Samsung Canada has been named an IDC CIO Awards Canada 2026 winner in recognition of its work advancing AI-enabled customer service experiences. The award recognizes Canadian organizations and teams using technology in innovative ways to deliver measurable business value and advance digital transformation.

This year’s recognition highlights Samsung Canada’s use of IT to create a competitive advantage, streamline operations, accelerate growth, and strengthen customer relationships. By equipping frontline teams with real-time insights and reducing routine administrative tasks, Samsung Canada aims to help its agents spend more time addressing customer needs and delivering meaningful support. 

Key highlights of Samsung Canada’s AI-enabled customer service approach include: 

• Simpler, More Efficient Support: AI-powered routing, callback automation and digital support help reduce friction and connect customers with the right resources more quickly. 

• More Personalized Customer Care: Real-time AI recommendations and sentiment insights help agents better understand customer needs and provide more relevant, responsive support. 

• A More Connected Service Experience: Automated case summarization and SmartThings-enabled Home Remote Management help create greater continuity across customer interactions while enabling more proactive support. 

These capabilities have also contributed to measurable improvements in contact centre efficiency and digital adoption, while supporting Samsung Canada’s continued focus on delivering a strong customer experience. 

“Innovation at Samsung Canada is focused on using technology in ways that make the customer experience simpler, faster and more intuitive,” said Frank Martino, Vice President, Corporate Services, Samsung Canada. “By using AI to help our teams better understand and respond to customer needs, we’re enhancing the support experience today while building a strong foundation for the next generation of AI-enabled customer service.” 

Samsung Canada continues to explore how AI can enable more proactive and convenient customer support, including helping customers with repair setup, service-status updates and warranty information. 

This recognition underscores Samsung Canada’s continued focus on translating emerging technologies into practical business value, operational efficiency and stronger customer experiences. 

Looking ahead, Samsung Canada will continue advancing its AI-enabled customer service capabilities and exploring new ways to make support more connected, proactive and responsive to customers’ needs. 

Samsung Canada today named the Top 20 artists advancing in Samsung True North Tunes, narrowing a field of more than 2,000 submissions in its national search for emerging Canadian musicians ready to reach new audiences and build career momentum.

Selected by public vote from a 100-artist longlist, the Top 20 span genres, backgrounds, and communities from across Canada. The announcement marks the next stage of a program that will identify the Top 3 winners that will be announced on October 1.

For reaching this level, the Top 20 will participate in and receive:

• Live Shows (at Collective Arts or partner venues across Canada)
• Artists Workshops (Sessions with experts in the Canadian music industry)
• Exclusive Samsung True North Tunes Top 20 merchandise
• Samsung Tech

The Top 20 reflect the breadth of emerging talent across Canada, bringing together a dynamic mix of musical styles, genres and creative perspectives. Advancing to the next stage of Samsung True North Tunes are:

“The Top 20 reflect the originality and range of music being created across Canada today,” said Tafari Jilany, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Canada. “The response from artists and fans across the country has been incredible. Thousands of Canadians have already helped shape this program through their votes, and we are excited to give them another opportunity to champion the artists they want to see advance.”

Created by Samsung Canada in partnership with Collective Arts and Complex Canada, True North Tunes is designed to help Canadian artists break through the noise with national exposure, mentorship, studio recording time, live performance opportunities, exclusive experiences, and Samsung technology – connecting them with new audiences and helping build momentum for what comes next. While the program will ultimately recognize a final group of artists, its broader goal is to encourage Canadians to discover and support emerging music throughout every stage of the journey. New to the program is the Canadian Elite Basketball League who have partnered with Samsung True North Tunes to further amplify our purpose and to elevate Canadian talent.

Canadians can explore the Top 20 artists and vote for their favourites at: truenorthtunesmusic.ca.

Launched earlier this year in partnership with Collective Arts and Complex, True North Tunes was created to give emerging Canadian musicians a platform to share their original music, reach new audiences, and connect with fans across the country.

The Top 100 artists represent a diverse range of genres, backgrounds, and creative styles, reflecting the depth of musical talent emerging across Canada. Each artist was selected following a review process focused on originality, creative expression, and artistic potential.

