IFA 2026 Puts Smart Homes and Intelligent Outdoor Tech in the Spotlight

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest event for consumer electronics, home appliances and future tech, is demonstrating how AI and connected technologies are transforming everyday life at home and in the garden. Intelligent kitchen systems take individual needs into account, household robots perform increasingly complex tasks, and smart solutions enable the more efficient use of energy and resources. With the Outdoor Cooking & Gardening show area, IFA is consistently extending smart living beyond the home and onto the lawn.

“At IFA, we can see very clearly where the smart home sector is heading: kitchens are becoming more intelligent, household robots are taking on increasingly complex tasks, and connected technologies now extend far beyond the home and into the garden. At the same time, expectations are rising when it comes to energy efficiency and making everyday life as simple and intuitive as possible. What matters is that technology not only becomes smarter, but also tangibly saves people time and effort. This is precisely the development we are bringing to life at IFA,” says Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH.

The IFA trade show demonstrated this Monday—through various panel discussions and showcases—just how much the understanding of the smart home has evolved. The conversations centered on a key question: How can technology create genuine added value in everyday life? AI-powered devices and intelligent automation are transforming the kitchen and the household. At the same time, trust, data protection, and user control are becoming crucial prerequisites for the acceptance of new technologies.

AI in the Kitchen: Users Want the Perfect Dish, Not Countless Programs and Settings

The panel "AI in the Kitchen: Helpful, Hype, or Harmful?" featured a discussion among Dr. Stefan Breit, Executive Director Technology at Miele; Dr. Victoria Spadaro-Grant, Chief Science & Innovation Officer at Tate & Lyle; and Eelco Lammertink, Head of Home Connect Growth & Ecosystem Partnerships at BSH Home Appliances Group. The conversation was moderated by Surj Patel, a technologist at The Spoon.

The discussion focused on how data and connected home appliances can simplify kitchen routines. The key factor is not the underlying technical complexity, but the result: users do not want to grapple with numerous programs and settings; instead, they want a successful dish and a positive culinary experience. With an aging population in mind, smart kitchen systems will also need to take changing nutritional needs into account in the future. Furthermore, connected assistive solutions could help older adults maintain their independence and manage their daily lives in their own homes for longer.

AI aims to simplify housework in the background

Dr. Markus Miele, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor at Miele, explained how this vision applies to the

entire household during his keynote on Saturday, titled “The End of Housework Is in Sight: Innovating in the Age of AI.” He emphasized that AI should make housework simpler and less intrusive, rather than more complicated. In the future, sensors and AI could, for instance, identify laundry items, colors, and fabric types, automatically selecting the appropriate cycle. Users will see a streamlined process replace the need to navigate numerous settings; in the future, “premium” will mean that people have to make fewer decisions.

During the panel “Design for a Human-Centered Smart Home,” experts from Smart Design, Electrolux, and Springhouse Technologies addressed the question of how smart homes should be designed to earn user trust. Key topics included intuitive operation, sustainability, and the balance between convenience, transparency, and control. The goal: a home where technology integrates seamlessly into daily life rather than constantly demanding attention.

As early as last Sunday, WGSN and TCL demonstrated the direction of this trend with "The Sensory Intelligent Home." AI, sensor technology, and design are merging into a connected ecosystem that is more responsive to people and their needs. In doing so, the smart home is evolving from a mere collection of connected devices into an intelligent living environment.

Smart Homes for Health and Wellbeing

At the same time, health and wellbeing are increasingly becoming a focus of the smart home. In today’s panel discussion, "How Tech Will Transform Food, Health, and Longevity at Home," speakers explored how household appliances, wearables, and digital health technologies could work together. In the future, data could help tailor nutrition and habits to the individual, thereby supporting people in living independently at home for longer. According to the experts, this makes issues surrounding data privacy and the responsible handling of personal data increasingly important.

Robotics is also playing an increasingly important role in this context. From specialized cooking and cleaning robots to mobile assistants and even humanoids, such systems could assist with meal preparation, monitoring, and everyday tasks in the future. At the same time, safety, trust, and social acceptance remain key issues.

The smart home doesn't stop at the front door; it extends right into the garden.

The "Outdoor Cooking & Gardening" show area demonstrates that smart technologies are no longer confined to the interior of the home. With this feature, IFA extends the smart home concept to the patio and garden. Through tomorrow, visitors to this area can experience how connected technologies make outdoor cooking, gardening, and outdoor area maintenance more convenient and efficient.

The range of offerings spans from outdoor cooking and BBQ equipment to smart gardening technology and solutions for the home and workshop. Smart irrigation systems supply plants with water based on actual needs, autonomous robotic mowers handle lawn care, and connected sensors provide data on weather and soil conditions. Energy and resource efficiency are becoming increasingly important here as well: smart systems help optimize water and energy usage, while new materials and technologies reduce resource consumption.