Digital revolution enters the kitchen – and consecutive into the wallet. More and more home appliances manufacturers offer devices with a purchasing analysis function, combined with mobile applications and product designation systems. But what started with convenience can turn into a lifestyle assessment tool, with a real impact on insurance premiums.
AI appliances: comfort or digital surveillance?
Modern refrigerators with ‘smart’ functions offer, among others, content recognition, monitoring of product validity dates, culinary tips or automatic orders of missing goods. All this works on the basis of sensors, cameras and artificial intelligencewhich analyses typical purchasing patterns and food consumption.
At the same time, these devices, with the consent of the user, can transfer data to cloud, mobile applications or external partners, e.g. wellness or insurance service providers.
The insurance company knows what's in the fridge.
In the USA and any Asian countries insurers are already investigating hazard assessment systems based on smart home device data – including intelligent refrigerators, watches, wellness bands and scales. Information shall be collected on:
- type of food purchased (e.g. fat meat, processed products, alcohol),
- frequency of purchases,
- physical activity (with bands or smartphones),
- sleep rhythm and stress (e.g. based on behavioral analyses).
The consequence is health hazard profilewhich may affect:
- the amount of the contribution to wellness insurance,
- Policy terms,
- access to additional medical services.
Where does comfort end and surveillance begin?
User consent is crucial – but often given without full awareness of the consequences, e.g. erstwhile installing an application or updating software. Regulations can be complex, and the real impact of data on the decisions of the insurer – hard to verify.
Privacy experts warn:
– Consent erstwhile the data opens up access to data that can later be interpreted in a way that is detrimental to the user – says Katarzyna Nowacka, Data Protection Specialist. – The fact that you erstwhile bought a cake and beer doesn't mean you're leading an unhealthy lifestyle. But the algorithm might say otherwise.
Artificial intelligence has no context
The key problem remains no discrimination between contexts. AI doesn't know that buying was for a friend's party, not for everyday consumption. He does not realize cultural differences, household differences or individual habits. And yet may affect your insuranceBecause it works according to statistical patterns.
This phenomenon is part of a wider trend of the so-called. Context-based underwritingwhich are based not on declarations but on real data collected in real time.
Europe says carefully
In the European Union GDPR and delicate data regulations restrict this kind of practice. In Poland – according to the Office for individual Data Protection – the collection of wellness or lifestyle data must be justified, proportionate and voluntary. Insurers may not request this kind of data as a condition for the conclusion of a policy, but may offer "reductions" for their provision.
– That's the difference in client treatment. any people pay more due to the fact that they want privacy. Others little due to the fact that they agree to full digital transparency – explains Prof. Tomasz Grzyb, social psychologist.
What can you do to defend yourself?
- Read carefully the regulations of the appliances application,
- Disable data transfer to cloud if possible,
- Do not connect the refrigerator account with insurance or wellness accounts,
- Avoid “premise” healthy behaviour that requires lifestyle monitoring - due to the fact that it's a long-term trap.
The future? Transparency and regulation
Development Internet of Things (IoT) And artificial intelligence changes the citizen's relation with the institutions. Technology creates fresh opportunities, but Without a clear legal framework, it can lead to digital discrimination and force to keep "algorithmically correct".
Instead of equal treatment of all, we are threatened by a strategy in which – If you do not show proof of a healthy lifestyle – you will pay more. And it's not just a substance of privacy, it's a substance of privacy. social equality.
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Your fridge analyses purchases and informs the insurer. AI will measure your lifestyle and... rise the premium
