AI Air Conditioners Heat Up Market Competition with Dual Heat and Humidity Control

An early heatwave has arrived. As air conditioners that simultaneously tackle heat and humidity using artificial intelligence (AI) technology capture consumers' attention, competition among companies showcasing them is also heating up.

Air conditioners equipped with AI functions have been shown to reduce concerns about 'cooling sickness' by simultaneously controlling temperature and humidity. While spaces operating only the cooling function felt cold and damp, those running both cooling and dehumidifying modes maintained a pleasant, dry coolness without being too cold. Consumer preference has also clearly shifted. Jinhyuk Jeong, a senior official at LG Electronics Best Shop, said, "Previously, people preferred immediate cooling and direct cold air, but now the preference has changed to maintaining a certain temperature while controlling humidity."

Appliance manufacturers are competing by successively launching AI air conditioners that direct airflow away from people or automatically adjust humidity based on weather conditions. Due to a surge in orders, some companies have already been operating their air conditioner production lines at full capacity since February. Daewon Seo, branch manager at Samsung Store, stated, "The earlier-than-usual summer weather has increased the number of customers seeking air conditioners, and air conditioner sales in April surged by more than 70% compared to the previous month."