: [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: This story incorrectly says that Samsung's new washer/dryer can make phone calls. The machine can't place outgoing calls directly but can display incoming calls on its screen when paired with a smartphone.]
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Manufacturers are rushing to put artificial intelligence and other smart features into their home appliances. Sometimes, though, it's not clear how useful it is. Here's NPR's James Doubek.
JAMES DOUBEK, BYLINE: Samsung has a new vacuum with an unexpected feature. It can alert you to incoming calls and texts. The company's new washer and dryer can also make phone calls. The appliances are part of a new AI product line, and Samsung isn't alone. LG, GE and others are also pushing AI in their home devices. But do consumers want AI in a vacuum cleaner? Online reviews have been skeptical, suggesting the features aren't worth the premium price, and only 15% of households own a smart large appliance. Some experts say companies are just throwing out ideas to see what works.
RICK KOWALSKI: The industry looks at these new features. They're - a lot of cases, they're testing out the new use cases, so seeing what might stick in the years to come, what customers might be interested in.
DOUBEK: That's Rick Kowalski, an industry analyst with the trade group the Consumer Technology Association. Some of these AI features could be useful, like a fridge that gives you recipe recommendations based on what's inside, and from the manufacturer's standpoint, they want data. If you connect an appliance to the internet, then the manufacturer could track how it's used over time. Samsung did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Parks is a market researcher who works with some appliance companies. She says, connected devices help create an ongoing customer relationship.
ELIZABETH PARKS: It creates a service model, right? You sell the large appliance, the refrigerator, or the washer dryer, and then maybe you sell the maintenance that goes with it. And there's your service plan.
DOUBEK: There's a long way to go before most people own a smart refrigerator or washer. Parks' surveys found customers don't see a lot of value in smart features when they add on costs. Customers also have security and privacy concerns. Stacey Higginbotham, a policy fellow at Consumer Reports, thinks more transparency is needed there. She says, at some point, your home smart devices stop getting software updates from manufacturers.
STACEY HIGGINBOTHAM: When they stop providing security updates, I'm going to have a vulnerable device on my network, so I will need to take it offline.
DOUBEK: Experts say most appliances' core function should remain even if the device is offline. Still, Higginbotham says that when it comes to AI and smart appliances...
HIGGINBOTHAM: The manufacturers talk a pretty good game about this but the features they deliver are not really there yet.
DOUBEK: James Doubek, NPR News.
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