Just a few years ago, household appliances were only capable of executing commands. Today, they are beginning to make decisions independently: refrigerators track groceries, ovens recognize dishes using cameras, and robot vacuums have finally learned to climb stairs.

Most of these devices were introduced or received new features within the last two years. Some are already on sale, while others are still being shown as near-future technologies, but all of them demonstrate the direction in which the smart home market is evolving.

Roborock Saros Rover: a robot vacuum that is no longer afraid of stairs

Perhaps the biggest problem for all modern robot vacuums remained unchanged for many years — stairs. Owners of two-story houses either had to buy a separate robot for each floor or carry the device manually. Roborock has proposed an unusual solution.

At the CES 2026 exhibition, the manufacturer presented the Roborock Saros Rover — the first robot vacuum with a wheel-leg architecture. Instead of regular wheels, the device uses movable wheel mounts that can raise and lower independently.

Thanks to this, the robot can climb steps on its own, move up a staircase, and sequentially clean each step before moving up to the next floor. The manufacturer also states that the design allows the device to take small "steps," turn around, and maintain stability even on uneven surfaces. Navigation is handled by a combination of artificial intelligence, motion sensors, and 3D environment analysis. The robot assesses the terrain and independently chooses how to overcome obstacles.

While the Saros Rover remains a demonstration prototype, experts are already calling the ability to move independently between floors one of the most notable breakthroughs in the home robotics segment in recent years.

Samsung Bespoke AI Oven: an oven that understands what you are cooking

Until recently, a smart oven could only maintain a connection with a smartphone. Today, it is beginning to do part of the work for the owner. In the Samsung Bespoke AI Oven lineup, a built-in camera constantly monitors the cooking process. The artificial intelligence system analyzes the image, recognizes certain dishes, and helps select the optimal cooking parameters.

While cooking, the user can watch the process in real time through the SmartThings app without opening the oven door. This is especially convenient when baking, or cooking meat and dishes sensitive to temperature fluctuations. In its newer models, Samsung continues to develop its AI Vision technology, integrating it with Google Gemini services. The company showcases the kitchen as a unified intelligent system where the oven, refrigerator, and other devices exchange data with each other.

At the same time, the manufacturer does not claim that the oven completely replaces a human. It helps recognize ingredients, offers recommendations, and provides automatic cooking modes, but the final decision still rests with the user.

An AI refrigerator with internal cameras: tracks groceries on its own

The refrigerator is gradually turning into a personal kitchen assistant.

The new Samsung Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub models are equipped with internal cameras and an AI Vision system that recognizes groceries as they are placed inside or removed from the fridge.

Based on this information, the refrigerator creates an inventory list, helps manage food supplies, and suggests recipes based on what is already inside. In the updated version, the technology received support for Google Gemini, which significantly expanded its food recognition capabilities.

Another feature is the AI Food Manager. It helps plan shopping trips, analyzes food usage, and suggests meal ideas to reduce food waste.

In essence, the refrigerator stops being just a place to store food and becomes a digital assistant that reminds you what is on the shelves and helps you use ingredients more efficiently.

Seattle Ultrasonics C-200: a kitchen knife that cuts with ultrasound

While robot vacuums or smart ovens no longer deliver a wow-effect, an ultrasonic kitchen knife still looks like real science fiction.

Seattle Ultrasonics introduced the C-200 — the first ultrasonic chef's knife designed specifically for the home kitchen. Unlike conventional knives, this one features an ultrasonic transducer built into the handle, which transmits high-frequency vibrations to the blade at the press of a button.

The manufacturer claims that thanks to these micro-vibrations, the knife requires up to 50% less effort when cutting food. The technology performs particularly well with soft and sticky products — tomatoes, mushrooms, herbs, cheese, and dough — as well as when butchering meat and poultry, as food sticks less to the blade.

At the same time, ultrasound does not turn the knife into an "electric saw." During operation, the blade makes microscopic vibrations that are virtually unnoticeable to the user. The knife itself can also be used as a regular kitchen knife; the ultrasonic mode is turned on with a separate button.

Another feature is power from a built-in battery that charges via USB-C or a wireless charging pad. Unlike professional ultrasonic knives that require connection to a separate power supply unit, the C-200 is designed specifically for household use.

The developers emphasize that the technology is meant to reduce physical strain during daily cooking. This can be especially useful for people with limited hand strength or those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Ninja Luxe Café: a coffee machine that brews the perfect coffee on its own

Modern coffee machines have long been able to grind beans and froth milk. However, the Ninja Luxe Café goes further — it helps the user choose the right brewing parameters.

The main feature of the device is Barista Assist technology. The machine analyzes the selected drink and recommends the optimal grind size, then automatically adjusts extraction parameters — temperature, pressure, and brewing time — to achieve a more balanced taste.

The built-in grinder has 25 grind settings, and the built-in scale automatically determines the required amount of ground coffee for each drink. Because of this, the owner does not have to calculate the dosage manually.

Another feature is the Dual Froth System. The machine automatically froths milk, creating micro-foam for lattes, cappuccinos, and other drinks without the need to manually control the process.

The Ninja Luxe Café combines several devices at once: an espresso machine, a drip coffee maker, and a cold brew system. The higher-end Pro version also includes a separate hot water dispenser for Americanos and tea.

Essentially, the device takes over the part of the work that usually requires a barista's experience: it helps select brewing parameters and automatically executes some of the settings. At the same time, the user can still change them manually if they want to experiment with flavor.