Sleepless in the Heat: How Amazon’s Server Outage Trapped Smart Beds in Sweltering Temperatures

Smart Bed Users Experience Sleep Disruption Due to AWS Outage

The recent AWS outage on Monday caused significant inconvenience for users of smart bed systems, particularly those using Eight Sleep’s innovative mattress technology. The outage, which affected Amazon’s server services, resulted in users reporting issues with their smart beds being stuck at uncomfortable temperatures and incline positions. Even senior reviewer Victoria Song experienced a disruption with her Eight Sleep Pod 4 being stuck upright.

CEO Apologizes for Sleep Disruption

Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franceschetti acknowledged the impact of the AWS outage on users’ sleep, expressing regret for the experience. In a post on X, Franceschetti apologized for the disruption caused by the server issues.

Cloud Connectivity Essential for Eight Sleep’s Smart Mattress Toppers

Eight Sleep’s “Pod” mattress toppers, which offer advanced temperature and elevation control features, rely on cloud connectivity for operation. An active internet connection is necessary to adjust settings through the Eight Sleep app, with no offline feature control previously available.

New “Outage Mode” Introduced to Address Connectivity Issues

To mitigate the impact of future connectivity issues, Eight Sleep has introduced a new “outage mode” that enables communication with Pod devices over Bluetooth when cloud services are unavailable. This feature allows users to manage basic functions such as temperature adjustments and base flattening through the app during outages.

Customer Complaints Highlight Lack of Offline Feature Controls

During the AWS outage, customers faced challenges with their smart beds being stuck in preset settings, leading to discomfort and inconvenience. Users reported issues such as excessively high temperatures and inability to adjust settings manually, highlighting the need for offline feature controls in high-end products like Eight Sleep’s smart mattresses.

Rapid Resolution Promise from Eight Sleep

Franceschetti reassured customers that all Eight Sleep devices are now operational following the outage, emphasizing the company’s commitment to addressing connectivity issues promptly. The introduction of the outage mode aims to prevent similar disruptions in the future, providing a quick and efficient solution for users.