LG Fixes the "Bone-Chilling" AC Problem with 2026 Whisen AI Lineup

The mid-summer struggle is a familiar one: the humidity makes your skin crawl, but turning on the air conditioner transforms your living room into a meat locker. It has always been a binary choice between "sticky" and "shivering." LG’s 2026 Whisen Objet Collection—specifically the Tower I and View I Pro models launched today in South Korea—aims to kill that trade-off for good.

Killing the Dehumidification Chill

Traditional climate control is blunt. To pull moisture from the air, a system must crash the temperature, often leaving users in a refrigerated environment just to escape the dampness. LG’s "AI Cold Free" technology attempts a more surgical approach through a proprietary two-stage heat exchanger.

Instead of dumping freezing, dry air directly into the room, the unit first strips the moisture and then immediately passes that air through a second stage to reheat it to a user-defined comfort level. It’s a sophisticated loop that delivers crisp, dry air without the sharp, unpleasant chill that typically triggers "air conditioning sickness."

This marks a distinct tactical departure from Samsung’s "WindFree" approach. While Samsung uses thousands of micro-holes to disperse air slowly and eliminate drafts, LG is actually manipulating the thermal properties of the air itself. One hides the breeze; the other fixes the temperature. By decoupling humidity control from cooling, LG is trying to turn the air conditioner into a year-round comfort tool rather than a seasonal necessity.

Automated Chores and Spec-Sheet Padding

LG is leaning heavily into what it calls "Affectionate Intelligence"—marketing-speak for the suite of automated maintenance features meant to reduce the "chore" of HVAC ownership. The 2026 models include a "Filter Clean Bot," a robotic arm that traverses the fine filter weekly to prevent dust buildup. This is paired with an AI Heat Exchanger Cleaning function that uses environmental sensors to trigger self-cleaning cycles, theoretically stopping mold before it smells.

Then there is the screen. LG has swapped the previous 4.3-inch display for a massive 6.8-inch high-resolution "Command Center." It provides real-time data on everything from fine dust levels to dehumidification status. It is a beautiful piece of hardware, but one has to wonder: is a smartphone-sized screen on a wall-mounted appliance truly a utility, or is it just spec-sheet padding to justify a premium? In an era where most users control their homes via voice or mobile apps, a giant display on the unit feels like a high-tech flourish looking for a problem to solve.

Tailored Scenarios for the Modern Home

The Whisen series uses its sensor array to handle specific domestic moments that a standard thermostat usually ignores:

• Pet Care Mode: A godsend for owners of long-haired breeds, automatically adjusting airflow to keep animals comfortable when the house is empty.
• Away Energy Saving: Rather than just a timer, this uses occupancy sensors to scale back power when a room is vacant, preventing the home from baking without wasting electricity.
• Ecosystem Sync: The "AI Core-Tech" allows the unit to pull local weather patterns and historical user data to predict cooling needs before the user even feels the heat.

The $4,000 Question

The 2026 Whisen AI lineup began its rollout across South Korea this morning, January 22. As the crown jewel of the Objet Collection, these units carry a price tag that matches their ambition. Depending on the capacity and configuration, the Tower I and View I Pro models range from KRW 4.2 million to 5.97 million (approximately $2,856 to $4,060).