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11h ago

Samsung Begins U.S. Pilot Putting Ads on Family Hub Fridge Screens

Ads appear only on select idle cover themes after a software update, with a months-long test and new terms shaping any wider rollout.

Samsung Family Hub Fridge
Not all Samsung fridges will be getting ads, though it might not be long before every appliance has ads. © Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Samsung is piloting a software update that would display ads on the screens of certain Family Hub refrigerators.
samsung fridges on display

Overview

  • Samsung confirmed a U.S. pilot to show promotions and curated advertisements on certain Family Hub refrigerators via an over‑the‑network update that also adds new Terms of Service and a Privacy Notice.
  • Advertisements appear on the Weather, Color, and Daily Board cover themes when the screen is idle, while Art Mode and picture albums remain ad‑free under the pilot.
  • Users can dismiss individual ads but there is no universal opt‑out, and going offline can stop ads at the cost of cloud features such as cameras, shopping integrations, and voice functions.
  • Phase one will not collect data about consumer ad interactions, and Samsung says the test is intended to gather feedback before deciding next steps.
  • The pilot began in September 2025 and is slated to run for several months, with affected models not fully specified and mounting consumer pushback highlighting an April statement that previously ruled out ads on appliance screens.