[Berlin = E-Daily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] “I’m heading home now.”

When I sent a KakaoTalk message from outside my home, the artificial intelligence (AI) calculated my current location and the time it would take to get home. A moment later, I received a reply: “Should I set the air conditioner to your usual favorite temperature of 26 degrees and turn on the air purifier in advance so it’s comfortable when you get home in 50 minutes?” When I agreed, the home appliances began to operate. The AI read the context of the conversation and proactively identified what needed to be done without me having to issue separate commands to each device.

LGELECTRONICS’ (066570) “IFA 2026” exhibition hall at Messe Berlin in Berlin, Germany, on the 3rd (local time). Upon entering the hall, visitors were greeted by a grand orchestra stage. At the center of the stage stood the home robot “LG Cloid,” posing like a conductor, while some 30 products—including TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners—were arranged in a semicircle around it.

Unlike last year’s “AI Orchestra,” which focused on home appliances, this year’s lineup included OLED TVs, StandbyMe, laptops, and air conditioning products. The fact that a humanoid robot—rather than home appliances—was the first thing to appear at the exhibition entrance demonstrated the significantly stronger presence of AI at this year’s IFA. It also signifies that home appliance exhibitions, which used to emphasize the performance of individual products, are shifting toward spatial displays where robots and AI coordinate multiple products.

From AI That Waits for Commands to a ‘Butler’ That Makes Suggestions First

In the AI Home Zone toward the back of the exhibition hall, another AI—less conspicuous than Cloid but active throughout the home—was unveiled. It is “ThinQ Clo,” an actionable Agent AI built into the AI Home Hub “LG ThinQ ON.” While existing AI systems answered questions or carried out predetermined commands, ThinQ Clo remembers the user’s schedule, preferences, and lifestyle patterns to proactively suggest necessary tasks. Once approved by the user, it connects to actual home appliances and external services to carry out the tasks.

Unlike existing voice control systems, which required users to speak directly to ThinQ On while at home, users can now communicate with the AI Home from outside the home via familiar messaging apps such as KakaoTalk and Telegram. If a four-day family trip to Vietnam is added to Google Calendar, the system identifies the departure schedule and proactively suggests energy-saving modes and the suspension of automation. With the user’s permission, it turns off the lights and TV and activates the “Empty Home Protection Mode” at night.

If you upload a grocery receipt or a photo of a meal to the chat window, the system provides precautions and recipes while taking your family’s allergy information into account. If you previously mentioned in a conversation that your child has a peanut or peach allergy, it will suggest meal plans that exclude those ingredients based on the school vacation schedule. The company explains that the most common feedback from preliminary user evaluations was that it is “easy-to-use AI,” precisely because users do not have to manually enter complex commands or automation conditions.

The AI Home demonstration unfolded in a space designed to resemble an actual home. In the living room, the system provided comprehensive status updates on devices such as the TV and air purifier, and prioritized detecting filters nearing the end of their lifespan. In the kitchen, the system recommended menus based on the ingredients in the refrigerator and the family’s schedule, and transmitted cooking instructions to the induction cooktop and oven. In the bedroom, it adjusted the air conditioner and lighting to suit the sleeping environment, and in the bathroom, it activated ventilation and dehumidification after a shower. This demonstrates how AI takes over the “invisible household chores” that users would otherwise have to manage manually.

Business Strategy Extending from AI Home to Built-in and B2B

At this exhibition, LGELECTRONICS expanded the use of AI beyond the functions of individual appliances to encompass spaces and business solutions. While the 3,745-square-meter exhibition hall featured over 150 core products, the focus was on recreating real-life living spaces—such as living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and walk-in closets—rather than simply displaying individual products.

The “Fit & Max” line of built-in-style appliances, designed for the European market, has also expanded from refrigerators to include washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. Refrigerators are designed so that even when installed flush against cabinets with a 4-mm gap, the door can open up to 110 degrees. Washing machines and dryers maintain the European standard cabinet depth of 600 mm while increasing internal capacity. The strategy is to leverage the built-in nature of the products—where multiple items are configured under the same brand—to integrate customers into the LG Corp. AI Home ecosystem.

“Homi,” the smart home platform developed by AtHome—which LGELECTRONICS acquired in 2024—connects more than 50,000 Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including home appliances, lighting, and sensors. The company has expanded this into a solution that manages the energy flow throughout the entire home by integrating it with HVAC systems, solar power, and energy storage systems (ESS). Using “LG ThinQ Pro,” construction companies and property management firms can check product operating status, energy consumption, and malfunctions without having to visit each household.

This is why approximately 46% of the total exhibition space was dedicated to consultation areas for local distributors and business-to-business (B2B) customers. The company’s plan is not only to demonstrate the convenience of the AI butler but also to secure orders for built-in packages and residential and commercial management solutions.

ThinQ Clo is scheduled to begin beta testing in South Korea as early as this month, with an official launch planned for 2027. The company is also considering expanding its service to the U.S. and Europe thereafter. In Europe, where consumers are particularly sensitive to energy costs, the features—such as energy-saving modes for home appliances during long absences and energy waste detection—are expected to be highly utilized.

Noh Beom-jun, Senior Vice President in charge of AI Home Solution Business Development at LGELECTRONICS’ HS Business Division, said, “We will continue to develop customized AI tailored to specific spaces and situations, and diversify our AI home services that understand customers’ daily lives and move in sync with them.”