Key insights (AI-powered):
This move signals a convergence between secure IoT software stacks and US-based semiconductor manufacturing for mass-market smart home use. By embedding trust in silicon while abstracting complexity for developers, the partnership could accelerate the adoption of enterprise-grade security in consumer devices without incurring additional costs or friction. The focus on edge data integrity and federated processing positions the platform for AI workloads that require auditable telemetry. It also reflects a broader shift toward domestically sourced, security-certified IoT infrastructure aligned with new regulatory and cybersecurity frameworks.
CES 2026 will debut the industry’s first enterprise-class IoT platform with end-to-end security for every home
Afero, the enterprise-class secure IoT platform, today announced a collaboration with Texas Instruments (TI), the largest manufacturer of analog and embedded semiconductors in the United States, to create a seamless and secure IoT platform secure Internet of Things (IoT) platform for smart home products. TI’s first Wi-Fi® microcontrollers (MCUs) designed specifically for IoT, combined with Afero’s secure IoT software platform Providing the ultimate solution for connected devices – unmatched in affordability, reliability, security and ease of development. Together, the two companies are working to provide a U.S.-sourced supply chain.
Today, Afero exclusively powers the leading home improvement retailer’s smart home platform, deployed in millions of homes across America. Demonstrations at CES 2026 will show how TI’s Wi-Fi chips will be integrated into the Afero-powered smart home platform for the first time.
TI’s semiconductor innovations, backed by the company’s strength in U.S. manufacturing and commitment to reliable supply, provide easy integration, reliable connectivity and a seamless experience for developers and users. Designers can evaluate TI’s Wi-Fi portfolio and Afero IoT software platform with a robust developer program to accelerate adoption in personal electronics, industrial and enterprise markets. The ecosystem uniquely delivers ease of use and fast, reliable operations to enable a secure, direct connection to the cloud for every device.
Smart software designed and built in the USA
Afero sets the gold standard for trusted, frictionless and secure IoT. In a feat of technical innovation, it not only leverages hardware roots of trust, but also delivers end-to-end encrypted over-the-top sessions to create a VPN channel on microcontroller-class processors, adding an additional layer of protection. This capability ensures that Afero devices remain protected even during attacks that have successfully compromised and exploited other ecosystems.
Joe Britt, CEO and co-founder of Afero, said:
“For true enterprise-grade security, we must go beyond software-only solutions and build provable trust in the deepest layer: the silicon itself.”
“Our partnership with Texas Instruments, as it expands its manufacturing footprint in the U.S., is a critical step toward supply chain stability and business security in the connected world.”
Wi-Fi technologies for a smarter world
Afero’s IoT software platform, combined with TI’s new reliable Wi-Fi wireless MCUs, provides a robust end-to-end ecosystem for modern, secure IoT products. TI’s CC3501E and CC3551E models support the latest versions Multi-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth® Low Energy 5.4 Connectivity protocols, in addition to integrated hardware securityThis allows data to be transferred quickly, securely and with best-in-class interoperability in any installation. Designed for affordability and scalability, engineers can leverage TI’s Wi-Fi portfolio to securely connect any product to the cloud.
Marian Kost, vice president and GM of Connectivity Solutions at TI, explained: “As the largest manufacturer of basic semiconductors in the United States, TI provides a reliable supply of high-quality analog and embedded processing chips to support Afero’s next-generation secure architecture. This collaboration is a powerful example of how product and manufacturing innovations work together to enable a smarter world.”
Ensuring AI-driven growth from the start
The rapid AI-driven growth of data center workloads has been accompanied by a significant increase in data generation and processing at the edge. A widely cited Gartner analysis predicts that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be processed outside of a traditional centralized data center or cloud, while IDC expects 60% of the Global 2000 to double their investments in computing resources outside of traditional data centers. At the same time, the emergence of physical AI and embodied AI points to the growing need for IoT devices to enable and leverage AI. The Afero platform meets this need by enabling both “data-centric AI” that ensures the validity, accuracy and semantics of data from the start, and local processing capabilities that enable data reduction and collaborative processing before sending encrypted data to its next destination – all with frictionless security.
“Frictionless security has always been a design principle at Afero.” said Bret Jordan, Afero’s chief security strategist. “These include Afero’s commitment to the CISA Secure-by-Design promise, efforts to enable the upcoming US Cyber Trust Mark, active preparations for post-quantum cryptography, leading future IoT standards efforts at the ITU-T, and recognizing that secure IoT and operational technology are critical to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) process.”
In addition to a secure-by-design solution, the Afero platform reduces friction through a patented, pair-free setup and onboarding workflow that improves the customer experience and enables reliable, fast onboarding and easy-to-use device management.
