Samsung to Bring Google Gemini and Tizen OS 10.0 to Legacy Appliances
A phased rollout starting September 2026 will add AI Vision and improved voice controls to existing refrigerators and laundry machines.
Samsung Electronics is extending the functional lifespan of its high-end home appliances by delivering major AI-driven software updates to existing hardware. Starting in September 2026, the company will begin a phased rollout of Tizen OS 10.0 to select refrigerators and laundry appliances, bringing them into alignment with the features found in 2025 and 2026 releases.
The update targets specific high-end lines to integrate advanced generative AI. Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub models—specifically the 21.5-inch and 32-inch versions released between 2021 and 2025, as well as select 9-inch 2025 models—will receive AI Vision powered by Google Gemini. For laundry hardware, Bespoke AI Laundry Combo, Washer, and Dryer models released in 2024 and 2025 will receive updated Bixby voice recognition and a refreshed interface featuring an "Easy Mode" for 7-inch Smart Screens.
A Shift Toward Software-Defined Hardware
This strategy marks a fundamental shift in how Samsung approaches the appliance lifecycle. Traditionally, home appliances have been static hardware investments that become obsolete as new technology emerges. By treating refrigerators and washers more like smartphones or smart TVs, Samsung is moving toward a software-defined model where the value of the machine evolves after the point of purchase.
According to Jeong Seung Moon, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics, the company believes that supporting long-term products requires "not only reliable hardware, but also software that continues to evolve."
Industry Implications
By integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) like Google Gemini into the kitchen and laundry room, Samsung is attempting to decouple feature sets from hardware release cycles. This approach aims to increase customer loyalty and the long-term value of the Samsung ecosystem. For the consumer, it reduces the pressure to replace expensive hardware every few years simply to access the latest AI capabilities, such as natural language processing and automated food recognition.
What to Watch
As the September 2026 rollout approaches, the industry will be watching to see if other appliance manufacturers adopt similar OS-level update paths to combat hardware obsolescence. While the specific models for the Tizen OS 10.0 update have been identified, it remains to be seen how these AI features will perform on older hardware from the 2021 era compared to the newest 2025 models.