AI and Sustainability Drive Smart Home Appliance Revolution at 2024 Industry Shows

The global smart home appliance sector is undergoing a transformative shift, with artificial intelligence (AI) integration and sustainability taking center stage at key 2024 industry events, from CES in Las Vegas to AWE in Shanghai. Major brands and industry reports highlight a move beyond basic connectivity to appliances that are proactive, energy-efficient, and seamlessly interconnected.

At CES 2024, the Matter ecosystem emerged as a unifying force, with Amazon launching Matter Casting to simplify smart TV and streaming device control—now adopted by services like Prime Video. Samsung reinforced its commitment to energy management through SmartThings, partnering with Hyundai and Tesla to develop solutions that cut household energy use and costs. The company later detailed how its AI-equipped appliances, such as the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator, use internal cameras to track食材 expiration and generate shopping lists, while AI laundry combos create customized wash cycles.

Across the Pacific, AWE 2024’s industry report identified AI large models as the "new high ground" of tech competition, driving innovations spanning home, car, and city ecosystems. The expo, which drew 353 million attendees, showcased appliances that blur lines between hardware and service: Haier’s "unconscious housework" solutions include ovens that auto-recognize ingredients and adjust cooking settings, and washing machines that warn of color bleeding risks. Boss Electric unveiled a cooking AI model called "Food God" that generates health-focused recipes based on user体检 reports and controls stovetops to replicate restaurant-style dishes.

Sustainability has become equally critical, with EU data showing homes account for 20-30% of regional energy use—much of it wasted on idle devices or unnecessary heating. Samsung’s SmartThings Energy addresses this by monitoring consumption, displaying carbon emissions data, and offering AI Energy Mode that adjusts TV brightness or pauses appliances when rooms are unoccupied. Users can even earn rewards for reducing energy use during grid peak times, turning sustainability into an incentive.

Consumer adoption is accelerating, fueled by growing demand for convenience and efficiency. AWE 2024 data notes over 90% of China’s smart appliance buyers are under 40, with "digital natives" prioritizing tech-savvy, multi-functional devices. Real-world examples abound: Beijing residents use voice commands via Baidu’s smart screen to start dishwashers and check cycle progress, leveraging AI that understands colloquial language and dialects instead of rigid commands. Huawei’s AI sleep system goes further, using sensors to monitor breathing and heart rate, then adjusting lights and thermostats to ease snoring and improve sleep quality.

Industry experts see this as just the start. AWE’s 2024 report outlines nine key trends, including "human-vehicle-home interconnection" and AI-driven产业链 innovation, predicting appliances will become central to personalized, healthy living. As Samsung’s Miyoung Yoo, head of digital appliances software development, noted, "AI is turning appliances from bulky machines into lifelong companions that adapt to users’ lives". For consumers, this means a future where homes don’t just respond to commands—they anticipate needs while lightening environmental impact.