CES 2026 went beyond flashy screens and faster devices, spotlighting how artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern home. The big shift? Chore-handling robots and connected appliances working as part of a smart ecosystem rather than isolated tools.
Smart Homes Become Synchronized Systems
This year’s CES made it clear: the future of domestic tech lies in seamless collaboration between devices. Brands showcased homes where fridges, ovens, washers, and AI robots share data in real-time, learning routines and optimizing tasks with little need for manual input.
Rather than asking what a device can do alone, the question now is how it cooperates with the rest of the home. For instance, smart fridges use cameras to recognize contents, suggest recipes, and create shopping lists. Dishwashers and washing machines adjust cycles to run during off-peak utility hours, responding to live pricing data rather than preset schedules.
Intelligent Automation: From Control to Orchestration
At the core of this transformation are AI models similar to large language systems, running locally and adapting to each household’s habits. This moves the concept of smart homes beyond automation and into full-scale orchestration, where the system coordinates itself to reduce interruptions and increase efficiency.
LG’s ClOiD: A Humanoid Helper for Daily Chores
The breakout star of CES 2026 was LG’s humanoid robot, ClOiD, designed to handle common household tasks. Using depth sensors, AI-powered vision, and articulated grippers, it can fold laundry, unload dishwashers, and handle hot items safely from ovens.
During demos, ClOiD accurately folded T-shirts by recognizing collars and sleeves, then selecting the appropriate fold. In the kitchen, it unloaded dishes by recognizing and organizing different items. Equipped with thermal sensors and heat-resistant hands, it safely removed hot trays from ovens—showcasing a strong focus on safety awareness.
How ClOiD Maps and Navigates Your Home
To operate smoothly, ClOiD uses 3D cameras and lidar-like sensors to scan and map the layout of each room. It builds a digital model of its environment and adjusts routes dynamically when layouts change—like moved furniture or open doors—ensuring fluid movement around the house.
SwitchBot’s Onero H1: A Specialist in Everyday Tasks
SwitchBot’s entry, the Onero H1, offers a different angle. Unlike ClOiD’s all-purpose design, Onero H1 is focused on interacting with existing home objects. It presses buttons, opens doors, moves baskets, and learns household routines to keep things tidy.
Over time, it identifies patterns—like where clutter tends to build or when the laundry is usually done—and adapts its schedule accordingly. Rather than just taking orders, it proposes actions, making it a proactive member of the household.
New Cleaning Tools and Smart Organisers
Alongside humanoid robots, CES 2026 introduced a range of specialized cleaning tools. These devices may be less flashy but are more affordable and closer to real-world use:
- Robot vacuums that avoid socks, cables, and toys
- Multi-surface robots for floors, windows, and pools
- AI organizers that track tagged items like keys or remotes
- Coordinated appliances that schedule tasks in sequence
These tools are built to reduce mental load and time spent on repetitive chores, offering quiet support rather than flashy performance.
Daily Life with a Chore Robot
Imagine a typical day: the robot spots a nearly full laundry basket and suggests running a load at off-peak hours. After washing, it moves the clothes to a dryer or rack, then folds them later and distributes them to the right rooms.
Meanwhile, it’s unloaded the dishwasher, wiped the table, and confirmed the oven is off. All of this happens with minimal supervision. While users can still override actions through apps or voice assistants, the system is designed to learn preferences and minimize interruptions.
Challenges: Cost, Safety and Privacy
These advanced robots come with high price tags—early versions may cost as much as a small car. Companies are hoping for price drops as AI chips and sensors become cheaper.
However, privacy concerns loom large. Robots that map homes and analyse scenes raise questions about data access and security. Brands claim to prioritize on-device processing and encryption, but future regulations are expected to tighten.
There’s also a human angle: routine chores like folding clothes or cleaning together have long served as moments of connection for families. Designers continue to explore how automation can support rather than replace these shared rituals.
Why 2026’s Robots Are Different
Key technical breakthroughs—like local AI processing, fine-grained object recognition and real-time 3D mapping—are what make these robots more capable and reliable than earlier models.
For buyers, the crucial questions now are less about specs and more about integration and durability. Can the robot work in a cramped apartment? Will it cooperate with your current appliances? And how long will software updates keep it relevant?
Looking Ahead: The Role of Early Users
As these robots enter homes, early adopters will play a key role in shaping future designs. Their feedback will influence not only product features but also social norms: what people are comfortable automating, and what they might never want to take back once delegated to a machine.
| Term | What it means at home |
|---|---|
| Computer vision | Software that lets robots recognise objects, read labels and understand where items are in 3D space. |
| Grasping and manipulation | Algorithms that decide how to pick up, hold and move items of different shapes and fragility. |
| Home mapping | Creation of a digital model of rooms, furniture and obstacles, updated every time the layout changes. |
| Routine learning | Analysis of patterns such as when you cook, sleep or work, so robots can plan tasks at convenient times. |
