// standards

Source: The Verge

Matter has struggled to gain real traction since its 2019 launch—few devices actually use it, fragmentation persists across ecosystems, and consumer adoption remains minimal—yet device makers and platform holders are doubling down on the standard rather than abandoning it. The industry's continued investment suggests the alternative is worse: a fractured landscape where Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa remain siloed. Matter is less a breakthrough technology and more a painful but necessary coordination mechanism that prevents total platform lock-in.