Imagine a world where your refrigerator not only keeps your food cold but also keeps track of your groceries, reminding you when you’re running low on essentials and even ordering them for you. This isn’t the future; it’s the present, thanks to Samsung‘s latest integration with Instacart. Announced just this week, Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators are about to become even more intelligent with a new feature that leverages AI to enhance your grocery shopping experience.

Samsung has entered into a multi-year partnership with Instacart, aiming to revolutionize how we manage our kitchen inventory. This collaboration will enable users to shop for groceries directly from their Samsung Bespoke refrigerator’s screen. Whether it’s the expansive 32-inch model or the newly introduced 9-inch screen, set to debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this month, the technology promises convenience at your fingertips.

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How it works

At the heart of this innovation is Samsung’s “Vision AI” food recognition technology, dubbed “AI Vision Inside.” This feature uses cameras strategically placed both above and inside the fridge to monitor your inventory. When you add or remove items, the AI keeps track, identifying up to 37 types of food including fruits and vegetables.

When the AI detects that you’re low on an item, it uses Instacart’s product matching API to suggest replacements or refills directly through the fridge’s interface. This integration means you can replenish your stock with just a few taps on the screen, ordering from Instacart without needing to pull out your phone or leave your kitchen.

But the benefits don’t stop at simple recognition and ordering. The system is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Samsung Food app, which allows users to manually add items or recipes. Once you purchase items from your shopping list, the app automatically updates your inventory. Similarly, if you cook a dish listed in your saved recipes, the ingredients used are automatically adjusted on your food list, and any depleted items are added back to your shopping list for reordering.

This could significantly reduce food waste, optimize shopping, and manage your kitchen inventory with little to no effort on your part. However, the real-world functionality and user experience are yet to be fully evaluated.

For those with older Samsung models, this isn’t the first time Instacart has appeared on a Samsung fridge. Previously, there was a standalone Instacart app on certain models, but it disappeared earlier this year, leaving users like myself puzzled about its sudden absence from my 2019 model. This new integration marks a return but with a more sophisticated setup, indicating Samsung’s commitment to enhancing smart home ecosystems.

Looking ahead

The rollout of this feature is expected via a firmware update later in 2025 for refrigerators equipped with “AI Vision Inside.” This update not only promises to bring back Instacart functionality but to do so in a way that’s more integrated and useful than ever before.

However, the success of this integration will depend on several factors, including the accuracy of the AI in recognizing diverse food items, the ease of use of the interface, and how well it integrates with day-to-day kitchen activities. There’s also the question of privacy and security, especially with cameras monitoring your food supply.