Discover how to 'talk to your machines.' The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the open-source standard that connects LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude to machines and IoT devices, turning AI into an active agent to automate tasks like firmware updates and diagnostics.

After the excitement of CES in Las Vegas, Things5 is heading to Berlin for Europe’s most anticipated tech event: IFA 2025 , one of the world’s leading trade shows for technology and consumer electronics.

In 2011, Marc Andreessen published the famous article "Why Software Is Eating the World," anticipating a transformation that today, 14 years later, is more alive than ever. However, for many companies with a manufacturing DNA, integrating software and Artificial Intelligence into their products remains a challenge that is anything but simple.

Software-driven innovation isn’t about adding software to existing products. It’s about changing how those products are conceived, how they work, and how they evolve over time. It’s the shift from static objects to intelligent systems that can adapt, generate new revenue streams, and improve the user experience in unexpected ways.  In this interview, Davide Benassi , IoT & UX Manager with experience at Vimec, LiftingItaly, and Immergas (active in HVAC and personal mobility), explains what this trend means for manufacturing. Through practical examples, Davide shows us why the real value of this transition is not just technological but strategic: from new business models to new skill sets, and a radical shift in mindset toward failure and continuous improvement.

Once the first step - connectivity - is completed, the device begins to generate real usage data. But without a clear strategy, that potential remains untapped. This is where a data strategy comes into play: a framework that gives strategic meaning to data and turns it into tangible value-creating new business opportunities, process optimization, and product innovation. For many manufacturers, the IoT journey stops at data collection: the product is connected, sends data, and that data is stored in the cloud. But without a clear data strategy, much of that value risks going unrealized. That’s when real transformation begins.

Many devices today already have built-in electronics but are still not connected . And yet, without data, there is no AI . That’s why the first step toward AI integration is designing your product’s connectivity . This means selecting the right electronics and firmware from the outset to enable: data collection directly from the field connection to an IoT cloud platform a stable local interface to control the device.

35 real-life IoT applications to get some ideas for your projects

In 2025, while Artificial Intelligence shapes new technological scenarios, there's a growing need to reflect on the pervasiveness of technology in our daily lives and its limitations.  The CES in Las Vegas, the world stage for consumer electronics innovation, has once again demonstrated how technology is becoming an ever-present force in most personal aspects of our lives. This is evidenced by Panasonic's stands, Hisense's "AI Your Life" exhibit, and LG's emblematic "Life's Good" space.