LAS VEGAS—Microwaves are pretty convenient, but how about an oven that whips up some chicken cordon bleu when you ask? That's the type of technology Dacor is bringing to its latest dual-range ovens, which I got to check out here at CES.

Dacor's ovens are powered by built-in Android tablets, which isn't anything new—I first got a look at the company's connected wall ovens back in 2013. Last year, the company expanded to dual-range models, and added remote control ability through Android phones. This year, however, the company is focused on voice control.

Using the built-in in app, you can issue commands like, "Start bake on the left oven at 200 degrees," or "Cancel the right oven." You can also do things like toggle lights, set timers, pause timers, and exit voice control, all by simply saying so. The voice-activation technology will be available starting this spring in Dacor's Discovery iQ line of products, which include 36- and 48-inch dual-fuel ranges, as well as single and double wall ovens. The price is steep—Dacor's 48-inch model sells for a whopping $12,000.

In addition to voice control, the built-in tablet is also a fully functional Android tablet, so you can use it to watch cooking shows while you're actually cooking. A representative for the company was reluctant to reveal that the tablet is still powered by Ice Cream Sandwich, a relatively ancient version of the Android operating system, but an update is in the works.

The tablet hardware should also see an upgrade, with an improved screen, and you'll be able to replace it on existing Dacor ovens without needing to buy a new oven entirely. Dacor is also planning to add support for new users with the addition of a remote iOS app.

Home automation is definitely heating up, and an oven that can cook your dinner by simply telling it to is intriguing. But we've all seen plenty of instances of voice control gone wrong in the past, so Dacor really needs to nail the functionality if it wants to push past the boundaries of luxury kitchen products into ones that people feel they really must have. I'm curious to see if that will happen.

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