Samsung Electronics said on the 19th that it released the 2026 "Bespoke AI Family Hub" refrigerator, which provides advanced ingredient management features based on artificial intelligence (AI).
The new product makes ingredient management more convenient with advanced AI features. It supports voice recognition control to improve user convenience. With the "hybrid cooling" feature that uses a Peltier semiconductor element, it delivers optimal cooling performance and energy efficiency depending on the situation.
The new product comes in two lineups: a freestanding model with a 32-inch large touchscreen and a kitchen-fit type with a 9-inch touchscreen featuring a Kitchen Fit Max design.
The new product is equipped with "AI Vision," which is combined with Generative AI Google Gemini to significantly enhance food recognition performance.
AI Vision is a feature that recognizes ingredients through the refrigerator's internal camera. Previously, it was limited to 37 types of fresh foods and 50 types of processed and packaged foods, but Google Gemini has greatly expanded the range of recognizable foods.
It can recognize a wide variety of fresh and processed foods without any limit on the number of food types, and it also recognizes the contents of labels handwritten by users on containers holding food or on packaged foods, then automatically registers them on the food list.
The new product also supports "AI Food Manager," which provides a different level of dining experience from recognized ingredient management to recipe recommendations.
AI Food Manager analyzes a user's refrigerator usage patterns to notify them of ingredients that need to be purchased, offers various features such as "What's for Today?" which recommends recipes based on the ingredients in the refrigerator, and "FoodNote," which analyzes weekly ingredient usage to provide a healthy eating report.
An upgraded AI voice assistant, Bixby, is also applied. When a user asks Bixby how to use a product or gives natural, conversational commands such as "Recommend dishes with the ingredients in the refrigerator," "I put in drinks, so keep them cold," or "I put in ice cream, so freeze it quickly," Bixby identifies the user's intent and activates customized settings and functions.
Bespoke AI Family Hub features "hybrid cooling," which operates efficiently depending on the situation and usage patterns.
Hybrid cooling is a technology that normally cools by running the compressor alone, and when the refrigerator temperature rises or strong cooling is needed, it operates the Peltier semiconductor element together to deliver optimal cooling performance and energy efficiency.
When the internal temperature rises, such as when the refrigerator door is opened and closed frequently or left open for organizing, it lowers the internal temperature 20% faster than a standard refrigerator.
It is also equipped with features that enhance the refrigerator's core performance, including "micro precise cooling," which keeps ingredients fresh longer, "AI precise cooling," which analyzes usage patterns to reduce temperature fluctuations, and "metal cooling," which maximizes cold air retention.
With the "hybrid precise cooling mode," which helps the refrigerator maintain a consistently even temperature, it stores various ingredients such as meat and fish at optimal temperatures.
The new product is equipped with an "AI inverter compressor" that optimizes cooling efficiency to optimize power consumption, and when users set AI saving mode through SmartThings, they can reduce energy use by up to 25%.
The new product features "Auto Door," which adds an automatic door-closing function and allows users to open the refrigerator door with a light touch or by voice.
Even when holding ingredients in both hands, users can easily open and close the refrigerator door by lightly tapping the sensor at the front of the door or with voice commands such as "Open the refrigerator door" and "Close the refrigerator door."
If the door is not fully closed, the "Safe Close" feature automatically closes it. The freestanding and kitchen-fit types are equipped with 32-inch and 9-inch touchscreens, respectively, to access personalized features and content.
The new product supports "Now brief," which recommends customized information based on the user's location, time, and usage habits. It provides personalized content such as schedules, photos, and health information based on "Voice ID," which recognizes the user's voice.
It also supports various entertainment apps such as YouTube and Spotify, along with the "Map View" feature that allows users to check and control at a glance the locations and statuses of appliances connected to SmartThings.
The 2026 Bespoke AI Family Hub is released in a clean white color, with a factory price of 5.84 million won for the freestanding type and 4.64 million won for the kitchen-fit type.
Moon Jong-seung, vice president of the DA Division at Samsung Electronics, said, "The 2026 Bespoke AI Family Hub is a product that offers a new and smart kitchen experience based on Generative AI," adding, "We will continue to deliver a more convenient kitchen environment and smart home experience through differentiated AI technology."