The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the organization behind both Zigbee and Matter, has unveiled a promising new feature for Zigbee-enabled devices. This feature, called Ambient Sensing, allows Zigbee devices like Philips Hue lights to double as motion sensors, all through a simple firmware update—no new hardware required.

The idea behind Ambient Sensing is to enable smart home devices to detect motion within specific zones of a room, such as the living room or hallway. These detection zones can trigger automations, like turning on lights or setting off security alerts, based on the motion they detect. All the processing is done locally, which means no reliance on cloud servers, ensuring faster response times and more privacy.

The announcement was made in a YouTube video released by the CSA, which teased that this feature would work with both new and existing Zigbee devices. It’s an exciting development for those who already use Zigbee devices in their smart homes, as it enhances their functionality without the need for additional sensors.

However, the rollout timeline for this feature remains unclear, as it will depend on Zigbee device manufacturers to implement the update in their products.

Philips Hue, a major player in the Zigbee ecosystem, is often mentioned in discussions around this feature. Hue has long supported Zigbee, and it’s expected that Hue devices will receive support for Ambient Sensing.

Although there’s no official word from Philips Hue about this yet, it wouldn’t be a surprise given that the company’s sibling brand, WiZ, already offers a similar motion sensing technology called SpaceSense.

To make Ambient Sensing work, at least three Zigbee devices are needed in a room, with proper placement to ensure effective motion detection. Adjustable motion sensitivity will also be available, helping to fine-tune the system and avoid false activations.

Although we don’t know exactly when the update will arrive, this feature has the potential to significantly enhance the convenience and functionality of smart homes.

We’d love to hear your thoughts—will you be excited to try this feature once it’s available? Let us know in the comments below!