Remember when a refrigerator was just a refrigerator? It sat there, keeping things cold, and wasn’t in a secret vendetta with your toaster. But these days, every appliance is trying to become the next big smart gadget—welcome to the Internet of Things (IoT).

Now, I’m not one to shy away from a bit of tech wizardry. A light bulb that I can change with my phone? Brilliant on a lazy day. But the notion that every household gadget needs to be ‘smart’ is about as convincing as saying we all need jetpacks for the morning commute.

Argument 1) Convenience or Chaos?

We’re sold the idea that IoT devices make life easier. They say, “Imagine, your coffee is brewed as you hit the alarm off button.” Yet, in reality, it plays out more like, “Why on earth is the coffee machine asking for a software update?” Every added gadget seems to come with its own app, updates, and security holes. I reckon trying to remember all those passwords is the new form of digital weightlifting.

Argument 2) Security, What Security?

Security, the Achilles’ heel of IoT, is often whispered about and rarely tackled in earnest. Manufacturers churn out smart gadgets faster than a fast-food chain pumps out burgers, and security becomes an afterthought. Do you want your thermostat hacked? Neither do I, unless you’re keen on paying for a month’s worth of air-con to chill the neighbourhood.

To think your washing machine could be the weak link in a cyber attack is a far cry from reality, yet here we are. The idea of getting ransomware on my microwave is enough to make me reach for my tinfoil hat—or at least consider moving to a cabin in the woods.

Argument 3) The Never-Ending Updates

Are we serving the machines, or are they supposed to serve us? It’s becoming unclear. Often it feels like my morning routine involves more time updating various smart devices than actually using them. Imagine telling your great-grandparents that you’ve got a dishwasher, but it’s inoperable because it’s busy downloading version 6.3.4.7 of some arcane firmware.

Dispelled) Forget the dream of the streamlined, smart home of tomorrow. Until these companies start putting security and ease of use first, the only thing these devices are streamlining is my choice to stick to my old, not-so-smart appliances. My fridge should keep my milk from curdling, not my data integrity.