SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a fixture in Korean households — helping the elderly and pets at home alone, while taking charge of chores from washing clothes to preparing meals — according to the latest innovations unveiled at this year’s Korea Electronics Show (KES 2025).
From refrigerators and TVs to air conditioners and cleaning robots, Korea's household appliance brands Samsung and LG Electronics demonstrated that AI has become the foundation of product design rather than an optional feature.
The shift signals how Korean manufacturers are positioning themselves ahead of CES 2025 — not through radical new hardware, but through everyday devices that can sense, decide, and respond autonomously.
Samsung focused on what it called “family and pet care AI.” A company official said the next wave of consumer electronics is designed to support aging households and enable remote caregiving. Once granted access, smartphones and home appliances can be linked to monitor elderly parents living alone. If no activity is detected for a prolonged period, the AI system automatically sends alerts to designated caregivers and enables remote status checks.
For pet owners, Samsung showcased a robot vacuum with a built-in camera that allows users to monitor their pets in real time. Integrated into the SmartThings platform, the device can even play sounds or music that a pet prefers. “The goal is not simply cleaning automation,” the official said, “but providing emotional reassurance and daily care through AI and sensors when owners are away from home.”
LG Electronics took a similar approach with its line of “proactive AI appliances.” These include washing machines that learn usage patterns, refrigerators that recommend restocking, and an AI home robot capable of mapping interior spaces and recognizing tone of voice. Both companies stressed that AI functions will soon be shared across smartphones, home appliances, and other devices under a unified ecosystem.
With more than 550 companies and 1,300 booths, KES 2025 served less as a stage for experimental prototypes and more as a preview of how Korea intends to compete in the AI hardware era. While U.S. and Chinese tech giants race to develop foundation models and software ecosystems, Korean firms are betting the real contest will unfold in chips, sensors, and consumer devices — the everyday touchpoints where AI is actually used.
Overseas visitors said the event offered a direct glimpse into the future of home AI. “I came from California to see where Korean home appliances and lifestyle trends are heading, and it was worth it — you can understand the direction of the industry in one place,” said Karen Smith, 35.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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