“At Samsung, we believe technology can help unlock creativity and bring people closer to the music, artists, and stories that inspire them,” said Tafari Jilany, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Canada. “The True North Tunes longlist is an exciting reflection of the talent and creativity shaping Canada’s music scene, and we’re proud to help give these emerging artists a platform to be discovered by more listeners.”

The announcement of the Top 100 marks the next phase of the program, as Canadians will have the opportunity to discover the longlisted artists and participate in the public voting process (on truenorthtunesmusic.ca or @truenorthtunes.music on Instagram) to help determine the shortlist, which will be announced on July 10.

Through True North Tunes, the top 100 selected artists will gain national exposure through featured placement on the True North Tunes platform, alongside curated playlist inclusion and promotional support and mentorship to help grow their audience. From there, they will have a chance to unlock live performance opportunities at Collective Arts spaces across Canada and in-depth mentorship. The program will continue to build momentum throughout the summer, culminating in the announcement of the Top 3 artists on October 1.

“Canada is home to an incredible depth of creative talent, and programs like True North Tunes help create more space for emerging artists to be seen, heard, and supported,” said Toni Shelton, VP of Brand and Strategy at Collective Arts. “At Collective Arts, supporting Canadian artists is central to who we are, and we’re proud to help provide a platform that celebrates originality and helps new voices reach wider audiences.”

“At Complex, we’re always looking for the people and movements shaping what’s next in culture,” said Natalie Milne, SVP of Content and Operations at Complex Canada and Ideon Media. “The True North Tunes Top 100 shines a spotlight on the artists pushing Canadian music forward, and we’re proud to help introduce more fans to the talent that’s defining the future of music in Canada.”  

Canadians can explore the full True North Tunes longlist and vote for their favorite artists at https://truenorthtunesmusic.ca/

Program timeline:

• July 10: Top 100 artists announced
• August 12: Top 20 artists announced following public voting
• October 1: Top 3 artists announced following public voting

As the volume of data required for AI training and inference continues to grow rapidly, enterprise SSDs (eSSDs) capable of delivering data quickly and reliably are becoming increasingly essential to AI infrastructure.

Featuring high-speed data transfer and an optimized controller architecture, PM1763 is expected to serve as a key storage solution for high-performance AI platforms.

“Built on industry-leading performance, PM1763 has successfully completed validation for next-generation AI platforms and is well positioned to support evolving AI infrastructure requirements,” said Jangseok Choi, Vice President and Head of Memory Product Planning at Samsung Electronics. “As AI models continue to grow in size and complexity, PM1763 will serve as a key solution that enables customers to efficiently scale memory capacity and optimize AI operations.”

Incorporating Samsung’s 9th-generation V-NAND and a newly developed 4-nanometer (nm) controller, PM1763 significantly improves both performance and power efficiency.

PM1763 is available in 4-terabyte (TB), 8TB and 16TB capacities, with the 16TB configuration delivering industry-leading performance with sequential read and write speeds of up to 28,400 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and 21,900MB/s, respectively—more than 2 times the performance of its predecessor, PM1753.

This level of performance allows the transfer of a 40-gigabyte (GB) large language model (LLM) in approximately 1.4 seconds, helping minimize data latency between processors and accelerators while improving overall AI processing efficiency.

PM1763 is optimized for liquid-cooled server environments through direct-to-chip (D2C) cooling technology. This enables sustained peak performance even under intensive workloads and extended operating conditions.

Power efficiency is also improved by more than 1.8 times compared to its predecessor, helping reduce overall datacenter operating costs.

To address growing security requirements in AI, Samsung has also strengthened PM1763’s security capabilities. The drive supports post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms designed to protect against future quantum computing threats, as well as TEE Device Interface Security Protocol (TDISP)[1], which helps secure data pathways in virtualized environments.

[1] Trusted execution environments (TEEs) are secure areas of a processor used to isolated sensitive workloads.

During the panel, Hon Pak, Head of the Digital Health Team for the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, joined four other speakers: David Lee, Head of Samsung Next; Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth; Alina Su, CEO of Generation Lab; and Michael Dubrovsky, CEO of SiPhox Health. Together, they presented a blueprint for the future of healthcare to an audience of approximately 1,000 global attendees.

