How AI can optimize your chores

Ever feel pushed for time and dread the idea of doing housework? Well, fear not as AI is well and truly underway in transforming your most hated routine.

In today’s chaotic world, we’ve adopted a plug-and-play mentality. When elements in our daily routine don’t go according to plan, we grow increasingly frustrated.

Factor in that we’ve been working from home more often since the pandemic and we might not have as much time to clean up once the dust has settled.

And, of course, it’s important to distinguish what qualifies as AI in these devices, as opposed to standard ones. Think machines that learn on the job and can adapt to ever-changing lifestyles.

We can already catch transport, order food, and pay bills at the push of a button. Why not household chores next? Here are a few tasks that can be easily streamlined with AI.

AI laundry

Have you ever stared bewildered at the settings of a washing machine or dryer, not knowing what each setting represents, let alone which is optimal? Samsung and LG have options available that allow you to throw in a load without the hassle of indecision, which can cost between $2000-3000 respectively.

Basically, these innovative washers have built-in sensors using AI tech that can detect fabric texture, load size and soil level. Then the detergent and softeners are adjusted accordingly to spin you the ultimate bespoke cycle in less than two hours.

You can also control it remotely with voice commands via Google Assistant or Alexa. Furthermore, according to Samsung, its model has up to 20% higher energy efficiency, plus the ability to control other appliances like the oven or robot vacuum cleaner.

Additionally, why not check the weather outside by chatting, enquiring, and commanding, like you would with Chat GPT, before adjusting any wash/dry settings you see fit?

Cleaning robots

A veteran of the Internet of Things scene, we shouldn’t write off cleaning bots as being part of the furniture just yet, as the innovation within these devices is impressive. Using AI navigation systems, the best bots can “learn” the setup of your home and circumnavigate obstacles such as cables, shoelaces, and pet-related mess.

The Independent recently tested many robots in a comparative editorial analysis, including stubborn piles of cornflour and rice. The iRobot Roomba combo j7+ came out on top – retailing at $650 – due to its ability to maneuver in busy homes. Thus, it does not need you to pre-tidy – which always seemed paradoxical – cleaning before the cleaner comes anyway.

Smart kitchen appliances

Why not kit out your kitchen with super-deluxe appliances like a smart oven or refrigerator? For example, the much-heralded June Oven blends a convection oven, air fryer, grill, roaster, slow cooker, dehydrator, toaster, reheater, pizza oven, proofer, broiler, and warming drawer.

In terms of utilizing AI, the June Oven uses an internal HD camera to gauge the ideal cooking parameters based on visual recognition and internal temperature. This, paired with the ability to switch cooking modes, makes for a sophisticated contraption indeed.

On top of that, the LG Instaview Fridge Freezer uses AI to converge with your lifestyle patterns by adjusting the temperature accordingly and providing personalised notifications, which is particularly useful for when you’re out and about on the fly.

Home energy

AI algorithms can proactively analyze and adjust the energy settings based on historical data and weather patterns to adjust heating, cooling, and lighting accordingly. Devices like the Tesla Powerwall are examples of AI-driven tools that do this effectively.

For those aforementioned high-energy tasks like laundry, AI can implement “dynamic load shifting” – scheduling energy-intensive tasks for off-peak hours to put less strain on the grid and save you some money.

And, of course, AI is super efficient at giving you a general sustainability boost. Devices such as the Sense Home Energy Monitor and Emporia Vue track your entire electrical consumption and help reduce your overall footprint.