Europe’s Biggest Consumer Electronics Show Opens with AI Homes and Robots

IFA opened in Berlin with artificial-intelligence home systems, humanoid robots and a fierce contest over energy efficiency taking centre stage.

The 102-year-old consumer electronics show began on Sept. 4, with more than 1,900 companies and brands from 49 countries. The event’s theme is “The future is now.” Companies had been preparing their booths at Messe Berlin, where the industry is seeking innovations that can persuade consumers to spend despite rising raw-material costs and stronger competition.

LG Electronics built its presentation around Cloi, an AI home hub shown conducting an orchestra with a baton. More than 30 appliances, including OLED televisions, the StanbyME display, laptops and air conditioners, formed the surrounding stage. The display represented a system that learns users’ routines and controls appliances through an AI home platform. LG also introduced ThinQ Pro to the European market, extending appliance-management technology to commercial buildings. The system can check a user’s travel plans and switch off lights and televisions to save energy.

“

The key to growth is innovation that makes consumers’ daily lives more convenient, improves energy efficiency or presents new ways of using products.

LG devoted 46% of its exhibition space to business-to-business consultations, its largest such area. It presented a washing machine that uses up to 70% less electricity than the European top energy-efficiency class and a refrigerator that uses 35% less. It also displayed lower- and mid-priced products upgraded from B to A efficiency ratings.

Samsung moved its main exhibition from Messe Berlin to a separate venue in central Berlin, while creating a creator-focused space inside the IFA Palast. Visitors can follow guidance from the Galaxy Z Fold8’s Gemini system through an escape-room-style game using a washing machine, micro-RGB television and smart monitor. Xiaomi, participating for the first time, displayed the CyberOne humanoid robot and more than 380 products in its largest overseas standalone exhibition. The company is promoting an ecosystem linking smartphones, smart homes and electric vehicles. Chinese robotics companies Unitree, EngineAI, Agibot and Deep Robotics also presented humanoid robots at IFA Next.

“

Europe is the most fiercely competitive market for high-efficiency appliances worldwide.