Skip to main content

Samsung is using AI to predict break down in appliances – but there’s a catch

Samsung 4-Door Refrigerator 2025
Samsung 4-Door Refrigerator 2025 Digital Trends / Britta O'Boyle / Digital Trends

Samsung is infusing AI into a whole range of products, including its domestic appliances. We’ve previously brought you the news of AI in Samsung washing machines and in its Bespoke AI Jet Ultra – but the company is also using AI to monitor your appliances to predict if there’s about to be a break down.

The service called AI Pre-Care Notification and it’s part of the AI Subscription Club that Samsung launched in 2024. This system uses AI to monitor your appliances, checking the usage and condition – as well as things like consumables – to highlight a potential problem.

Recommended Videos

The example given by Samsung, is that if an air conditioner has lower refrigerant than expected or if a fridge’s internal temperature is lower than expected, then the AI service will give you a diagnosis, as well as suggest what might be happening. Appliances have to be connected to the SmartThings platform for this to work and then a customer service representative will be in touch via phone.

It doesn’t just stop there: an on-site repair can be booked to have the problem fixed before there’s a significant break down. The AI Pre-Care Notification is available for: air conditioners, air dressers, dishwashers, dryers, induction cookers, kimchi refrigerators, microwaves/ovens, refrigerators, robot vacuum cleaners and washing machines.

That sounds like a good use of AI, because you don’t want your appliance to break, causing more damage, when preventative maintenance could be faster and more cost efficient. Samsung also highlights that early diagnosis means that you can deal with air conditioning problems before you get into the summer months and there’s higher demand for engineers.

However, I said there’s a catch and the catch is that you have to be part of the AI Subscription Club to get access to the service. Currently, the AI Subscription Club is only available in Korea. The AI Subscription Club lets you rent AI appliances with maintenance as part of the package, so this latest AI Pre-Care Notification is designed to make the whole thing more seamless – and put AI to good use.

Interestingly – and as an aside – the AI Subscription Club also lets you rent Ballie, Samsung’s domestic robot, which we know is planning a wider release later in 2025. Perhaps Samsung will also expand the horizons of its AI Subscription Club too at the same time.

Chris Hall
Chris has been writing about consumer tech for over 15 years. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of Pocket-lint, he's covered just…
Dreo reveals new smart home devices to help you beat the summer heat
A fan from the Dreo Summer 2025 lineup.

Summer is just around the corner, and Dreo is gearing up for its arrival by launching several new smart devices. Some products are available now, while others will arrive within the next few months, though all are specifically designed to help you stay cool and improve your indoor air quality.

The Dreo Summer 2025 lineup includes fans, portable air conditioners, air purifiers, and humidifiers, most of which are bundled with useful smart features to improve their performance and give you easy ways to control their settings. The most premium of the bunch is the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 319S -- its 10,000 BTU system is powerful, quiet, and drainage-free, making it an excellent way to cool your home. It also works with both Google and Alexa, and voice controls are supported for ease of use.

Read more
This smart display alternative just added a powerful new feature to help track your chores
A person using the Skylight.

Skylight is responsible for a variety of smart display alternatives with a focus on organization and schedule planning. Last summer, it launched the premium Cal Max -- a 27-inch smart calendar that we called a “streamlined smart display alternative.” Since its arrival, Skylight has continued to roll out new features to the device, and now you’ll find a powerful feature called Routines available across the Skylight Calendar lineup. Designed to simplify chores and build good habits for the entire family, it’s a unique new feature that changes how you interact with the display.

The idea behind Routines is simple -- offer visual feedback and an easy-to-use interface to make it easier than ever to keep track of (and complete) all your chores. These can be set up on a recurring schedule, allowing you to program in everything from a quick 15 minutes of reading before bedtime or a few minutes each morning for your kids to brush their teeth. Routines can be customized with various emojis and color-coding to help keep track of them, and a fun confetti animation is triggered once they’re complete.

Read more
Yale Assure Lock 2 vs. Lockly Vision Elite: which is the better smart lock?
A person opening the Yale Assure Lock 2 with their Apple Watch.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 and Lockly Vision Elite are among the best smart locks on the market. One offers a streamlined design and multiple formats, while the other is packed with features that make it an all-in-one powerhouse. Rest assured -- you can’t go wrong choosing either product. But there are some big differences between the two, and one is likely a better fit for your preferences than the other.

With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the Yale Assure Lock 2 vs. Lockly Vision Elite. From pricing and design to installation and notable features, we’ll cover everything you need to know before making a purchase.

Read more