Intelligent Sensing: The Emerging Integration of Machine Learning and Soft Sensors Based on Hydrogels and Ionogels

By integrating with machine learning (ML), hydrogel‐ and ionogel‐based soft sensors are gaining human brain‐like capabilities to perceive, learn, and predict. This review summarizes their advances, focusing on ML‐powered applications such as handwriting/gesture/object/motion/speech recognition, health monitoring, food detection, and beyond. This integration is accelerating development in human‐machine interfaces, healthcare, and soft robotics. Abstract Intelligent sensing means the capability of systems to perceive, learn, analyze, and predict based on external stimuli, mimicking the cognitive functions of the human brain. With the assistance of machine learning algorithms for data processing, soft sensors made from hydrogels and ionogels possess intelligent sensing abilities. Here, the recent advances of hydrogel‐ and ionogel‐based soft sensors are comprehensively investigated and summarized, with a specific focus on machine learning‐implemented applications, including handwriting/gesture/object/motion/speech recognition, health monitoring, food detection, and beyond. With current limitations and future perspectives discussed, the fusion of the two is envisioned that can accelerate the development of intelligent sensing in the areas of human‐machine interface (HMI), health care, and soft robotics. By integrating with machine learning (ML), hydrogel- and ionogel-based soft sensors are gaining human brain-like capabilities to perceive, learn, and predict. This review summarizes their advances, focusing on ML-powered applications such as handwriting/gesture/object/motion/speech recognition, health monitoring, food detection, and beyond. This integration is accelerating development in human-machine interfaces, healthcare, and soft robotics. Abstract Intelligent sensing means the capability of systems to perceive, learn, analyze, and predict based on external stimuli, mimicking the cognitive functions of the human brain. With the assistance of machine learning algorithms for data processing, soft sensors made from hydrogels and ionogels possess intelligent sensing abilities. Here, the recent advances of hydrogel- and ionogel-based soft sensors are comprehensively investigated and summarized, with a specific focus on machine learning-implemented applications, including handwriting/gesture/object/motion/speech recognition, health monitoring, food detection, and beyond. With current limitations and future perspectives discussed, the fusion of the two is envisioned that can accelerate the development of intelligent sensing in the areas of human-machine interface (HMI), health care, and soft robotics. Advanced Science, Volume 12, Issue 48, December 29, 2025.