AI, automation take center stage as ADT builds 'home of the future'

BOCA RATON, Fla. — On the heels of strong financial results in 2025, ADT is now turning its focus on helping redefine the future of smart home and expanding its subscriber base in 2026. 

During its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, executives highlighted the company’s financial performance while outlining plans for the year ahead, emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI) and smart home innovation as pillars of ADT’s long-term strategy. 

“We see the future of smart home security differently from the past, and ADT is leading the way in transforming both the delivery and even the definition of smart home security,” said CEO Jim DeVries. “At the core of that strategy is a simple idea: combining ADT’s human experience with intelligent technologies to deliver better outcomes for our customers and better economics for the business.” 

A key step in that strategy is ADT’s acquisition of Origin AI earlier this year. 

Chief Business Officer Omar Khan described the move as a defining moment that will bring ambient intelligence capabilities into the ADT+ platform. 

“We expect AI sensing to become an integrated offering for ADT+ customers over the next 12 to 18 months, advancing all aspects of our product and services platform,” Khan said. 

To capitalize on the fast-growing smart home and security markets, ADT is focused on delivering “unparalleled and differentiated” value to customers, DeVries said. As part of that effort, the company plans to refine its marketing strategy by reducing reliance on its highest-cost customer acquisition channels, including affiliate marketing partners and, potentially, dealers. 

The shift could reduce organic subscriber additions in the near term but is expected to strengthen ADT’s long-term economics across its go-to-market ecosystem. 

“Our intent and core objectives are threefold,” DeVries told investors. “First, to drive more growth across our core residential business, as well as DIY-oriented consumers, small businesses and aging-in-place or health-focused customers. Second, to strengthen customer loyalty by improving retention. And third, to improve efficiency in customer acquisition to help fund growth.”