An update prompt making the rounds shows Samsung’s Family Hub and Bespoke AI refrigerators preparing to put advertisements on the Cover Screen, and the screenshot spells it out in plain language that has already riled up owners online.
The notice says ads will appear if the Cover Screen is set to Weather, Color, or Daily Board, while Art and Gallery are spared, which means the most utilitarian themes will now double as promotional real estate in the kitchen. The same changelog adds a Samsung News widget to Daily Board, drops example Bixby voice commands, and notes that news, weather, and calendar information are part of the Weather and Color themes after the update.
Threads on Reddit and follow‑on chatter elsewhere captured the eye‑rolling mood, with comments about pricey appliances turning into billboards and suggestions to block network access if possible.
There is context for how we got here, since Samsung quietly floated the idea in May at the NewFronts, where Samsung Ads executives described a pilot for “personal ads” on Family Hub screens as the company tried to extend advertising across the connected home. Executives framed the tests as early and “appropriate,” pitching ads as a way to influence discovery rather than clutter, a pitch that never sat well with people who had already paid four figures for a fridge.
The move also clashes with an April interview in which Samsung’s digital‑appliance R&D chief told The Verge there were no plans to include ads on AI Home screens, a statement that now reads more like a not‑yet than a promise.
That said, if you don’t want to see ads, you can keep the Art and Gallery on display as a temporary workout. It’s unclear if Samsung will eventually bring ads to these screens as well.
Meanwhile, some users are suggesting isolating the appliance on the network or using Pi‑hole or similar DNS filtering. But you should know that this will break smart features that you might actually like using day to day.
For now, we’ll have to wait for more details from Samsung to know which fridges will be getting the update. The OP hasn’t shared any further details, and we don’t see posts from any other Samsung smart fridge owners sharing details about the update either.
We’ll keep an eye out for any developments and will update this article if and when there’s something new to share.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1328 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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