Across Southeast Asia and Oceania, consumers have been quick to embrace technology that makes everyday life simpler. From digital commerce and mobile payments to super apps and connected services, digital experiences are now integral to how people shop, communicate, work and manage daily life.

That same expectation is shaping how people approach artificial intelligence. As the world commemorates AI Appreciation Day this July, the shift is clear: AI is moving from experimentation into everyday use. In Southeast Asia and Oceania, where mobile-first lifestyles and digital adoption are among the highest in the world, people are beginning to expect AI to help them work, communicate, make decisions and move through daily life with greater ease.

The more embedded AI becomes in our lives, the more its value will be measured by how meaningfully it improves everyday experiences. The next phase of AI, which we will be unveiling at Unpacked on 22 July in London, will not be defined by technical capability alone, but by how naturally it fits into different lifestyles, understands individual needs and removes friction from daily routines.

From AI Tools to Connected Experiences

For years, technology evolved device by device. Each served a specific role: mobile phones for communication and productivity, wearables for health and activity insights, televisions for entertainment, and appliances for household routines.

Each device only supports one part of the user’s day. But when connected through AI, they can work together in ways that are more responsive to context and easier to act on.

SmartThings is central to making this possible. By bringing devices, services and partners into one connected ecosystem, it helps turn the intelligence offered by individual features into seamless experiences that are more natural and relevant in real-world scenarios.

Consider a young professional managing a fast-paced day, where even small decisions can add to the mental load. With AI Vision, our Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub can help track fresh produce and packaged goods[1], alert users[2] when frequently used items are running low, and make grocery planning easier.

That same support extends to well-being. SmartThings integrates with Samsung Health to provide insights through Galaxy devices like the Galaxy Ring, while Galaxy Watch features such as Running Coach can analyse running performance data and customise training programs for users working towards their fitness goals. And as the user unwinds after a long day by watching their favourite shows on TV, Samsung Vision AI extends intelligence to the screen, helping the TV adapt to viewer preferences and make entertainment easier to discover, personalise and enjoy.

Together, these experiences show the broader promise of AI: making daily life easier not through one device acting alone, but through an ecosystem that understands context and can offer personalised responses to people’s needs.

Mobile as the Primary Gateway

Although AI now connects more devices across daily life, mobile remains the primary gateway. The mobile phone links people to the services, content, devices and relationships they rely on daily.

This is where agentic AI becomes especially important. As intelligence grows more contextual, mobile devices are evolving from a tool people use to search, message and browse, into an interface that helps them understand what matters, suggests the next step and completes everyday actions with less effort.

Galaxy AI is designed for this next phase of mobile AI. Instead of asking users to manage every task manually, it surfaces suggestions for what comes next. Mobile AI becomes most useful when its intelligence is built directly into the device experience itself.

Consumers in Southeast Asia and Oceania welcome the benefits and recognise the potential of AI but their trust needs to be earned. To deeply embed AI into daily life, consumers must feel that their data stays safe and that they are in control. Galaxy AI is designed to help protect personal information by keeping sensitive data close to the user, while giving users clear visibility and choice over how their data is used to power AI experiences. As AI expands across the connected ecosystem, Samsung has also extended Knox Matrix, its cross-device security platform, to provide a unified layer of protection across home appliances, mobile devices and TVs.

We are still in the early stages of this transformation. With AI becoming more widespread in daily life, new form factors will shape how people see, use, and act on information. Foldables are an important part of that future. A screen that flexes and unfolds gives AI greater flexibility to support multiple tasks, richer content and more contextual experiences at once.

At the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked, we will share more on how this vision is coming together.

The next chapter of AI will not be defined by how much more technology people must manage. It will be defined by how naturally intelligence fits into everyday life, helping people live, work, and connect more easily.

[1] A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account are required. If a food item is not recognisable, it may be listed as an unknown item. AI Vision cannot identify or list any food items in the freezer. Recognition uses AI models that may be updated periodically to help improve performance. User may need to manually check and adjust the list to ensure its accuracy.

[2] Available through the SmartThings app, available on Android and IOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account are required. Both devices must be signed in with the same Samsung account.

AI will be no different.

Where AI Meets People

AI is getting smarter faster, and this will continue. But to change how people live, it must answer: where, how and into whose hands does this intelligence reach? This will define AI’s next chapter.

AI no longer merely answers. It is entering an agentic age, taking action on our behalf while the person carries the final decision. But to act for someone, it must first know them.

That is why it matters where AI meets people. The entry points are where AI understands a person and builds trust. The best AI experiences will come from the devices that know the user best.

This is what Samsung has spent years building. The phone is closest to us, with us daily. The tablet is where we create and learn. The watch reads signals like sleep and heart rate. The TV and connected home appliances add context from where we live. And new form factors, from foldables to intelligent eyewear, expand where AI meets us. Together, a fuller picture of a person’s needs forms.

These entry points are powerful together. Signals from across devices become timely assistance: sleep tracked by your watch shapes tomorrow’s schedule, with information always available. AI at its best works quietly in the background, bringing these moments into a cohesive experience. That is why we have spent years building an ecosystem not just to reach, but to connect more moments.

