Smart home company Brilliant has announced that it has run out of money after failing to raise more capital in an attempted funding round. While the smart home controllers and light switches will continue to work for now, there's no guarantee this will continue for long, given the lack of HomeKit or Matter compatibility, as reported by The Verge.

Brilliant, the maker of smart home controllers and smart light switches, has run out of money. CEO Aaron Emigh confirmed in an exclusive interview with The Verge that the company has laid off the majority of its staff, closed its support center, and is no longer selling its products. However, the company maintains its servers and existing devices continue to work in customers' homes. But for how long this will last is uncertain, as Emigh explained that the company has entered an asset sale phase and is looking for a buyer.

If the company's servers go offline, Brilliant Light Switches will continue to work, but users won't be able to edit existing scenes, create new ones, or add new devices. This could be problematic for customers who spent a significant amount on devices marketed as semi-pro kit, with each switch costing between $399 and $549.

Highlighting the importance of HomeKit or Matter compatibility, it's not the first time smart device owners have faced the risk of their devices becoming completely dysfunctional due to a company facing financial difficulties. Having devices that are HomeKit or Matter compatible ensures that the core functionality of the devices can still be maintained even if the company goes under. This includes editing and creating new scenes, which can be done through Apple's Home app.

Photo: Brilliant

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