Samsung Update Bricks AI Fridges, Leaving Food to Spoil

Samsung has halted a faulty software update after it caused some of its smart refrigerators in South Korea to stop functioning, leaving some customers with spoiled food just days before the Chuseok holiday.

The problem affected some Samsung Bespoke AI refrigerators after owners installed a software update through the company’s SmartThings platform. Following the update, some refrigerators reportedly lost power, stopped cooling and became unresponsive.

Affected customers reported that their refrigerators became stuck on an update screen, while other functions—including interior lighting and automatic door opening—also stopped working. In some cases, the temperature inside the refrigerators began rising, putting stored food at risk of spoiling.

The timing made the situation particularly frustrating for many Korean consumers, as the problem emerged just before Chuseok, a major three-day holiday during which families typically stock up on food.

Some affected customers reported throwing away large quantities of spoiled food after their refrigerators stopped cooling. Korean media also reported complaints from customers who were initially told that service appointments could be delayed because of the high number of cases and the holiday period.

Samsung acknowledged that an error occurred during testing of the refrigerator software update. The company subsequently stopped distributing the update and launched emergency measures through its service centres to restore affected refrigerators.

Samsung said it was prioritising customers whose refrigeration or freezer functions had stopped working and was aiming to restore affected units quickly. The company is also reviewing whether compensation will be provided for food losses.

The incident highlights an unusual risk associated with increasingly connected home appliances. A refrigerator that can receive software updates remotely can gain new features and capabilities, but a faulty update can also disrupt basic functions that traditionally depended almost entirely on hardware.

For affected Samsung customers, the immediate concern was much simpler: keeping their food cold.

The company has not publicly indicated that all Samsung smart refrigerators are affected. The reports so far have centred on certain Bespoke AI refrigerator models in South Korea, and Samsung has not disclosed the total number of affected units.