There is desire and benefit in these things being smart devices and AI is just the stupid label slapped on every smart device after 2024. A benefit of a smart washer is that it can, theoretically, do a more thorough and more efficient job of washing various amounts, sizes, thicknesses, and materials in the load by measuring water usage, balance, weight, and output water condition. A smart fridge can, theoretically, do some lofty things that aren't nearly as desired as just being a media hub. Streaming videos, reordering groceries on Amazon, displaying recipes, displaying weather, displaying pictures, etc - really mor elike a tablet stuck to the fridge.

Implementation of said benefits is a different story. They are obviously consumer surveillance devices with sales pitches to make them "the best" faster than the competition.