South Korean home appliance rivals LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled their innovative smart home technology and products on Monday (local time) in Las Vegas ahead of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2024, the three-day largest kitchen and bathroom exhibition in North America that kicked off on Tuesday.

LG Electronics introduced its customizable kitchen and bathroom package options under the “home evolution,” theme. It unveiled a range of new products from the premium built-in Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS) line, including the first-ever product combining electric and gas stove functions as well as the sous-vide function. It is the first time the company is exhibilitng customized kitchen and bathroom options and proposing them to the U.S. builders of residential and commercial buildings, according to the company.

LG Electronics aims to upgrade its smart home artificial intelligence (AI) via a strategic partnership with Microsoft Corp. (MS) after applying MS Azure AI speech features to LG Electronics products on display at the exhibition. The AI robot agent unveiled in January 2024 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has now evolved to the extent where it can engage in conversations to determine what customers want to cook, and LG Electronics boasts a collection of over 18,000 cooking recipes.

“Our goal is liberation from household chores and the enhancement of the value of life from using these innovative products and services that we offer, supported by continued investment and research efforts,” Ryu Jae-chul, head of LG Electronics Inc.‘s home appliance and air solutions business, said.

For its part, Samsung Electronics also showcased high-end built-in appliances and AI appliances for the exhibition, including its high-end Dacor line kitchen products and proposed products tailored to consumer preferences. Reflecting the recent popularity of island dining tables in the United States, the electronics maker introduced under-counter type refrigerators and wine refrigerators.

AI functions have been significantly enhanced in the Bespoke lineup as well. For example, the Bespoke refrigerator can identify stored ingredients by using AI Vision Inside, while the Bespoke vacuum and mop combo product can clean, wash, and sterilize by assessing the floor. The Bespoke AI washer-and-dryer suggests the optimal washing and drying algorithms with AI customized courses.

”The bespoke products were well-received when we first unveiled them at CES. The Bespoke AI washer-and-dryer in particular received positive reviews from U.S. tech and review media outlets and is currently available in Korea,” the company said.

By Yoon Won-sup, Seong Seung-hoon and Chang Iou-chung

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