Home appliance makers turn to AI as rivalry heats up
Want your refrigerator to tell you why your beer isn’t cold or how long the food in it will last? This scenario is now reality as home appliance makers in Japan and elsewhere tap the power of artificial intelligence.
The move comes as manufacturers hope to outdo rivals amid new possibilities opened up by the cutting-edge technology.
From February, Japan’s Sharp will offer refrigerators that make use of its in-house generative AI technology.
The company has trained the AI using inquiries received by its call center along with information about the capabilities of its refrigerators.
For example, if customers say beverages aren’t cold enough and wonder why, the AI suggests via smartphone app what actions to take, or directs users to the relevant part of the manual.
Japanese manufacturers are not alone. In January, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics announced a refrigerator with generative AI that suggests recipes based on ingredients detected inside with a camera.
The company plans to install AI in all its home appliances going forward.
