A different view by Jaime Porta

Smarter Than Your Average Oven: AI and the Rise of the Intelligent Kitchen

In a recent post, I talked about how AI is reinventing the recipe, making it more dynamic, personalized, and even creative. Before that, we explored how this same shift is pushing companies like Thermomix to rethink their value in a world of connected, learning machines.

But what about the appliances themselves?

It’s no longer just about blenders, mixers, or even guided cooking. The kitchen is becoming a smart ecosystem. And at the center of it all is a new generation of AI-powered tools that don’t just execute, they think.

From Smart to Intelligent

The term “smart appliance” used to mean you could control it from your phone. Convenient, sure. But not exactly game-changing. What we’re seeing now is different.

Today’s kitchen devices are starting to:

• Recognize ingredients using cameras and sensors
• Suggest cooking modes and automatically adjust settings
• Track your preferences and adapt over time
• Connect with apps, health data, and shopping lists

This is where AI makes a real difference: taking data from what you cook, how you cook, and when you cook, and turning it into meaningful recommendations and automation.

Examples You Can Already Buy (Or Will Soon)

Some of the examples I touched on in earlier posts are already hitting the market.

Take Samsung’s Bespoke AI Oven. It uses a camera to recognize what’s inside and then recommends the right temperature and mode. It even sends alerts to your phone when food might be about to burn. It’s not just reactive, it’s predictive.

The June Oven works similarly, recognizing dozens of food types and cooking them automatically. No more guessing if the salmon is done or whether the cookies need another minute.

Then there’s Nymble’s Julia, a smart countertop robot that combines stirring, sautéing, and steaming with recipe guidance. It takes the guesswork, and much of the labor, out of everyday meals.

And for those with big dreams (and big kitchens), Moley Robotics has designed a fully robotic kitchen with articulated arms that replicate a professional chef’s movements. It’s futuristic, yes, but also a glimpse of where high-end automation might be heading.

What This Means for the Cooking Experience

When appliances know what you’re doing, and how you like to do it, the cooking process becomes less about managing tools and more about enjoying the act itself.

Imagine this:

• Your fridge reminds you that the spinach is about to expire and suggests a recipe.
• Your oven preheats itself when it sees you start chopping.
• Your cooking assistant adjusts timing based on how thick your steak is, without you doing a thing.

These aren’t gimmicks. They’re the next logical step in user-centric design, powered by AI and embedded intelligence.

What Should Companies Do?

As I wrote in the first post of this series, VZug, Samsung, Thermomix and similar brands are at a crossroads. They’ve already shown what’s possible in blending hardware and digital experiences. But AI raises the bar.

Tomorrow’s customers will expect more than guided cooking. They’ll expect learning, prediction, and full integration. They’ll want devices that connect with their schedule, their diet, and even their doctor’s recommendations.

The risk isn’t being replaced. It’s being outpaced, by smaller, more agile players who design AI-first from day one.

The Future is Here

The kitchen is quietly becoming one of the most innovative spaces in our homes. AI is turning appliances into collaborators, tools that understand context, offer guidance, and remove friction from daily life.

For consumers, this means smarter meals, less stress, and more time to enjoy food. For companies, it’s a call to rethink what a “cooking device” really is.

The recipe is changing. And so is the kitchen.