, security wise — I dont have any ”smart” devices in my home. And I don’t want any. I am tired of this being crammed down our throats.

It's a standard marketing progression in the search for more "growth". Put the features in the cloud, accessible via wifi and phone, then turn on the subscription switch. Of course, WHEN the switch is turned on depends on many things like market share (Microsoft) and consumer mindset. For those who think it's impossible or will never happen with home appliances, who would have thought it would happen with automobiles? Would you pay a monthly subscription for heated seats - already installed on the vehicle, but inoperative if you don't have a subscription? BMW is trialing the concept in South Korea.

Good luck. Just got new LG "smart" washer/dryer. Only thing available. Did not activate the "smart" and never will. No idea why those features would ever be of any use.

This stuff isn't going away, but they better make it optional instead of required. I couldn't be less interested in this "feature." Thanks for pointing this out. I will be sure to look for it (and avoid it) when I am shopping for a cooktop in a couple years.

I agree for sure it should be optional and there are still many makers that do not require you to hook up. I find the simpler the appliance the longer they last and when service is needed that also costs less when modules need to ordered. I live with MR computer and often have to say know when he decides to "automate " some other thing in the house. I have to admit I like Alexa for turning on and off muliple lights.

I'm a millennial homeowner married to a software engineer and you'd think we'd be exactly the target market for "smart" everything but we are very opposed and have tried to stay and low-tech as possible in our home. There are just terrible stories out there around police getting warrantless action to Ring doorbell data, smart thermostats having software glitches and freezing a house, things getting hacked... my husband's perspective is "I know how stupid software developers can be, the kind of design software companies incentivize, how often bugs occur and how easily things can be hacked -- I don't trust any of that crap in my house".