Smart home technology is often guilty of creating complexity rather than solving it. Between navigating endless app menus, decoding cryptic laundry icons, or manually pairing connected devices, many “smart” appliances end up feeling like extra work.

Ahead of IFA in Berlin, Wouter Ditters from ASKO’s Smart Solutions Team shared an early look at ASKO Sense—a suite of smart appliance features built on a simple guiding rule: every feature must start from a real, everyday moment at home and eliminate the friction behind it.
Instead of adding tech for tech’s sake, ASKO’s new approach—dubbed the “Second Nature” philosophy—aims to make appliance intelligence operate invisibly in the background. Here is a breakdown of the four key features ASKO is highlighting at IFA and why they matter for the future of connected white goods.
1. Dish Designer: Turning Fridge Inventory into One-Tap Cooking
The Everyday Problem: “I don’t know what to cook.”
Rather than relying on generic recipe databases, Dish Designer integrates computer vision and smart cooking automation.
How it works: Point your smartphone camera at the ingredients inside your refrigerator. The AI identifies what you have on hand and generates customized recipe options based on your available ingredients, dietary preferences, and time constraints.
The Appliance Hand-off: Once a dish is selected, a single tap sends the exact temperature, mode, and timing parameters straight to your ASKO smart oven. The oven begins preheating automatically—often before you’ve finished reading the full recipe steps.
2. Visual AI Wash Assistant: Eliminating Manual Lookup
The Everyday Problem: “Which laundry program should I pick?”
Modern washing machines offer dozens of specialized cycles, but consumers frequently default to standard settings out of confusion or fear of ruining delicate garments.
How it works: ASKO’s AI Agent accepts queries in natural language or via a photo upload. Users can take a quick picture of a pile of laundry or a specific care label.
The Appliance Hand-off: The AI analyzes fabric types and garment care symbols, recommending the precise cycle, water temperature, and spin speed required—bypassing the traditional instruction manual entirely.
3. Smart Start: Dynamic Energy Optimization
The Everyday Problem: “I wish the wash planned itself around my energy rates.”
With variable dynamic electricity pricing becoming standard across Europe and the UK, timing appliance runs during off-peak windows is key to keeping household bills down.
How it works: Instead of setting a rigid delay timer, users input a deadline for when they need their laundry completed (e.g., “ready by 7:00 AM”).
The Appliance Hand-off: Smart Start cross-references local energy tariff data and grid cleanliness to run the cycle during the cheapest, greenest window, ensuring maximum efficiency without sacrificing convenience.
4. Live Activities: At-a-Glance Cycle Status
The Everyday Problem: “Is dinner/laundry ready yet?”
Checking cycle timers usually requires opening a dedicated brand app or walking over to the machine display.
How it works: ASKO has integrated Live Activities natively for mobile lock screens (such as iOS Live Activities).
The Appliance Hand-off: Cycle progress, remaining cook times, and wash phase updates are delivered directly to the lock screen or Dynamic Island in real time across cooking, washing, and drying appliances.
The Verdict for White Goods Now
ASKO’s updates at IFA represent a noticeable shift in appliance design logic: context-aware automation over feature bloat. By focusing on real-world moments—deciding what to cook, selecting a wash program, managing energy costs, and tracking progress—ASKO Sense positions smart connectivity as an intuitive assistant rather than a complex gadget.
If ASKO delivers on this “Second Nature” promise, it sets a strong benchmark for how AI should seamlessly integrate into modern kitchens and utility rooms.