Most children in the USA born since 2010, the so-called gen alpha, expect smart homes to be even smarter, according to a survey by Samsung.

Only seven per cent say connected devices are unnecessary, making seamless integration the baseline expectation for the first AI-native generation.

Connected homes have promised simplicity for years, yet many consumers still manage a patchwork of devices, apps and settings that don’t always work together. Findings from the Samsung study, fielded online via Zappi, reveal that gen alpha has reached a different conclusion: today’s smart home isn’t smart enough.

According to a survey of US parents and guardians of gen alpha children, the picture that emerges isn’t a wish list for more gadgets. It’s a generation that has grown up with connected technology as a given and expects the devices around them to behave accordingly. The findings offer a blueprint for what comes next: technology that works together seamlessly, knows when to step back and helps families feel safer.

For gen alpha, growing up alongside connected technology means they never had to learn how to use it, they simply expect it to work. Individual smart devices aren’t enough: this generation expects an ecosystem where devices work together, understand context, stay in the background until they’re needed, and prove their value through usefulness, relevance and ease. As the first generation growing up alongside AI, gen alpha is raising the bar for the entire industry to build experiences that are genuinely helpful, intuitive and worthy of their trust.

For a generation that has never known a home without connected technology, working together isn’t a bonus feature, it’s the baseline they expect from every device in the house. The survey found:

• 80% want smart home devices to work together seamlessly
• Only 6.7% believe connected devices are unnecessary
• 83.6% of 10-12 year olds want connected devices that work together, compared with 77.6% of 5-9 year olds

Enthusiasm also grows as children gain independence, a sign that connected experiences may become even more valuable as kids begin managing more of their own routines.

But working together is only part of gen alpha’s definition of smart. Across home, entertainment and wellness, kids consistently want technology that acts intelligently on their behalf, while still giving them a say in when and how it steps in:

• 41.8% want their home to adjust automatically to their routines, while 35.7% want to be asked before those adjustments are made
• 71.9% want technology to adapt based on how they’re feeling – 37.6% automatically, 34.3% with their permission
• 69.3% want screens and devices to auto-adjust settings for gaming; only 12.2% want complete manual control

The same instinct shows up in what kids expect from the screens themselves:

• 38.5% expect screens to personalise content
• 37% expect screens to offer interactive experiences
• 36.6% expect screens to optimise picture and sound automatically
• 35.7% expect screens to provide real-time information while they watch

Taken together, the data point to something more nuanced: the best technology knows when to help and when to step back. Kids want intelligent defaults, not a device that makes everydecision on their behalf.

The most emotionally resonant finding in the study has little to do with entertainment or convenience. For gen alpha, a smart home’s highest calling is about care, including keeping the people they love safe.

• 79.1% say technology that helps provide peace of mind – such as knowing a family member is safe – would be extremely or very helpful
• 54.5% want immediate notification if something unusual is detected at home
• 44.8% expect wearables to help them set goals and build better habits over time
• 42.3% want smart technology to suggest helpful remedies proactively when they don’t feel well
• 50.3% would still turn to a parent or doctor when they don’t feel well, even as they welcome more responsive technology to support their wellbeing

These findings describe a generation that sees technology as part of how families stay connected, informed and looked after.

Samsung (www.samsung.com) fielded the online survey via Zappi of 1000 US gen alpha parents and guardians in May 2026. Respondents included parents whose oldest child within the study range was aged 5-9 (340), 10-12 (251) and 13-15 (409). The study explored attitudes and behaviour related to connected living across the home, entertainment, care, privacy and AI.