GoKawiilThe dishwasher felt like the final frontier for cameras in the kitchen. Cams and sensors have found their way into most major appliances. Ovens have cameras that watch food as it cooks and alert you when it’s properly browned, and smart refrigerators will ping you when you’re running low on eggs and suggest recipes based on what’s lingering in the crisper. But I failed to see an obvious use for hidden cameras in dishwashers.
When I heard that Miele had snuck one into its new model, unveiled this week at IFA 2026 in Berlin, I was suspicious. After a brand rep walked me through the new Diamond G8 and its novel smart features, I began to see some appeal.
A camera in Miele’s new dishwasher helps it choose the perfect cycle. David Watsky/CNET
The small camera, fixed to the back of the dishwasher door, gets a clear shot 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 volume 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 items 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 lighter cycle, so you’re not wasting more hot water or soap than is needed.
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 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.
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