AiRET Debuts AX1, an AI Shoe Care Appliance for Smart Homes

AiRET, a smart home company based at Seoul National University, has introduced the AX1, an AI shoe care appliance that uses on-device vision AI to identify the materials in each part of a shoe before cleaning it. The AX1 is set to debut at CES 2027, marking a pivotal moment in the smart home industry by addressing a long-neglected area of household technology.

The AX1 operates through a four-stage process: SCAN, TREAT, EXTRACT, and VERIFY. First, it scans the shoe and identifies the materials in each area. Then, it applies care suited to each material, without soaking the shoe, and lifts away loosened soil and moisture. Finally, it re-examines the shoe to confirm the result. If an area still needs attention, the AX1 adjusts and treats it again. The entire process runs automatically, with a companion app keeping a care history, though the appliance can be operated without it.

Designed for the entryway, the AX1 features a brushed stainless steel body and a clear glass door that opens downward like an oven, allowing owners to watch the process. A wide display above the door shows how each part of the shoe is being handled. The AX1 processes one pair per cycle and can stand on its own in an entryway, mudroom, or closet, or be integrated into existing cabinetry.

AiRET’s S9 Prestige, a built-in shoe care system for premium residential developments, was named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards Honoree and is supplied through builder partnerships in Korea. The AX1 brings the same condition-aware approach to households without renovation. AiRET has also signed a proof-of-concept agreement with a leading U.S. luxury homebuilder as it prepares for the North American market.

The AX1 does not ask the owner how to clean a shoe; it looks, decides, and then checks its own work, KOO added. At CES 2027, AiRET wants people to experience that shift firsthand.

AiRET Corp. develops AI-based products for the home entryway, including the S9 Prestige built-in shoe care system, the AX1 shoe care appliance, and entryway sensing technologies. The company is set to receive vision AI technologies from Samsung Electronics through Korea’s government-led technology sharing program, with the agreement to be signed this month.