Tewke, the London-based climate-technology startup, is rolling out a series of upgrades to Tap, its smart light switch and home-automation platform, as it seeks to position the device at the centre of connected domestic energy management.
Tap, which combines lighting control, optimised energy use, and indoor-air-quality monitoring, will now offer users more detailed readings of air quality, temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels via its app. The company said the system can also automate lighting based on motion detection, with a two-stage sensor able to distinguish between someone passing by and someone approaching the switch.
By the end of the year, each Tap switch is expected to double as a small display that activates as a user walks past, initially showing a clock, with customisable screens to follow. Tewke said the feature will be controlled through the mobile app.
The platform is also set to gain Google AI-powered functionality. A new voice-activated assistant, TewkeAI, built on Google Gemini, will allow users to ask Tap questions and receive on-screen responses. Unlike smart speakers, the device will activate only when touched, a design the company says will reassure users concerned about privacy.
Additional changes focus on energy use. Tap already shows real-time energy pricing for homes on variable tariffs, enabling users to run appliances when electricity is cheaper. Smart-meter integration, due in early 2026, will extend Tap’s monitoring from connected devices to the whole home. A new energy insights section in the app will combine usage, tariff and carbon-intensity data with historical trends.
The automation system will also expand next year, allowing environmental data and tariff information to trigger actions across smart plugs and connected appliances — for example, running a washing machine when energy prices fall, or switching on a dehumidifier when humidity rises.
Tewke positions Tap as a mass-market alternative to high-end smart-home systems, emphasising that it installs in minutes without rewiring. Despite being a premium device, manufactured in the UK, the company said the switch avoids the costs and disruption associated with traditional home-automation installations.
Founded by serial entrepreneur Piers Daniell, former Chief Executive of Fluidata, Tewke is part of Google’s AI Energy Acceleration programme and is developing technology aimed at supporting a smarter energy grid. Sir James Wates, former Chairman of the Wates Group, serves as Chairman of the company.
Tewke said Tap will continue to receive over-the-air updates, adding features without the need for additional hardware.
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