Nanoleaf, long known for its modular RGB panels and early adoption of Thread and Matter, announced a strategic pivot that places wellness gadgets, robotics and embodied artificial intelligence at the core of its growth plan. CEO and co‑founder Gimmy Chu told reporters the smart‑home sector has grown "kind of boring," with open standards turning many lighting products into commodities. "Our brand needs to evolve to incorporate some of the other products that we're going to be releasing," Chu said, signaling a shift away from relying solely on lighting sales.
Despite the expansion, lighting will remain the backbone of Nanoleaf's business, accounting for roughly 80‑90 percent of revenue. The company will continue to release new form factors, update its app ecosystem and push support for Matter 1.4 and an upcoming Matter 1.5 device later this year. Chu emphasized that the heavy lifting of establishing Thread and Matter connectivity has already been done, freeing engineers to focus on new challenges.
One of the most visible new categories is red‑light therapy. Nanoleaf launched a mask in 2025 that quickly rose to become a top‑selling item. Building on that momentum, the firm plans to add a panel, a wand and four additional devices this year, some of which will feature heating and massage/vibration functions. Chu argued that Nanoleaf's expertise in LED manufacturing and its supply‑chain efficiencies let it offer these wellness products at prices lower than most U.S. competitors, positioning the brand between hype and scientific credibility.
The robotics and AI push centers on what Chu calls "embodied AI"—hardware that interacts with the physical world rather than merely hosting a large language model. He hinted at at least three AI‑enabled products slated for launch, describing them as an AI‑powered toy, a desk companion and a robotic microcontroller. A company blog post promises "personalized and impactful" experiences that simplify daily life and boost creativity and learning, though concrete details remain scarce. One of the forthcoming devices targets early childhood development, reflecting Nanoleaf's interest in educational applications.
Open standards also shape the company's future outlook. Nanoleaf's products feature open APIs, and Chu expressed a desire to eventually open‑source its code. "The more open that you can make it, the more compatible with AI it can be," he said, underscoring a belief that interoperability will drive the next wave of smart‑home innovation.
Industry observers note that the smart‑lighting market is becoming increasingly price‑competitive, with retailers like IKEA offering full‑color bulbs for around $10 that work across platforms. Chu acknowledges this pressure, noting that Matter's rollout, which was delayed for years, forced early adopters like Nanoleaf to invest heavily in connectivity groundwork. Now, he hopes to redirect those R&D investments toward new product categories.
Nanoleaf will unveil several of its upcoming devices at the IFA tech show in Berlin this fall, where it also plans to demonstrate the latest Matter updates. While some longtime customers may prefer the company to stick to lighting innovations, Chu insists the broader portfolio will keep Nanoleaf relevant as the smart‑home ecosystem matures.
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