Allison interviews Justin Groot, Founder and CEO of Sentistic, about their AI-powered software that runs on standard motion sensors to dramatically cut unnecessary energy use in buildings. Sentistic Pulse targets the growing problem that data centers, AI workloads, and modern buildings are constrained more by energy consumption than by raw compute capacity, and aims to use existing energy much more efficiently rather than just generating more.
Instead of requiring new, specialized hardware, Sentistic Pulse works with ordinary passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors already used for lighting and HVAC control. The software analyzes PIR data in real time to decide whether a person is still present under a sensor even when they are sitting still, such as working at a desk, napping, or watching TV.
Traditional motion systems rely on a “linger time,” keeping lights and HVAC on for a set period after the last detected movement, which wastes energy whenever a room is empty but the timer has not expired. Sentistic Pulse removes the need for this linger time by continuously interpreting motion patterns; it can turn systems off soon after someone truly leaves while keeping them on reliably if the person remains present but motionless. This approach can save up to 70 percent of the energy used by conventional motion-controlled systems.
Because it is pure software that can be embedded by manufacturers, Sentistic Pulse scales easily: sensor makers can ship “Sentistic Pulse–enabled” motion sensors without redesigning their hardware around new technologies like ultra-wideband or microwave. With roughly 200 million motion sensors deployed each year, Sentistic’s focus is on partnering with global manufacturers and US integrators so that incremental improvements in each sensor accumulate into large global energy savings.
Learn more at https://www.sentistic.com/
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Transcript of Interview:
Allison: We headed immediately to the Netherlands booth when we got to the Venetian Convention Center because we had to do it for Joep and Helma and Martin. And we sought out Justin Root from, sorry, Justin Groot from Sentistic and you guys are solving an interesting problem. Why don’t you tell us about it?
Justin: Yes, thank you and welcome to the Dutch Pavilion at the Sentistic booth. So what we do, we basically develop software for motion sensors. Why do we do that? There is a growing demand of energy, which is at this stage the main constraint for AI and data center growth. And this is mainly impacting. Wow!
Allison: Sorry, that excitement was for the Dutch ambassador to the the United States, right? We have got fireworks going off. It is always crazy in the Netherlands, right?
Justin: Yeah, indeed. Wow, wow.
Allison: Actually, fireworks are now illegal in the Netherlands just recently.
Justin: Indeed, indeed. You are really up to date on that.
Allison: I am up to date on that. Helma told us about that. Well, that was the last one apparently. Okay, where were we?
Justin: But so what I wanted to mention is the discussion around the rapid growth of AI and data centers is it is not per se the GPU compute that is a constraint at the moment, but it is more the energy in a way. And while the discussion goes around, we need to produce more energy to face this challenge, we are basically saying, let us use energy that we already produce much more efficiently.
Allison: I really like that. And there is that whole global warming thing.
Justin: Exactly. I mean, there is lots of things tying in, but I mean here at CES, we are obviously very focused on technology and how it’s driving new developments. And in a way a new development and how we would like to face this challenge is looking at motion sensors. So motion sensors, the main issue that we all know is we need to wave to a motion sensor once in a while to trigger the lights back on.
Allison: I do remember a Dilbert cartoon from maybe in the 1980s where how far back we have been doing that and we are still waving at them.
Justin: And we are still waving at them. And this is interesting. The industry has tried to find solutions for this to overcome this. But actually they have been more focused on the hardware aspect by adding more hardware, for example, ultra-wideband technology or microwaves.
Allison: So more ways to tell if you are there if you are not moving.
Justin: Exactly that, exactly that. Being more sensitive in a way.
Allison: But right now they have a linger time, right? It is how long have you not been moving? But all that time could be wasted energy, right? That I actually am not there.
Justin: Exactly. And that is the main aspect and how we are solving this issue. We don’t need linger time anymore because of our software technology. First of all, the software technology is really scalable. It is a cost efficient solution to just fit in this motion sensor that manufacturers can add. And thereby you do not need the linger time anymore and it saves up to 70 percent of energy.
Allison: So that sounds like magic. We are not going to have a linger time and I do not have to wave my arms around. What is it you are doing with what kind of sensor? What are you working with?
Justin: So it is just a regular motion sensor. Most of the motion sensors use PIRs, passive infrared, to detect motion. But we analyze that data in real time to determine is the person still sitting there under the sensor. And we basically provide real-time advice based on our AI models that we have trained to basically state the person is still there, light should not switch off. But once the person has left, we know lights can switch off and HVAC of course.
Allison: Yeah, it does seem like it should know if I have left because if I was someplace and I stopped moving and I did not move again, that just means I am napping or I am watching TV.
Justin: Exactly, exactly. And these are the aspects that you want to capture. And in a way the impact that we are making is there are like 200 million motion sensors deployed each year.
Allison: That is crazy. Two hundred million. Well, that is good though.
Justin: Yeah. Well, indeed. And from the software aspect, it makes it really scalable. We talk to global motion sensor manufacturers. They can add our technology inside, Sentistic Pulse, Sentistic Pulse-enabled motion sensors. And in that way, we really have a scalable solution globally to solve this energy challenge really from a different perspective.
Allison: This is really fantastic. So if people wanted to know more about Sentistic’s motion sensing product, where would they go?
Justin: Yeah, so they could stop by at our booth here at the Dutch Pavilion at CES. But definitely visit our website at sentistic.com. And reach out if you have any questions. We are happy to look for US integrators to really solve the energy challenge here at US soil.
Allison: We wish you the best of luck. This is fantastic. Thank you, Justin.
Justin: Thank you for your time. Thank you.