Serving as the moderator, David Lee emphasized the critical role of partnership. “The future of health cannot be built by one company alone,” Lee said. “It must be forged through an open ecosystem of collaboration among diverse innovators.”

Building an Open Health Ecosystem

Samsung possesses a diverse portfolio of devices and platforms, spanning from semiconductors to mobile phones, wearables, home appliances and TVs. The company leverages its economies of scale to cultivate a robust, collaborative ecosystem with numerous partners across each of its business sectors.

By integrating Samsung devices with partner solutions within this open ecosystem, Xealth, Generation Lab and SiPhox Health are accelerating the realization of connected care. This healthcare vision aims to help users lead healthier, more vibrant lives through proactive wellness management powered by Samsung’s connected device ecosystem.

Hon Pak highlighted the scale of Samsung’s reach during the discussion. “Samsung Health supports more than 77 million monthly active users,[1] and the SmartThings platform connects 460 million users,”[2] Pak said.

Samsung holds a strong advantage as a trusted brand within the household, the central setting for daily life and wellness. “By connecting our device ecosystem around the home via SmartThings, we can innovate the health experience where it matters most, at a time when health is shifting to the home — a space in which prevention can happen at scale,” Pak added.

To support this transition, Samsung has integrated a wide variety of devices — including home appliances, TVs and compatible third-party devices — into its SmartThings platform. This enables a broad spectrum of services that range from personalized automation routines to family and pet care.

Accelerating Innovation Through Partnerships

The panelists identified Samsung’s established ecosystem and open approach to collaboration as key strengths.

Alina Su of Generation Lab emphasized the value of this partnership. “What has been most exciting is Samsung’s genuine openness and distribution. There’s real scale and technical capability — but there’s also a willingness to collaborate, to co-create, and to move quickly with partners,” Su said. “When you combine that with the devices people already use every day, you can bring innovation to people’s lives far faster than you could independently.”

Michael Dubrovsky of SiPhox Health also explained the benefits of the collaboration. “Samsung brings the device ecosystem already living in people’s homes and on their bodies,” Dubrovsky said. “SiPhox adds the diagnostic layer that has always been missing from that picture. Together, continuous device data and continuous biomarker data create a truly complete health picture that has never existed outside a clinical setting.”

Currently, Generation Lab provides a solution to help users easily check biological age and actively manage aging at home, while SiPhox Health offers a service that enables active health management through hospital-grade blood tests in each household.

Mike McSherry of Xealth shared a vision for providing a seamless, continuous healthcare solution by bridging the gap between clinical care in hospitals and daily wellness management through deep integration with Samsung.

Empowering Open Collaborations and Ensuring Robust Security

In addition to strategic partner collaborations, Samsung has built an open ecosystem for the wider developer and researcher community. Utilizing the Samsung Health Software Development Kit (SDK) Suite, they can easily create innovative wellness services leveraging advanced sensor technology and the health platform. This allows Samsung Health users to experience useful new features more quickly.

Protecting these experiences is Samsung Knox, a proprietary defense-grade security solution integrated across various consumer touchpoints, such as mobile devices, home appliances and TVs. With Knox, users can confidently manage their sensitive information within the Samsung ecosystem.

Looking at the next five years of healthcare in the context of the AI era, Pak concluded, “A daily companion that knows who I am, as well as what I need and when, will help me achieve my health goals seamlessly through lifestyle behaviors and connected innovative partner services.”

[1] The number of Samsung Health users is based on the global monthly active users (MAU) as of April 2026.

[2] The number of SmartThings users is based on the global registered users as of May 2026.

As Canadians increasingly look for hands-on ways to explore AI-powered and connected technologies, Samsung continues to invest in physical retail spaces that combine immersive product discovery with personalized service and support.

“Our retail stores are designed to help consumers experience the full potential of Samsung’s connected ecosystem in an engaging and intuitive way,” said Brian Shin, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “The opening of our Richmond location reflects our continued investment in creating meaningful customer experiences where Canadians can discover, explore and interact with Galaxy AI-powered innovation firsthand.”

The new Samsung Experience Store offers visitors an interactive environment where they can test and explore the latest Galaxy AI features across smartphones, wearables, tablets, PCs which are all connected through Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, allowing customers to experience how devices work seamlessly together in everyday life.

