Miele Put a Camera in Its New Dishwasher. Here’s Why

AI-powered cameras have made their way into most major kitchen appliances. Ovens now watch food as it cooks and tell you when it’s done. Smart refrigerators will ping you when you’re running low on milk or suggest recipes based on what they see lingering in the crisper drawer. The dishwasher seemed like the final frontier for cameras in kitchen appliances. When I heard that Miele had snuck one into its latest model, unveiled this week at IFA Berlin, I was suspicious. But after a rep walked me through the shiny new Diamond G8 and its camera-focused features, I started to see the appeal. A camera in Miele’s new dishwasher helps it pick the perfect cycle. The small camera, mounted on the back of the dishwasher door, provides a clear view of the dishwasher’s interior. It uses that view to take inventory of what’s inside, recognizing dozens of common kitchen items and tailoring the wash cycle and detergent amount accordingly. The Diamond G8 is one of the smartest dishwashers we’ve encountered, and it’s easy on the eyes. Got portable bottles or reusable straws in the dedicated slots? The dishwasher’s brain will recognize them and make sure those areas get the spritz they need. Load it up with pots and pans, and the camera identifies them, triggering a more intensive cycle so everything comes out clean. A smaller load prompts a light cycle, so you’re not wasting more hot water or soap than you need. The G8 recognizes straws, flatware, silverware and cookware and adjusts its cycle for optimized cleaning. The camera also determines how full the dishwasher is. Command the G8 to start when it reaches, say, 80% capacity, and it’ll monitor the load and automatically begin a cycle once it hits that threshold. One of my favorite features has nothing to do with the camera The dishwasher can be programmed to run when energy costs are cheapest in your area. The G8 Diamond takes advantage of fluctuations in electricity prices throughout the day. Tell it to run when electricity is cheapest, and the dishwasher waits for those lower-cost hours before starting its cycle. It’s a small detail, but it points to where Miele – and kitchen appliances more broadly – seem to be headed: machines that don’t just perform a task, but figure out the best and most efficient way to do it. The camera paired with a smart detergent dispenser doles out just the right amount of soap. Miele’s newly unveiled machine has other AI-powered features that encourage efficiency and performance. The G8 features careful water and energy monitoring, trackable through Miele’s app. There’s also a smart detergent-dispensing system, first introduced by the brand in 2018, and a beefed-up hot-air drying system, which Miele says gets dishes bone-dry every time. The Diamond G8 is scheduled to roll out later this year, according to a spokesperson. A retail price is still under wraps, but I expect it to land in the super-premium zone. For a top-performing dishwasher you can buy today, see our list of the best models in 2026. Editors’ note: David Watsky’s travel costs for the IFA conference were covered by IFA. The judgments and opinions of CNET are our own