I’m tired of failing smart home systems, so I’m building my own

Here is a 186-word summary of the news article: The author, a smart home expert, has grown increasingly frustrated with the limitations and lack of control offered by traditional smart home systems. Driven by issues like cloud outages, subscription fees, and manufacturer changes, the author decided to build their own locally-hosted smart home setup using open-source software like Home Assistant. While getting Home Assistant up and running was relatively easy, the author struggled with the steep learning curve of configuring and integrating all their smart devices. After upgrading their hardware and incorporating technologies like Z-Wave and Matter, the author turned to ChatGPT to help set up their Home Assistant dashboard, which provided a helpful starting point. The author's journey is ongoing, with plans to add Zigbee capabilities and explore using local AI assistants to control their smart home. While a self-hosted system requires more technical expertise, the author believes it offers greater control and freedom from the whims of cloud-based smart home platforms. The article serves as an inspirational account for those interested in taking more control of their smart home environment.