“Consumers today are looking for retail experiences that are more personal, immersive and service-driven – they want to understand how new technologies like Galaxy AI fit into their everyday lives,” said Krista Collinson, Head of Direct-to-Consumer Division, Samsung Electronics Canada. “Our Richmond store was designed to create opportunities for discovery and connection, whether customers are experiencing Galaxy AI for the first time, learning more about Samsung’s connected ecosystem, or accessing personalized support tailored to their needs.”

In addition to hands-on product experiences, customers will have access to Samsung Care+ services, technical troubleshooting, device set-up support, and convenient shopping options including buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) capabilities and extended aisle access to Samsung’s Consumer electronics and Digital Appliance products.

The opening further strengthens Samsung Canada’s growing retail presence in Western Canada and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering premium retail experiences in high-performing shopping environments. This customer-first approach was recently reflected in Samsung Canada being ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among cell phone manufacturers in the 2026 ACSI study[1].

Samsung will officially celebrate the grand opening on Saturday, June 13, welcoming customers to experience the new space firsthand.

The Samsung Experience Store is located at CF Richmond Centre in Richmond, British Columbia.

For more information, visit samsung.com/ca.

[1] Source: 2026 ACSI® Survey of customers rating their own cell phone manufacturer. #1 Customer satisfaction shared with one other. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the ACSI. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org.

Samsung Electronics will showcase its vision for AI-powered connected care at VivaTech 2026, running from June 17 to 20 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Under the theme “Open Invitation to a Healthier Tomorrow,” Samsung will demonstrate how intelligent, connected experiences can support more proactive and preventive approaches to wellness.

Celebrating its 10th edition this year, VivaTech is Europe’s largest startup and technology event, dedicated to spotlighting innovative solutions and addressing social challenges. This year’s exhibition is expected to attract more than 4,000 companies — from established global technology firms to emerging startups — to foster partnerships, investment and collaboration.

Organized around the theme “Artificial Intelligence: Impact, Not Illusion,” VivaTech 2026 will explore the industry’s transition into the full-fledged AI era. Global companies are set to present AI solutions across eight sub-themes: Productivity Reimagined; Sovereignty & Ethics; Energy, GreenTech & Mobility; Cybersecurity & Defense; Health & Longevity; Risk, Build, Scale; Creative Industries; and Tech Beyond the Obvious.

Through open innovation, Samsung has worked to integrate AI seamlessly into users’ daily lives. Participation in VivaTech reflects the company’s commitment to building an open ecosystem that brings together industry leaders and startups alike. With wellness and long-term vitality growing in strategic importance, Samsung and its partners will present a range of services and solutions, including integrated health management through Samsung Health as well as innovations in longevity and pet care.

Attendees will also get a preview of health features expected to roll out across Samsung’s connected ecosystem of mobile devices, wearables and services.

On June 19, Samsung will participate in a panel discussion exploring the future of AI-driven health experiences and the role of connected ecosystems in enabling personalized wellness at scale.

Together with its partners, Samsung will arrive at VivaTech 2026 with a shared aspiration — inspiring a healthier tomorrow.

“Quebec is a vital market for Samsung, and our investment in Carrefour Laval reflects our commitment to bringing our latest innovations directly to this community,” said Brian Shin, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “As technology becomes more integrated into everyday life, we believe physical retail plays an essential role in helping consumers discover the full potential of an AI-powered ecosystem.” 

The new store is designed as an interactive destination where visitors can explore and test the latest Galaxy AI features across mobile devices, wearables, tablets, and PCs. 

“Laval and the Greater Montreal Area are home to tech-forward consumers who are increasingly looking for more immersive retail experiences,” said Krista Collinson, Head of Direct-to-Consumer Division, Samsung Electronics Canada. “We are proud to establish a presence in one of the country’s top-performing shopping environments, where we can offer the personalized service and product discovery our customers expect.” 

Beyond product exploration, the new location will offer comprehensive support, including Samsung Care+ services, on-site technical troubleshooting, and convenient “buy online, pick up in-store” (BOPIS) capabilities. 

Samsung will officially celebrate the grand opening on May 30th, inviting customers to experience the new space firsthand. 

