Based on Euronews materials
Artificial intelligence has ceased to be a futuristic concept and has firmly entered everyday life. A clear proof of this was the IFA 2026 exhibition in Berlin – the world's largest trade fair for consumer electronics and home appliances. This year, the event, bringing together more than 1900 brands from 49 countries, is held under a motto reflecting the main trend: technology no longer just reacts to commands, it learns, adapts and anticipates human needs.
Euronews correspondents studied the key new products of the exhibition to understand what the home of the future will look like in the coming years.
From 'smart' to 'intelligent' home
The main trend of IFA 2026 is the evolution of the smart home concept. The industry is moving from simple remote control of appliances to the creation of an 'intelligent' ecosystem. Now technology takes on not only the execution of tasks, but also planning and decision-making.
A striking example is the new washing machine from the company Haier. Equipped with a built-in camera and AI system, it recognizes the types of loaded clothing and warns the user if a red sock accidentally ends up among the white laundry, saving items from unintentional dyeing.
Such innovations also affect the kitchen. As Neil Tunstall, CEO of Haier Europe, notes, modern technology is able to recognize products and automatically adjust cooking modes. 'We increasingly expect less that the consumer will think about everything themselves, and rely more on devices taking over this function,' he emphasized.
The American company Cozyla went even further by presenting an AI system for coordinating family life. At the company's booth, it is demonstrated how smart calendars and interactive screens help synchronize household members' schedules, plan meals based on scanned recipes, and evenly distribute household chores.
Technologies for deep relaxation and healthy sleep
Technology does not 'sleep' even when we go to bed. The Hong Kong company BestQi presented the system AMADA Smart Adaptive Sleeping System. This is an adjustable bed with a mattress that uses sound and vibrations controlled via an app. Each side of the bed is individually adjustable, allowing partners to choose their own massage modes, vibration intensities, or programs for sleep and reading.
The South Korean company Bodyfriend has integrated a medical approach into relaxation furniture. The model Quantum Beauty Capsule combines a massage chair with LED modules for facial and scalp care. The model Davinci AI is equipped with a PPG sensor on the fingertip that measures heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels in real time, analyzing stress levels and the quality of the body's recovery.
Digital detox and new entertainment formats
Despite screens getting bigger and audio systems more powerful (as demonstrated by TCL in its immersive gaming zones), manufacturers are also concerned about the flip side – digital fatigue.
TCL introduced the NextPapertechnology, which switches a smartphone to a simplified e-book mode. This solution reduces blue light emission, decreases eye strain, and blocks distracting notifications. "When you want to read on the weekend, you don't need constant alerts from every app," noted Stefan Streit, marketing director at TCL Europe.
Pet care and robotic assistants
The intelligent home cares not only for people. Singaporean startup Petgugu presented an ecosystem for pets, including a smart self-cleaning litter box and a mobile robot that moves around the apartment, picks up fur, and interacts with the pet when owners are away.
For those seeking more radical solutions, a Chinese robotics company (founded in 2024) showcased the MagicDog Y1 – a robotic dog. Unlike toy counterparts, it is a functional assistant designed for transporting equipment, surveillance, and territory protection using built-in cameras and sensors.
The main takeaway: technology should free up time
The key message of IFA 2026 is that the future is not a set of disparate gadgets, but a well-coordinated ecosystem. Devices exchange data and work together to take over routine tasks.
As experts note, the ultimate goal of these innovations is paradoxical: technology should become less noticeable and require less attention. This will free up people's time for what truly matters: spending time with family, friends, and personal hobbies.
The IFA 2026 exhibition in Berlin will run until 8 September. Its program also includes the Beauty Hub zone, a stage for creators (Creator Stage), and a large-scale robotics show featuring humanoid robots from around the world.
