AI has gone mainstream in home appliances. That was one of the clearest messages from IFA 2026, where the industry’s biggest manufacturers showcased a new generation of washing machines, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers and cleaning products designed to make more decisions for consumers.

From Midea and Samsung to Haier, Miele, LG and Liebherr, AI is rapidly moving beyond voice control and connected apps. Cameras, sensors and software are increasingly being used to recognise loads, optimise programmes, manage energy consumption and automate everyday tasks.

Midea targets the AI-powered home

Midea put AI at the heart of its IFA strategy with its Smart Master ecosystem and AI Agent, designed to understand natural-language commands and coordinate connected appliances.

Its AI Ecomaster technology also targets energy optimisation, while the company demonstrated how robotics could extend automation beyond individual appliances.

Samsung pushes capacity and efficiency

Samsung used IFA to highlight its latest Bespoke AI laundry technology, including a 10kg washing machine engineered to operate significantly below the European Class A energy threshold.

Its larger 13kg model uses SpaceMax technology to increase capacity while maintaining a standard 600mm depth.

AI food recognition also continues to expand across Samsung’s connected refrigeration portfolio.

Haier brings AI into laundry and cooking

Haier showcased Vision 15 washing machines featuring AI Vision Sense, using an internal camera to analyse laundry and help determine the most appropriate wash settings.

The company also demonstrated AI-assisted cooking, multi-drum laundry systems and new refrigeration concepts, while robotics featured prominently in its vision for the future home.

Miele: “The end of housework is in sight”

Miele delivered perhaps the boldest statement of the show with its “The End of Housework Is in Sight” message.

Its new G8 Diamond dishwasher uses a camera to recognise the load and adjust washing parameters and detergent dosing automatically.

Miele is also developing AI-powered cooking assistance and exploring increasingly autonomous laundry through its Cary concept.

LG expands the AI ecosystem

LG focused on appliances that can adapt to both users and their available space. Its latest Fit & Max products target higher capacity within compact European kitchen and utility-room footprints.

The company’s ThinQ Claw conversational AI system also points towards a future where consumers interact with their entire connected home through natural language.

Beyond AI: efficiency and space remain critical

IFA 2026 also showed that AI is only one part of the industry’s innovation race.

AEG showcased automated cooking technology, while Electrolux introduced the compact ErgoMini handheld vacuum. Liebherr focused on larger-capacity refrigeration alongside enhanced energy monitoring through its SmartDevice platform.

From smart appliances to autonomous appliances

The direction of travel is becoming increasingly clear.

The first generation of connected appliances allowed consumers to control products remotely. The next generation is being designed to understand what is happening and decide what to do next.

For appliance manufacturers, that makes AI less of a marketing add-on and increasingly a key battleground for differentiation, efficiency and the future of the connected home.