Global Appliance Firms Unveil Household Labor-Liberating Technologies

Source: Chosun (English Edition); Author: Yoo Ji-han

At CES 2026, the world’s leading home appliance manufacturers converged to showcase a wave of cutting-edge innovations centered squarely on the concept of “liberation from household labor”, marking a pivotal shift in the industry’s focus from mere smart connectivity to proactive, labor-saving functionality that seamlessly integrates into daily life. Among the most eye-catching reveals were the next-generation robot helpers designed to take on routine domestic tasks with unprecedented precision and adaptability. SwitchBot introduced its Onero H1 humanoid robot, equipped with multi-camera perception systems embedded in its head, arms, hands and body, paired with dual flexible arms that enable it to perform a diverse range of actions including grasping, pushing, opening and organizing household items. During its live demonstration, the Onero H1 wowed audiences by autonomously filling coffee machines, prepping simple breakfasts, cleaning windows and even hanging laundry to dry, with its advanced AI algorithms allowing it to continuously learn and adapt to different home environments and task requirements over time. Not to be outdone, LG presented its CLOiD robot, which specializes in laundry-related chores, from loading dirty clothes into washing machines to neatly folding towels, leveraging complex scene recognition, user habit learning and precise limb control technology to navigate around obstacles and handle delicate fabrics with care.

Beyond robotic assistants, the smart kitchen and storage segment also saw remarkable advancements that blend convenience with practicality. GE Appliances debuted its latest smart fridge, featuring a built-in scanner positioned just below the interactive tablet and above the water purifier; this scanner automatically adds newly placed items to a digital shopping list and removes those that have been used up, eliminating the need for manual list-making. Complementing this feature is an AI-powered internal camera that tracks the freshness and quantity of stored food, generating personalized meal plans to help users reduce food waste and streamline their cooking routines. Samsung, meanwhile, upgraded its Bespoke AI FamilyHub fridge by integrating Google Gemini’s advanced AI model, significantly enhancing its food recognition capabilities to not only identify pre-packaged processed foods but also accurately detect hand-labeled side-dish containers that were previously difficult for smart fridges to recognize. The company also expanded its smart storage lineup with the Infinite AI Wine Refrigerator, which uses a built-in camera to scan wine labels and automatically log key details such as grape variety, vintage and storage location, making it easier for wine enthusiasts to manage their collections.

In the cleaning and niche robotics category, Dreame made a strong showing at CES 2026, marking its largest presence at the event to date with a suite of enhanced AI-powered cleaning robots that boast improved learning capabilities, enabling them to map home layouts more accurately and adjust cleaning paths in real time to avoid clutter. The brand also unveiled a new pool-cleaning robot, catering to the growing demand for specialized smart appliances that handle outdoor household tasks with minimal human intervention.

Industry analysts note that the innovations showcased at CES 2026 reflect a broader trend in the global appliance market toward the development of AI-powered, labor-saving ecosystems, rather than standalone smart devices. This shift is driven by three key factors: the rising consumer demand for convenience amid increasingly busy lifestyles, the growing aging population in many countries that requires accessible and easy-to-use home solutions, and the industry-wide push toward sustainability goals, with smart appliances like food-tracking fridges playing a critical role in reducing household food waste. As major manufacturers continue to invest in AI and robotics, the vision of a home where daily chores are handled autonomously is edging closer to reality, promising to transform the way people live and interact with their household appliances in the years to come.