To add to this, I think this is why so many “smart” appliances/products have companion apps (I speak from my own thoughts so I don’t use certain language).

For example, we had a perfectly good, ordinary air fryer (which is essentially just a miniature convection oven). But, my dad got a “smart” air fryer with WiFi connectivity and a companion app. All it really does is allow for remote control and send notifications when your food is done cooking, but you should not be leaving these things unattended to begin with, so the app’s usefulness is questionable at best.

I have a sneaking suspicion that much of this is done to enable data collection. For example, they could hypothetically learn how frequently you use it and when, and then silently track your browsing history to suggest sponsored recipes. They could also have deals with other companies who are more specifically interested in user data. It’s yet another avenue for data extraction.

I personally would not download these companion apps. They’re generally not necessary and if they are, there’s often an alternative product that does not require it. I’m of the opinion that an air fryer does not need an Internet connection. I feel that if remote accessibility was the true purpose, there should be an ability to access the device over a local network, rather than going through a server somewhere else.