Robotics, AI take center stage as IFA 2026 opens in Berlin

IFA Berlin 2026, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and home appliances, opened Friday, with robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage.

According to the organizers, this year's event has attracted more than 1,900 brands from around the world. Visitors can explore a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and innovations during the five-day event, from robots and AI to smart homes and flying cars.

Inside the exhibition halls, AI is increasingly moving beyond screens into real-life applications. Smaller and more energy-efficient AI models are rapidly integrated into smart phones, vehicles, home appliances and other everyday consumer products.

Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Berlin, said companies now need to show clearly what AI can actually bring to users.

"I believe there is an increasing need for companies to explain what AI can actually bring to consumers. That means AI itself isn't what should be front and center, rather, you explain the product and what the innovation is. An innovation isn't defined primarily by highlighting certain features. Instead, the product has to be intuitive and easy to use," said Lindner.

At this year's IFA, Chinese companies have continued their strong presence, with brands, including TCL, Hisense, Haier, DJI and Xiaomi, showcasing new products and technologies that are drawing significant attention from media and visitors.

At Chinese home appliance giant Haier's exhibition booth, a smart refrigerator is demonstrating an entire process including food identification, inventory management and reminders, while laundry and garment-care devices use computer vision and algorithms to assess clothing conditions and automatically select appropriate programs.

"I think everybody in this fair will talk about artificial intelligence, AI. It's a theme which is massively important. We're also starting to talk more about robotics, so the physical and the intelligence coming together. It's about sensing, it's about cameras, it's about intelligence, it's about technologies," said Neil Tunstall, CEO of Haier Europe.

With the show now underway, more AI-, robotics- and smart-device-focused launches of products are expected over the coming days to highlight how AI is reshaping the next generation of consumer electronics.

Robotics, AI take center stage as IFA 2026 opens in Berlin

The U.S. State Department approved possible military sales to Saudi Arabia and Oman on Friday, with the deals valued at an estimated 5.75 billion U.S. dollars and 188 million U.S. dollars, respectively.

Saudi Arabia has requested a 5 billion U.S. dollars purchase of JDAM-ER (Joint Direct Attack Munitions-Extended Range) guidance kits and related equipment, including 5,004 BLU-111 500-pound and 5,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs, the State Department said in a release.

The proposed Saudi purchase also includes AGT-1500 engines and related equipment, valued at 750 million U.S. dollars, according to the release.

In another release, the U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of F-16 Sustainment services and related equipment to Oman.

The administration has now forwarded the foreign military sales notifications to Capitol Hill for congressional review.

U.S. State Department approves nearly 6 bln USD arms sale to Saudi Arabia, Oman