The Samsung Experience Store is located at CF Carrefour Laval, 3003 Boulevard le Carrefour, Laval, Quebec. 

For more information, visit samsung.com/ca. 

Located at one of the top-performing shopping centres in the country[1], the new store gives customers in Calgary and the surrounding region a hands-on way to experience Samsung’s latest Galaxy AI features, mobile devices, wearables, tablets, PCs, and connected technologies.

“Alberta is an important and growing market for Samsung,” said Brian Shin, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “Opening our first Samsung Experience Store in Calgary allows us to connect more directly with customers in the region and create a space where they can experience the Samsung ecosystem firsthand.”

According to ICSC’s 2024 Canadian Mall Property Performance rankings[2], CF Market Mall is ranked among the top 15 malls in Canada. Samsung selected the location based on strong consumer demand, the mall’s premium retail environment, and its mix of leading global brands.

“Calgary consumers are highly engaged with new technology and increasingly looking for more immersive retail experiences,” said Krista Collinson, Head of Direct-to-Consumer Division, Samsung Electronics Canada. “CF Market Mall has long been a location we’ve been excited about, and we’re proud to finally bring the Samsung Experience Store to Alberta.”

Visitors to the new location will also have access to Samsung Care+ services, technical support, device troubleshooting, and convenient shopping options including buy online, pick up in-store capabilities.

Samsung officially celebrated the opening of the new location with a ribbon-cutting event at CF Market Mall on May 23.

The Samsung Experience Store is located at CF Market Mall, 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, Alberta.

For more information, visit samsung.com/ca.

[1] According to International Council of Shopping Centres’ (ICSC) 2024 Canadian Mall Property Performance rankings (www.icsc.com).

[2] This data is based on participating companies and does not represent all shopping centres, regional malls and super-regional malls in Canada. The participants include: BentallGreenOak, Cadillac Fairview, Ivanhoé Cambridge/JLL, Morguard Corporation, Oxford Properties Group, Primaris, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Salthill Capital, Westcliff, Nicola Institutional Realty Advisors, QuadReal Property Group. © 2025 by ICSC, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

The new locations will open in three of the country’s top-performing shopping centres. According to ICSC’s 2024 Canadian Mall Property Performance rankings[1], CF Richmond Centre ranks as the fourth most productive mall in Canada, CF Carrefour Laval ranks tenth nationally and first in Quebec, and CF Market Mall ranks fourteenth nationally.

As Canadians increasingly look for hands-on ways to explore AI-powered and connected technologies, Samsung continues to invest in physical retail spaces that combine product discovery and personalized service.

“As technology becomes more intelligent, connected, and integrated into everyday life, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to experience these innovations firsthand,” said Krista Collinson, Head of Direct-to-Consumer Division, Samsung Electronics Canada. “These new locations reflect our continued investment in Canada and our belief that physical retail plays an important role in helping consumers discover the full potential of AI-powered technology.”

The three new stores build on Samsung Canada’s growing national retail network, which currently includes flagship Samsung Experience Store locations at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Sherway Gardens, Montreal Eaton Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, and Square One Shopping Centre. The CF Market Mall location will also mark Samsung’s first Samsung Experience Store in Alberta, further expanding the company’s presence in Western Canada.

Each new location was strategically selected, based on where consumers are shopping, browsing and engaging in, high-performing shopping environments, with premium brands that reflect Samsung’s premium brand positioning.

Visitors to the new Samsung Experience Stores will be able to explore Samsung’s latest Galaxy AI features, mobile devices, wearables, tablets, PCs, and connected technologies.

Customers will also have access to Samsung Care+ services, on-site technical support, device troubleshooting, and convenient shopping options including buy online, pick up in-store capabilities and extended aisle access to Samsung products.

Additional details, including opening dates and grand opening celebrations for each location, will be announced in the coming months.

[1] This data is based on participating companies and does not represent all shopping centres, regional malls and super-regional malls in Canada. The participants include: BentallGreenOak, Cadillac Fairview, Ivanhoé Cambridge/JLL, Morguard Corporation, Oxford Properties Group, Primaris, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Salthill Capital, Westcliff, Nicola Institutional Realty Advisors, QuadReal Property Group. © 2025 by ICSC, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.