As a massive LED (light-emitting diode) screen measuring 16 meters wide and 4 meters tall rose upward, a stage filled with appliances came into view. In front of a total of 31 products—including refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, TVs, air conditioners, and laptops—stood the home robot 'LG CLOi,' holding a baton. Under CLOi’s conducting, which evoked classical Western musicians with its wig, media art, lighting, and music blended seamlessly. This was the 'AI Orchestra' unveiled by LG Electronics.
On the 3rd (local time), just one day before the opening of Europe’s largest home appliance exhibition 'IFA 2026,' flags and posters promoting IFA were displayed throughout Berlin, Germany. Upon entering Messe Berlin, the main exhibition hall for the 102nd-year-old event, LG Electronics’ booth was visible at the very front.
The large screen at the entrance showcased the path of LG Electronics’ technology before the orchestra appeared. Products such as washing machines, refrigerators, and automotive components emerged with motors as connecting links. The video concluded with actuators that drive robot movements and CLOi. This structure illustrates how technology that once moved appliances has evolved into robots, with robots now taking on the role of conductors for home appliances.
The orchestra’s message continued inside the exhibition hall. A space of approximately 3,745 square meters featured a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and dressing room arranged as if they were in an actual home. The focus was on demonstrating product performance and how AI (artificial intelligence) coordinates various appliances within a house. While last year’s exhibition area centered on home appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, this year it expanded to include TVs, monitors, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).
The role of conductor within the home is played by the AI home hub 'LG ThinQ On.' By applying the newly unveiled actionable AI agent 'ThinQ Clo' this year, AI that previously waited for commands has evolved into an 'AI butler' that proactively suggests necessary tasks.
When a user sends a single message via KakaoTalk saying "I’m coming home," ThinQ Clo checks their current location and calculates the arrival time. It then turns on the air conditioner to the user’s preferred 26 degrees Celsius and asks whether to pre-activate the air purifier. If the user agrees, it proceeds with execution. If a family trip is registered in Google Calendar, it suggests switching appliances to energy-saving mode during periods when the house will be empty.
When users send photos of receipts for food or grocery purchases, ThinQ Clo identifies foods that require caution by reflecting allergy information remembered from previous conversations. Even without users inputting operating conditions for each device, AI plans necessary tasks by synthesizing schedules, locations, and preferences.
High-efficiency appliances targeting European consumers sensitive to energy costs filled the exhibition hall. Representative examples include washing machines that reduce energy consumption by 70%, refrigerators by 35%, and dishwashers by 30% compared to Europe’s highest energy efficiency standard of Grade A. Alongside premium products boasting top-tier efficiency, mid- to low-priced models such as Grade A dryers and dishwashers were also showcased. This strategy aims to appeal to European consumers who evaluate both price and maintenance costs by broadening the application range of high-efficiency technology.
The scope managed by AI expands from appliances to the entire home’s energy usage. The exhibition hall also featured a space demonstrating the energy flow in heating, cooling, and hot water supply processes by connecting air-source heat pumps and hot water tanks.
During a demonstration of the platform 'LG ThinQ Pro' for construction companies, it was shown that managers can check the operating status, energy consumption, and malfunction status of appliances in each household from a control room without visiting every unit. LG plans to expand ThinQ Pro, first launched in North America this year, into solutions for construction companies in other countries moving forward. This reflects a vision to move beyond selling individual appliances to supplying products that make up homes along with management services.
Ryu Ju-hyun, LG Electronics’ Head of HS Marketing & Communications, stated, "Europe is filled with home appliance brands over 100 years old, so customers have very high expertise regarding home appliances and IT (information technology). We will combine world-class technological capabilities with data on customer experiences to present various solutions."
in INDUSTRY
