Samsung is preparing a smart refrigerator for the new year that includes some interesting AI features, including an internal camera that can identify individual foods and a connected app that can suggest recipes based on what you have in stock. The company plans to unveil the 2024 Customized 4-Door Flexible Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ at CES next year. Users can mirror their Galaxy phones’ display on the 32-inch Family Hub touchscreen, and there are even separate apps for TikTok and YouTube videos.
Although neither the internal camera nor the Family Hub app are new (the 2023 model also includes an AI-powered camera and could generate revenue), both have been upgraded with more features. The Samsung Food app (which you can access directly on the fridge via Family Hub) can connect to your Samsung Health profile and tailor recipes to suit your dietary needs. It also includes an “Image to Recipe” feature (with better AI Vision) that can recognize meals and foods from photographs and generate recipes. There is also a customization feature that will tailor recipes to gluten-free, pescatarian, dairy-free, vegan, fusion and other dietary preferences.
The fridge still has some limitations (Samsung says its Vision AI feature can identify up to 33 foods), so don’t expect it to recognize anything. Also exotic. Users can manually enter expiration dates on the Family Hub touchscreen, which will issue notifications just before individual items expire.
Although Samsung has been releasing smart refrigerators since 2016, this new model appears to be the first to emphasize its AI features rather than its Internet of Things integrations, for example. Looking at this first smart refrigerator, it’s clear that smart home and AI technology has come a long way. In The edgeIt is goodbye of the 2016 refrigerator, we noted that the Family Hub apps were slow to load and the touchscreen wasn’t great, but the refrigerator included cameras that let you see what was inside the refrigerator without having to open the door.
Now, Samsung’s marketing of the 2024 model suggests that it views the refrigerator as the centerpiece of Samsung’s other AI kitchen products (like its AI oven) and the wider Samsung ecosystem. Coming next year is Samsung’s 2024 model cooktop (called Anyplace Induction Cooktop), which features a slide-in range so you can install it between your kitchen cabinets. The cooktop and slide-in range are equipped with seven-inch LCD screens that can be used to display recipes from the Samsung Food app while you cook.
The edge has contacted Samsung for a release date and pricing information, and will update as soon as we hear back.
