Philips Hue has added a natural-language automation feature to its app called Custom AI Behaviors, letting users describe in plain English how they want their smart lights to behave rather than building automations through the app's limited menu system. Announced at IFA, the feature marks a significant expansion of what's possible in the Hue app, as advanced users previously had to rely on third-party tools to create complex, condition-based lighting routines. Alongside it, Hue also unveiled a new Sonos integration, letting select Hue switches control Sonos speakers.

Custom AI Behaviors lets users type instructions, such as switching lights to a nightlight setting when asleep and reverting to normal colour temperature when awake, and the system uses inputs like button presses to work out the rest. It can also reprogram physical switches, such as setting a dimmer button to disable a motion sensor. The feature, currently in beta, rolls out next month, works only on Hue's Bridge Pro, and runs on the open-weight GLM model family; the Sonos integration arrives via a software update in November, and a "Back-up & Restore" feature for bridge settings is planned for early next year.