KNX in 2026: what is really happening with AI, radar presence sensors and Matter
In short: 2026 brings three real developments to KNX, at very different levels of maturity. Radar presence sensors are mature products that solve a real problem: lights no longer switch off while you sit still. Connecting KNX to Matter works today through certified manufacturer bridges, while KNX IoT is only just getting devices. Artificial intelligence lives mainly in design tools and experimental local setups. KNX does not "think" on its own, and that is good news for reliability.
In the first version of this article we wrote rather enthusiastically about a "thinking" KNX. After months of new products and announcements, especially at Light+Building 2026, we rewrote it with facts checked against manufacturers and the KNX Association.
1. Radar presence sensors: the most mature change
Classic PIR sensors see moving heat. If you sit still on the sofa or at a desk, the PIR "loses" you and the lights go off. Radar (HF) sensors emit radio waves and pick up much smaller movements. For the differences in detail, see our PIR vs mmWave guide.
What exists in KNX today, according to manufacturers' data:
| Sensor | Frequency | What the manufacturer states |
|---|---|---|
| Steinel True Presence KNX | 7.2 GHz | Detects vital functions such as breathing. True Presence over a diameter of up to 9 m, simple presence up to 15 m. Also works behind glass, wood or stud walls |
| ABB Busch-Watchdog HF KNX 360° | 5.8 GHz | Motion and presence detection through drywall, wood and glass, 10 m diameter at 2.5 m mounting height, KNX Data Secure |
| Ekinex EK-SG2-TP-P | 24 GHz | Detects small movements, KNX Data Secure |
| Honeywell KNX Microwave Sensor | 24 GHz | Distinguishes normal movement, micro-movement and static presence |
| Enertex ViTa KNX | 60 GHz | Radar built into a wall push button |
Two practical notes:
- "Radar" does not always mean "mmWave". mmWave usually means 24 GHz and above. ABB's 5.8 GHz sensor is radar, but not mmWave, and it does not claim breathing detection. The Steinel True Presence, for example, does.
- Seeing through materials is both an advantage and a risk. A sensor that detects motion behind drywall can also "see" the next room. Correct placement and sensitivity setup are part of the design, not a detail.
In a home, radar sensors are most worthwhile in the study, living room and bathroom, where people stay still. In corridors and stairs a good PIR is often enough and cheaper.
2. KNX and Matter: through bridges, not "natively"
Matter is the common standard of Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung for consumer devices. The latest version is Matter 1.6 (June 2026), with a 1.6.1 maintenance release in September.
The KNX Association has no official Matter bridge or specification. The connection is made with manufacturer products certified as Matter bridges:
| Bridge | What it does |
|---|---|
| ABB Busch-VoiceControl (with Eve Systems) | Matter 1.4 certified, up to 150 KNX functions (lights, blinds, temperature) |
| Hager domovea server basic/plus | Matter 1.1 certified, up to 128 KNX devices |
| 1Home Server | KNX to Matter bridge |
| Elsner KNX Matter Server | KNX to Matter bridge, based on 1Home |
With such a bridge, KNX functions appear in Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa. This includes functions controlled from a panel such as the JUNG LS TOUCH, because the bridge works with KNX group addresses. The panel itself, however, is not a Matter device.
The approach we recommend: KNX does the work, Matter adds convenience. Scenes, schedules and safety stay in KNX. The phone app and voice assistants are an extra way to control the home. More in our protocols guide.
3. KNX IoT: the future, just getting started
KNX IoT has been part of the standard since KNX 3.0 (2022) and has two parts:
- 3rd Party API: a standard interface for apps and cloud services, so they can talk to a KNX installation without specialist knowledge.
- Point API: device communication over IPv6, for example via Thread, the same wireless network Matter uses.
Certification started in November 2024. Cascoda certified its software stack and showed a certified environment sensor at Light+Building 2026. Belgian startup Allorado developed a KNX IoT Router that links classic KNX with KNX IoT. As of April 2026 its products had not yet been certified.
For a home being designed today, KNX IoT changes nothing in practice: the installation is built in classic KNX, which will work with KNX IoT through a router once the devices mature.
