Can a CES 2026 AI cooking agent substitute how we cook dinner?

The wan AIChef Ultra made its CES 2026 debut with a daring declare: it isn’t only a good equipment—it’s an AI cooking agent. On paper, that concept is compelling. The system guarantees to plan meals, personalize recipes, create grocery lists, and even consider diet objectives—fairly a listing! For busy households or anybody making an attempt to eat extra deliberately, the enchantment is apparent.

The {hardware} itself seems deceptively easy—extra like an outsized microwave than a futuristic robotic chef—however inside, wan AIChef runs its proprietary Zhurong Cooking Model. It makes use of AI to personalize and automate cooking. All you need to do is load the components, decide a aim, and let the system do its job. In concept, this implies much less time fascinated with dinner and fewer last-minute takeout orders.

Where my skepticism is available in

At the tip of the day, that is nonetheless a microwave-based system, not a robotic chef chopping, stirring, or sautéing for you. The AI can optimize temperature (±3°C), observe energy, and fine-tune outcomes—however it could’t escape the equipment’s bodily limits.

There’s additionally the dedication issue. The full promise of wan AIChef Ultra solely actually works if you happen to’re prepared to let it deal with most—or all—of your meals. That would possibly make sense in senior residing, hospitality, or wellness-focused households. It’s a more durable promote for house cooks who take pleasure in selection, spontaneity, or utilizing a number of home equipment.

Where AI cooking shines

Still, it could be a mistake to dismiss this as simply one other good microwave. The wan AIChef is pondering long-term, treating the kitchen as a data-driven system somewhat than a set of remoted devices. If that is model considered one of a broader clever cooking ecosystem, it’s an intriguing begin.

Who is that this AI microwave truly for?

The wan AIChef Ultra isn’t for individuals who love cooking from scratch or improvising. If you’re like me and chopping, seasoning, and experimentation are your pleasure, this system will doubtless really feel restrictive.

It does make sense for individuals who see cooking as an issue to be solved: busy professionals who need meals with out each day planning, households centered on diet monitoring, or anybody trying to make their house simpler to handle. It additionally suits properly in managed environments, like senior residing communities or business kitchens—the place consistency and effectivity matter greater than creativity.

For on a regular basis house customers, wan AIChef Ultra is an early-adopter product. It’s not the way forward for cooking for everybody—at the very least not but. It does give a glimpse of how AI may finally transfer past recipe ideas and handle all the cooking course of, finish to finish. Whether that future sounds interesting to you in all probability is dependent upon how you’re feeling about letting an AI resolve what’s for dinner.

Lauren has been writing and enhancing since 2008. She loves working with textual content and serving to writers discover their voice. When she’s not typing away at her pc, she cooks and travels along with her husband and two daughters.