Shutting down the motor and locking the door would both impede the basic operation of the fridge. The CES AI fridge has both a motor to open and close the door and a child safety lock. Those two components plus temperature control are wired into the control computer. It is one online connected automatic firmware update away from deciding it can lock you out and set the temperature to room temperature.

And the funny part is, if that happened, the report you cited above would still consider the fridge functional, because the equipment is operating ‘as designed’ and Samsung could restore functionality at the drop of a hat. But that wouldn’t be any consolation to the user.

But I’m done here. Stick your head in the sand if you think that protects you.

Unless corporate turns off the cold to shake more money out of you - which has been done repeatedly in other technologies. Juicers that require branded juice, ditto for coffee machines, multifunction printers that won’t operate the scanner without a subscription. When Samsung said “security and privacy are foundational” about the AI fridge at CES, what do you think that’s a euphemism for? They’re not taking about user privacy or user security (but would like rubes to think they are). They mean their ability to re-secure the fridge if you stop giving Samsung your data/cash.

Yes, I concede the parts aren’t in disrepair. Just saying, for the context of the original meme, what does it matter if the motor part is working if the fridge if the fridge is otherwise making itself unusable?

Excuse me. I was a few days early … now can we discuss this?

https://apnews.com/article/ces-worst-show-ai-0ce7fbc5aff68e8ff6d7b8e6fb7b007d

“Everything is an order of magnitude more difficult,” she said of the fridge that also uses computer vision to track when food items are running low and can advertise replacements.

The South Korean tech giant also said “security and privacy are foundational” to the AI experiences in the fridge.

If the infotainment system doubles as the gearshift as a deliberate way to marry the two, yes! Try driving a Tesla (well don’t because of bad corporate ownership; but still, as example):

• The steering wheel isn’t connected to the wheels, it’s connected to the computer.
• The windshield wipers are controlled by the computer.
• Everything in the security system checks in by the computer.
• The car can be remotely disabled by the computer

If they can make a vroom vroom box dependent on a computer, why do you think a chill box is exempt?

• “I’m sorry, but the temperature control requires registering an account in the app”
• “Oh, the in-door icebox needs a subscription, but you’re welcome to use trays in the freezer if you prefer”
• “You missed your installment payment, please pay in 3 days or cooling functionality will be suspended”
• “The child door lock has been automatically engaged for your safety”
• “The fridge of the future requires an always on internet connection”

You think CEOs aren’t just itching to pull crap like this? What use is it if the motor technically operates, if the controls simply refuse to turn it on?

Yes, but these new smart fridges are just classic fridges with a general purpose computer attached. Do you think Samsung is going to offer a replacement/upgrade kit for the embedded tablet, or do you think they’ll use it as leverage to sell you a new fridge?

Microsoft just basically tried to force most everyone using a Windows 10 system to purchase a new system, ostensibly over a flaw/shortcoming in the TPM module.

Samsung just started pushing advertisements into their fridge’s Android displays.

Apple and the mobile ISPs have been pushing a ‘replace every two years’ agenda for well over a decade.

I think the ‘short life span’ here has more to do with the ‘modern CPU fridge controller’ “failing” due to planned obsolescence, and not as such the mechanics of the refrigerant systems themselves.