4. Artificial intelligence: what really exists
In January 2026 the KNX Association wrote that it is working on "multiple initiatives" to integrate AI. What has appeared so far:
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| KAI Builder (KNX AI) | Presented at Light+Building 2026. Analyses the floor plan, proposes automation per room and can send it to ETS to create the building structure, functions and group addresses. No release date |
| AI assistant on knx.org | Available on the new website, alongside a product database |
| ETS 6.4 (February 2026) | No AI. Brings easier linking, automatic backups, firmware updates over the bus and Cloud Connect instead of an open port 3671 |
| Local AI models in Home Assistant | Home Assistant connects to KNX and can use a local language model (e.g. via Ollama) for voice commands. Device control is still experimental |
| Signal processing in sensors | Radar sensors analyse the signal locally to tell breathing apart from "noise" |
What we did not find: AI products from the major KNX manufacturers that learn a home's habits on their own and change the automation. And honestly, for the basics of a home we do not want that. A light or a blind should always do the same thing, predictably, even when the server or the internet is down.
What this means for a home in 2026
- Put radar sensors where you sit. It is the most immediate everyday improvement: lights and air conditioning that do not switch off while you are in the room.
- Ask for KNX Data Secure on sensors where available. See also our KNX security guide.
- If you want Apple Home or Google Home, plan a certified Matter bridge, without moving the home's logic there.
- Keep AI local and supplementary. Voice control and analysis yes, critical functions no. Local operation without the cloud remains the foundation.
- Do not wait for the "next standard". KNX has been backward compatible for decades. A properly installed system today will work with KNX IoT tomorrow.
How Sync-Teq helps
We design KNX installations with the right tools for each room: radar sensors where they are needed, Matter bridges for those who want phone apps, and a system that works reliably without depending on the cloud. Get in touch to see what suits your home.
Sources
- KNX Association: Light+Building 2026 show report
- KNX Association: strategy and roadmap 2026
- KNX Association: ETS 6.4
- KNX Association: KNX IoT certification milestones
- KNX Association: the Allorado story
- Steinel: True Presence KNX
- Busch-Jaeger: Busch-Watchdog HF KNX 360°
- Ekinex: KNX Secure 24 GHz presence sensor
- CSA: Matter 1.6
- CSA: Busch-VoiceControl Matter certification
- Home Assistant: Ollama integration
Frequently asked questions
Are there KNX sensors that detect a person sitting still?+
Yes. Radar (HF) presence sensors pick up very small movements. The Steinel True Presence KNX, for example, works at 7.2 GHz and according to the manufacturer detects even breathing movement, across a diameter of up to 9 metres. There are also 24 GHz models from Ekinex and Honeywell that distinguish static presence from motion.
Are all radar sensors mmWave?+
No. mmWave usually refers to sensors at 24 GHz and above, especially 60 GHz. Many KNX radar sensors use lower frequencies, such as ABB's Busch-Watchdog HF KNX at 5.8 GHz. Frequency alone does not tell you how good a sensor is. What matters is what it detects and how well it is set up.
Can I control a KNX system from Apple Home or Google Home via Matter?+
Yes, through a bridge. There are certified KNX to Matter bridges such as ABB's Busch-VoiceControl (Matter 1.4 certified), Hager's domovea servers, the 1Home Server and the Elsner KNX Matter Server. The KNX Association does not have an official Matter bridge of its own.
What is KNX IoT?+
It has been part of the KNX standard since version 3.0 (2022). It includes an API for apps and cloud services (3rd Party API) and device communication over IPv6, for example via Thread (Point API). Certification started in November 2024 and the first devices are only now appearing.
Does KNX use artificial intelligence?+
Only to a limited extent so far. At Light+Building 2026 the KNX Association presented KAI Builder, a tool that proposes automation from a floor plan and can send it to ETS, with no release date yet. At home, local AI models can control KNX today via Home Assistant, but device control is still experimental.
Is it safe to bring AI into the smart home?+
It depends on where it runs. A local model on a server inside the home does not send data to the cloud. In every case, critical functions (lighting, shading, heating, security) should run on KNX independently of any AI system.
Related Articles
KNX vs Zigbee / Z-Wave / Thread / Matter: What Goes Where (Wired Backbone, Wireless Edge)
What should be infrastructure (backbone) and what can be edge? A practical guide to correct Smart Home architecture.
Read more →
HEDNO (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ) smart meters in Greece: what data they provide, what the H1 port is and how a smart home uses it
HEDNO is installing thousands of smart meters a day across Greece. What they record, where you see your data, why the H1 port is not yet available to households, and how home automation gets real-time energy data today.
Read more →