Midea has one of the biggest booths at IFA 2026. It features a massive range of products, including dishwashers, ACs, and washing machines. There were a bunch of things that caught my attention, including an air conditioner unit that sends custom cool air to you wherever you are. However, I was more interested in the new voice-activated system, which allows you to control these appliances with your voice.

The Midea Smart Master series has AI Agents built into them. They support up to 140 languages and can recognize your voice in “an 8-metre voice-recognition range,” says the brand. It is also claimed to deliver quick responses with a 0.4-second response time. The voice control functionality is built into “key appliances, with additional access through in-car systems and other connected devices,” says the press release.

You can use the voice commands to turn your appliances on or off, or trigger the mmWave sensor system without needing a remote or opening your phone. There are multiple other AI Agents, which I couldn’t go hands-on with. However, they can provide “personalised support throughout the day.”

For example, the Comfort Agent can automatically adjust your air conditioner and humidifier when you arrive home, or the Health Agent can recommend meals based on ingredients in the refrigerator and coordinate with the kitchen appliances at dinner time. There’s another Efficiency Agent, which is said to help households manage energy use, and the Service Agent can diagnose issues and provide maintenance guidance with real-time video support when needed.

All of this sounds cool and would be fantastic if it works as stated outside of the controlled environment. But I have my doubts, given my experience with AI agents on phones so far. Apart from AI, I liked Midea ’s new air conditioner that sends custom cool air to you, no matter where you are in the room. It recognizes your presence by using spatial imaging and sensors and then sends its stream of cool air your way.