At IFA 2026 in Berlin, Haier showcased its latest AI-powered home ecosystem, blending smart appliances, digital services, and robotics under the theme ‘Home of Intelligent Possibilities.’ The company highlighted systems designed to adapt to user habits, household conditions, and daily routines, moving beyond individual connected devices to a fully integrated intelligent home experience.
Haier’s exhibition covered laundry, refrigeration, cooking, entertainment, and robotic devices. The company also announced plans to invest at least EUR 13 billion over the next five years in artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, research, and IoT security.
From Smart Devices to an Intelligent Home
Haier emphasized that its strategy goes beyond standalone smart appliances. The goal is to enable different products to work together around the needs of people at home. The hOn app unifies Haier Europe’s appliances and digital services, allowing devices to respond to daily routines automatically.
Neil Tunstall, CEO of Haier Europe, explained that the company aims to reduce the effort involved in common household tasks. Regarding AI-assisted cooking, he said, “The product now will do that for you. And that hopefully means then that we can actually enjoy eating much more at home.”
AI Enhances Laundry, Food Care, and Entertainment
Several products at IFA use cameras, sensors, and AI software to optimize their operations. The Vision 15 washing machine assesses load size, balance, and foam levels, adjusting water use, detergent, drum movement, and washing settings accordingly.
The Maestro refrigerator prototype features the AI Food Care System 2.0, which recognizes stored food and recommends suitable storage conditions. Haier’s ID Ultimate Series 6 oven identifies food, tracks the cooking process, and stops automatically when done. UltraSense AI also adjusts picture and sound settings on Haier Smart TVs based on content and room conditions.
Robotics Expands the Connected Home Strategy
Haier presented humanoid robots and other robotic systems capable of performing physical tasks alongside connected appliances. The display included cleaning robots that recognize objects and types of dirt, as well as companion robots designed for voice support and personalized assistance.
Tunstall noted that robotics could handle basic household jobs without replacing people. “We’re not trying to replace the human,” he said. “There are basic tasks that robotics can do.” He cited robot vacuum cleaners and robotic lawnmowers as examples of technology already taking over routine work.
EUR 13 Billion Investment in AI and Robotics
Haier plans to invest at least EUR 13 billion over the next five years in AI, robotics, research, advanced engineering, and related technologies. Tunstall said the investment would accelerate the delivery of new products and features to consumers.
“Our next five years is spending 13 billion on AI, on robotics, on R&D, advanced engineering, and all of those things,” Tunstall said. He added that the funding would support faster product development across Haier’s categories.
Haier also uses data from connected appliances to study how people use products and to improve design, manufacturing, and delivery. The company reported more than 130 million registered users on its smart home platform and 86.1 billion smart-scene interactions in 2025.
While some technologies shown at IFA 2026 remain at the concept stage, Tunstall expects more of them to move toward commercial release. “They’re not here right now, but they are going to be here pretty soon in this industry,” he said.