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On the 2nd (local time) in Berlin, Germany, the largest electronics exhibition in Europe, “IFA 2023,” featured “cooking shows” throughout the venue. Siemens, with the phrase “Experience the Smart Kitchen” displayed throughout its booth, was particularly prominent. On this day, when a chef placed a pizza in Siemens’ new oven product, iQ700, within about 5 seconds, a pizza shape appeared on the external display, and when the “start” button was pressed, it immediately started working. A Siemens representative stated, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) recognizes the type of food on its own and automatically adjusts the optimal oven temperature and time for operation,” adding, “Currently, it can recognize more than 40 types of food, including lasagna and vegetables.”
This year, at the IFA event, global electronics companies showcased technologies based on AI and the Internet of Things (IoT). While AI has been used in appliances in the past, the emergence of generative AI like ChatGPT, which has gained popularity worldwide, combined with economic downturns affecting the electronics market, has increased consumer interest in new appliances utilizing AI.
◇Self-Operating AI Appliances... and Even Robo-Dogs
LG Electronics unveiled its first product with AI features, the “LG Signature Washing Dryer.” According to LG Electronics, this AI-equipped washer-dryer recognizes the fabric of the laundry and applies suitable motions, such as gentle motions for underwear or delicate fabrics and more vigorous motions for stiff jeans. Samsung Electronics introduced its food tech app, “Samsung Food,” which uses AI to provide personalized recipes based on users’ food preferences and desired nutritional balance. Additionally, Bosch, leading premium appliance manufacturer in Germany, showcased a new food processor equipped with AI that adjusts the consistency of dough or smoothies to the user’s preference.
Robots were the center of attention at the IFA exhibition. Hong Kong-based robot company Hanson Robotics unveiled a conversational robot called “Desdemona,” developed in collaboration with the UK AI firm SingularityNET. This humanoid robot, designed with the appearance of a woman, responded to questions from visitors without any noticeable delays. Its lips moved, eyes blinked, and it provided a lifelike interaction experience. Chinese robot company Unitree showcased a quadrupedal walking robot called “Go2,” equipped with ChatGPT for bidirectional communication. The product, which Unitree revealed last month, received praise for its capabilities, rivaling Hyundai’s robot dog “Spot.” When asked to “shake hands,” the robot raised its front leg to greet the owner, and it even displayed playful gestures like showing its belly.
“Mirokai,” a robot with a circular roller the size of a soccer ball on the bottom that enables the robot to move smoothly, also gained popularity at the event. Developed by the French robot company Enchanted Tools, a representative mentioned, “With both hands free, it can carry trays or pull carts.” They also indicated that starting in 2025, Mirokai will be deployed in hospitals across France to assist with tasks like delivering medications on schedule.
◇Chinese Companies Claim “Better Than Korea”
Chinese companies that have been absent from the international stage in recent years due to the pandemic have made a desperate push for new technology. During this year’s IFA opening speech, George Zhao, CEO of Honor, unveiled the foldable phone “Magic V2,” taking aim at Samsung. He said, “Our smartphone is thinner and lighter than Samsung’s latest smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, it has a larger battery capacity.”
This year, Chinese TV companies showcased larger TVs than Korean companies for the first time. While Samsung and LG unveiled 98 and 97-inch TVs respectively, the global third-ranking TV company, TCL, displayed a 115-inch Mini LED (Light Emitting Diode) TV at the entrance of the exhibition hall. A TCL representative said, “This is the world’s largest mini LED TV ever unveiled,” and added, “It is scheduled to be released next year, and it will be more affordable than Samsung’s product.” Hisense also introduced a 100-inch Ultra HD Mini LED TV. Baek Seon-pil, Executive Director of LG Electronics TV division, stated, “Chinese companies have increased the panel size, but there is still a gap between them and Korean firms in areas such as picture quality, sound quality, and software, which must keep up with the enlarged screen.”
“LG Sticks with China” vs “Amorepacific Shifts Focus to Japan”
