I think we will always want some manual control and it has to be easy to do.
You don't always want all of the lights on bright in your lounge, but sometimes you do. It depends what you are doing - so automating it is tricky. - and you don't want to have to grab your smartphone/tablet each time you want to turn the lights on and off.
Voice activation/control might be the best way forward without switches, but you will have to live in the dark if you get a sore throat.
I have some lights automated (hallway/bathroom etc) as if it is dark you want the lights on there and don't want to be grovelling around for switches, although I do still have switches for when the automation fails! Other parts of the house its hard to beat a good old-fashioned switch or dimmer.