Built on Openness and Trust

Samsung does not do this alone. The platforms that changed the world were the most open. The web was. So were mobile operating systems. With SmartThings, we brought devices, services and partners into one connected experience, shaping industry open standards. Openness lets the best ideas reach people faster. And we don’t simply layer intelligence on top, but design how AI works at the center so it serves each person in context.

But openness alone is not the goal. The harder task is turning intelligence into something personal and trustworthy. The best intelligence in the world should reach people through their everyday devices. But what makes it personal is understanding the user and keeping that understanding safe. That is our responsibility.

As AI becomes more personal and agentic, trust becomes the foundation. People need to know what AI is doing for them and remain in control.

This is why trust isn’t added at the end. Samsung Knox protects each Galaxy device and now the connections between them. As intelligence moves across devices, protecting what flows between them is crucial. The most personal data stays on the device so people can understand how AI is working and remain in control.

The Next Chapter of Galaxy

That same understanding shapes the devices we build. The more personal and capable AI becomes, the more form matters. As AI helps us with more at once, a screen that flexes and folds expands what is possible. This is what makes foldables special: they fold into your hand or open a larger stage. On this journey, Samsung has continued to make foldables thinner, lighter, stronger and more immersive.

AI is also essential in health. How we sleep, recover and look after ourselves—daily choices add up. A device close to us, like a watch, tracks these signals ensuring a better day.

The upcoming Galaxy Unpacked is where we will show what’s next in bringing all this together: more personal, natural AI experiences on a foundation more partners can build on. The question that opens the next era is not who has the smartest AI, but who understands people best, and turns that understanding into experiences they can trust.

We intend to take this path with openness and responsibility, beginning with the device already in your hand. We open this next chapter together at Galaxy Unpacked.

On July 22, Samsung will host Unpacked in London, U.K. Join us as we unveil the next chapter of Galaxy innovation. 

The event will be streamed live on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom and Samsung’s YouTube channel beginning at 11pm AEST and 2 p.m. BST.

On July 10, Samsung Electronics will host Galaxy Unpacked in Paris — where the iconic cultural nexus and trend epicentre becomes the perfect backdrop for the rollout of our latest cutting-edge innovations. The event will be streamed live on samsung.com/au/, Samsung Newsroom Australia and Samsung’s YouTube channel at  11pm AEST.

Stay tuned and make sure to visit news.samsung.com/au for all upcoming teasers, trailers and updates ahead of Unpacked 2024.

[1] Fees may apply to certain AI Features at the end of 2025

When I look around me, I’m astounded by how much innovation exists in our world today. Yet I am most excited about the evolution of the smartphone. This single device gave way to new digital industries – to remote work, schooling, entertainment and fitness – and the ability to capture, explore and communicate with anyone, anywhere with the touch of a finger.

The smartphone is a portal to infinite progress. And at Samsung, we have never taken that for granted.

It’s not enough for mobile innovation to just evolve with the world. We have to be a step ahead, so our technology can help transform the way we experience everything around us and make our lives easier. That’s why we constantly push ourselves to break the rules of what a smartphone can do.

Breaking the Rules to Start the Next Chapter in Smartphone History

In 2011, the Galaxy Note merged the convenience and portability of smartphones with the expansive screen and notepad-like functionality of tablets. Some balked at the 5.3-inch display — considered enormous then — but Note created a legacy where a large display is now the standard. The S Pen also surprised everyone. It empowered people to bridge creativity with productivity – whenever inspiration struck, they could quickly write down their ideas and thoughts in Samsung Notes.

In 2019, we dared to redefine smartphones once again. We launched our Galaxy Z Fold Series and brought an entirely new form factor to the mobile industry. Our cutting-edge foldable design changed how people used their phones. With Flex Mode, video calls are hands-free and easier. And multitasking with multiple windows are also a breeze, as your phone becomes tablet-sized in the blink of an eye. And once again, the industry took notice, with many mobile companies now following in our footsteps to make foldables the next big thing.

Innovating by Listening to Consumers and Taking Note

In a sea of smartphone sameness and iterative updates, our ambition remains firm: to detect the signals that transformation is stirring – by listening to your feedback – and continue to deliver mobile experiences that empower us all to evolve.

We know many of you were surprised when Samsung didn’t release a new Galaxy Note last year. You loved the unparalleled creativity and efficiency of the Galaxy Note series, which enabled you to switch from gaming nirvana to high-octane productivity in the blink of an eye. You raved about the lifelike S Pen, which many say rivals putting ink to paper. And we haven’t forgotten about these experiences you love.

Catalyzing the Next Evolution of Galaxy

For years, Samsung has converted the skeptics who thought our ideas were impossible. Whether it’s a screen that’s too big, a stylus no one knew they needed or a pro-grade camera that could truly bring mobile photography out of the dark.

With every fresh evolution of Samsung Galaxy devices, we have introduced features that redefine the entire mobile category. And we’re about to rewrite the rules of industry once again.

