Samsung has unveiled a new AI-powered smart fridge which can recognise food items placed inside it and recommend recipes based on those ingredients.
The Bespoke 4-Door Flex fridge with AI Family Hub+ was one of a number of products announced with substantial AI built in as the South Korean firm laid out plans to further increase its use of AI technology.
Unveiling its new products ahead of the CES technology show in Las Vegas, Samsung also announced a high-end 8K television – the Neo QLED 8K QN900D – which uses AI to automatically upscale lower resolution content, as well as to analyse and boost voices and background noise to improve the viewing experience.
The increased deployment of artificial intelligence to boost the consumer experience when using gadgets is expected to be a key trend during the annual technology convention, which is attended by some of the biggest names in the industry.
Elsewhere on Monday, car firm Volkswagen announced it was integrating AI chatbot ChatGPT into its cars from this year.
Samsung said its new smart fridge is capable of recognising up to 33 different food items and recommend food recipes based on the items it identifies, while users can also set use by dates on items and be notified by their fridge to use them to help reduce food waste.
Samsung also confirmed it was expanding its use of AI in its home appliances, including its new AI Laundry Combo washer-dryer, which will use AI to automatically personalise laundry cycles and learning user habits.
In addition, upgraded AI in the firm’s new vacuum and robot mop cleaner, the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo, can better detect different floors and even carpet lengths, as well as stains, to improve its cleaning capabilities.
JH Han, the tech giant’s chief executive of device experience, said AI will enable connected devices to improve daily lives while remaining non-intrusive and “in the background”.
“With the emergence of artificial intelligence, smarter, better experiences will redefine how we live,” he said.
“Samsung’s broad portfolio of powerful devices, along with the pursuit of open collaboration, will help bring AI and hyper-connectivity to all.”
Elsewhere, Samsung also announced new partnerships with two car manufacturers around better linking smart homes and cars, and energy management around electric car charging and home energy use.
Through a deal with fellow Korean firm Hyundai, users will be able to link their smart home and car, meaning users will be able to turn the heating on their car in advance of using it, as well as control smart home controls such as heating and garage doors from within their connected car.
And through a new link-up with Elon Musk’s Tesla in the US, Samsung users will be able to manage the energy use of any electric vehicle charger they have, as well as any of Tesla’s other energy products, such as its Powerwall home battery and solar panel management system, via its SmartThings Energy platform.
At CES, Samsung also announced its robot companion Ballie – first announced in 2020 – had been updated to now be able to interact with other smart home devices and project video and images on walls to help with daily tasks, such as video calling or reminders.
