Jenith
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Last year, Samsung introduced its AI-powered assistant Bixby to the home appliance segment, marking a key milestone in the evolution of smart home living. This journey, however, began 40 years ago — not with an AI but with a now-rudimentary talking fridge. Samsung recently gave us a short history lesson.
The Talking Refrigerator, as Samsung named it, debuted in 1985, precisely four decades ago. It was Samsung's first voice-enabled appliance, albeit it merely offered simple voice guidance. An updated model in 1989 introduced scheduled playback of audio recordings, door-open alerts, and a family memo feature.
Although these features are rudimentary by today's standards, they are the foundation of today's AI-enabled voice assistant embedded in modern Samsung smart home appliances. Today's solutions are vastly superior and cleverer than anything that was available nearly half a century ago. But here is where Samsung's journey began.
Samsung intends to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Talking Refrigerator at IFA 2025 in Berlin later this week. The company will showcase its latest Family Hub refrigerators and other smart home appliances and AI advancements.
In its recent announcement, Samsung also talked about other smart living appliances that were arguably ahead of their time and helped pave the road for modern smart home living. Examples include:
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/samsung-talking-refrigerator.jpg
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/samsung-microwave-tv.jpg
Image Credit: Samsung
Although AI was a pipe dream four decades ago, today's AI-enabled Samsung home appliances build on those principles with new technologies. These old devices are the grandparents of what we have today.
And to celebrate this constant evolution, Samsung will showcase new AI vision for the home appliance segment, including Ambient AI, at IFA 2025.
The tech giant is expected to bring new smart home appliances and might even showcase the unreleased AI rolling robot, Ballie, again. The company should also demo its new Micro RGB TV and other next-gen smart home living solutions.
We'll keep you posted, so stay tuned for IFA from September 5 to September 9.
The post Samsung’s talking fridge turns 40: From 1985 to AI at IFA 2025 appeared first on imeisource.
The Talking Refrigerator, as Samsung named it, debuted in 1985, precisely four decades ago. It was Samsung's first voice-enabled appliance, albeit it merely offered simple voice guidance. An updated model in 1989 introduced scheduled playback of audio recordings, door-open alerts, and a family memo feature.
Although these features are rudimentary by today's standards, they are the foundation of today's AI-enabled voice assistant embedded in modern Samsung smart home appliances. Today's solutions are vastly superior and cleverer than anything that was available nearly half a century ago. But here is where Samsung's journey began.
Commemorating 40 years of smart home innovations
Samsung intends to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Talking Refrigerator at IFA 2025 in Berlin later this week. The company will showcase its latest Family Hub refrigerators and other smart home appliances and AI advancements.
In its recent announcement, Samsung also talked about other smart living appliances that were arguably ahead of their time and helped pave the road for modern smart home living. Examples include:
- Samsung's multi-purpose microwave — released in 1982. It was equipped with a screen that allowed users to check cooking instructions, watch TV, or check surveillance cameras.
- The first air conditioner with an embedded microcomputer chip — released in 1980.
- Neuro-Fuzzy: the first washing machine with the fuzzy logic integrated circuit and neuro-algorithms — released in 1991.
- The Samsung Hauzen robot vacuum, released in 2006, featured a gyro sensor and calculated distance and angles to map out optimal cleaning routes.
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/samsung-talking-refrigerator.jpg
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/samsung-microwave-tv.jpg
Image Credit: Samsung
Although AI was a pipe dream four decades ago, today's AI-enabled Samsung home appliances build on those principles with new technologies. These old devices are the grandparents of what we have today.
And to celebrate this constant evolution, Samsung will showcase new AI vision for the home appliance segment, including Ambient AI, at IFA 2025.
The tech giant is expected to bring new smart home appliances and might even showcase the unreleased AI rolling robot, Ballie, again. The company should also demo its new Micro RGB TV and other next-gen smart home living solutions.
We'll keep you posted, so stay tuned for IFA from September 5 to September 9.
Browse the latest Samsung smart home solutions
Samsung ShopThe post Samsung’s talking fridge turns 40: From 1985 to AI at IFA 2025 appeared first on imeisource.