At Unpacked in February 2022, we’ll introduce you to the most noteworthy S series device we’ve ever created. The next generation of Galaxy S is here, bringing together the greatest experiences of our Samsung Galaxy into one ultimate device.

With it, you will own the night – taking the best and brightest photos and videos you’ve ever captured with a phone. You will also dominate the day with power, speed and tools that can’t be found elsewhere. You will enjoy cutting edge-innovations made possible thanks to the smartest Galaxy experience yet. All while feeling good about being part of the most sustainable Galaxy ecosystem. And, yes, you will help Samsung rewrite the future of smartphones once again.

Get ready for the ultimate Ultra experience.

At last August’s Unpacked event, I shared my strategy to bring more empowering mobile technology to as many people as possible, especially at a time when they needed it most. Now, around one year later, our world is slowly but surely preparing to reopen in many ways. We’re all yearning for freedom and the possibilities that this new world has to offer thanks to advancements in technology that are set to make our world bigger than it ever was.

This past year, new technologies continued to reshape the way we live. Our collaboration with trusted industry partners allowed us to drive seamless experiences that offer more personalization and versatility than ever. As we enter this new era of agile transformation, I believe that open ecosystems are the only way to accelerate innovation and give people more freedom to create their own experiences that are best for their lifestyles.

Samsung Electronics is poised and ready to unveil visionary, purposeful mobile technology for a better world. In a few weeks, we will unleash our latest and greatest Galaxy Z series to reshape the smartphone category and completely reimagine your experiences.

Life Opens Up with Galaxy 

Today, the world needs flexible technologies that give people room to explore. At Samsung, people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re constantly listening to you to ensure that any new device and experience we create really brings meaningful innovations. We want to enrich everyone’s life, not just the lives of a select few. From epic cameras and vivid, immersive viewing experiences to long-lasting batteries and strong security, we’re focusing on what really matters to you.

As we explore new ways to empower you, we often venture into uncharted territory. That’s how we ended up creating a brand-new category with the launch of the Galaxy Fold. And we didn’t stop there. We kept improving the category with our second generation of foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold2 and the Galaxy Z Flip, with more screen and more of the features you now know and love. I’m excited to say our third generation of foldable devices will open up amazing new multitasking capabilities and enhanced durability for even more people around the world.  

Samsung is Bringing More People into the Fold

This will be especially important as the world leap frogs into new frontiers of connectivity that demand open ecosystems and reliable mobile experiences. At Samsung, “open” and “secure” are never mutually exclusive. In fact, our collaborations with trusted industry leaders like Google and Microsoft are why we are able to deliver mobile technology that is secure and optimized for today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world. We constantly work with key partners to create cutting-edge security solutions that keep your devices and data safe every step of the way. This allows us to give you even more control over your apps, data and privacy, so you can curate your own experience — with total peace of mind.

Collaboration enables us to build mobile experiences that make your life easier and better. It fueled the development of a new unified wearable platform, which we built jointly with Google. On top of your favorite Galaxy apps like Samsung Health and SmartThings, there will be so many others in the new Google Play Store. Furthermore, our One UI Watch user interface is deeply integrated with our other Galaxy devices and provides consistent connectivity between your Galaxy Watch and Galaxy smartphone.

We are also working with Google to enrich our foldable ecosystems with popular apps and services. For our third generation of Galaxy Z phones, we have lined up even more partner apps that make the most of the versatile fold-out format. From hands-free optimized video calling with Google Duo and watching videos in Flex mode on YouTube to multitasking in Microsoft Teams, our foldable ecosystem will offer a wealth of seamless and optimized experiences.  

A New Chapter in Smartphone Innovation Is Here

The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold combines the very best that smartphones and tablets offer and delivers completely new ways of working, connecting and creating, while the upcoming Z Flip exhibits an even more refined style, armed with more durable, stronger materials. I firmly believe these devices will answer the call for the versatile mobile technology we need as we navigate the open road ahead.

We are out to set new heights and open up a whole new world of exciting experiences for even more people. I hope you’ll join us as we debut our next Galaxy Z family and share some foldable surprises — including the first-ever S Pen designed specifically for foldable phones. Instead of unveiling a new Galaxy Note this time around, we will further broaden beloved Note features to more Samsung Galaxy devices. In the meantime, mark your calendars and tune in to our Unpacked event on August 11 to see what unfolds.

by Dr. TM Roh

President & Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics

We live in a time of accelerated change—from rapid shifts in work culture to the rise of cutting-edge communication technologies. Now more than ever there is a need for flexible, versatile mobile devices that can keep up with the fast pace of our lives so we can maximize and enjoy every moment.

Join Samsung this August 11 for a Galaxy Unpacked event to unfold the next chapter in mobile innovations designed to help you make the most of every moment, no matter where you are. The event will stream live at Samsung Newsroom Australia and Samsung AU Facebook page, at 10 AM ET, so make sure to tune in for a close-up look at the latest Galaxy devices.