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"The refrigerator is dead": Samsung's AI fridges shut down after update, causes outrage
(www.notebookcheck.net)
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this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2026
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What is the benifit of AI in devices like fridges, washing machines and dish washers? We've had these devices for years now, even a 40 year old machine works flawlessly, just uses a bit excessive power. A fridge needs to cool, a washing machine needs to clean. They don't need to do anything else, and they did this perfectly when we didn't have AI.
So to my understanding, AI implemented into these machines is just a way to make it more expensive to buy, adds the option for a subscription for constant income acting as a paywall, gives the opportunity to hoard loads of data from the customers and makes it easy to brick the device just after warranty so people buy more of your devices.
TL:DR:
I can only think of one good reason, and only for a refrigerator: Fridges could tell you what's inside without opening them and order shit for you automatically when low on something.
But that would require the AI to not suck complete ass at doing those things. You're better off with just making the door see through and ordering shit when you see something low with your own eyeballs.
Ah yes, that would work great when you eat every day exactly the same. Also, telling you what's inside without opening the door is a major improvement. I mean, you could pull a muscle opening the door. And it would save you a lot of time. The screen uses a lot more pwoerr though, but the extra money it costs per year is worth it when you have to open the door less.
It's part of a social model that needs everyone to work, even if said work has negative value.
We as a species have the resources to create a leisure society for all.
Instead we are trying to make conscious fridges that can't freeze things.
There is desire and benefit in these things being smart devices and AI is just the stupid label slapped on every smart device after 2024. A benefit of a smart washer is that it can, theoretically, do a more thorough and more efficient job of washing various amounts, sizes, thicknesses, and materials in the load by measuring water usage, balance, weight, and output water condition. A smart fridge can, theoretically, do some lofty things that aren't nearly as desired as just being a media hub. Streaming videos, reordering groceries on Amazon, displaying recipes, displaying weather, displaying pictures, etc - really mor elike a tablet stuck to the fridge.
Implementation of said benefits is a different story. They are obviously consumer surveillance devices with sales pitches to make them "the best" faster than the competition.
A friend of mine had a smart washing machine with AI installed in his building as the previous machine died just after warenty. He used it once but his clothes came out dirty. He now keeps using the old machine next to it, which is roughly 30 years old, as that machine properly cleans his clothes. Why the fuck do I need to know the weather when I grab some yoghert. I have a computer in my pocket which can do everything already. I don't like to see ads whenever I grab something out of my fridge. I prefer my fridge to live longer than 3 years, and just cool things. Why the fuck would I pay more to give it a screen, then to pay monthly not to see fucking ads.
Well, bad news fridges still won't last long and it has nothing to do with Ai or smart features. The industry has downsized the cooling systems for efficiency and environmental factors while making things quieter. The result is higher duty cycles and insulated system compartments generally leading to shorter compressor lifespan.
But yes, I generally agree. I'm not a smart device customer.