Rethinking 3D Displays With Metasurfaces

A metasurface lenticular lens-based switchable 2D/3D display uses an ultra-thin metalens¹ composed of nanoscale structures to transition seamlessly between flat (2D) and stereoscopic (3D) images.

A metasurface is significantly thinner while enabling complex optical functions — making it key to next-generation displays and camera systems.

This approach advances Light Field Display by directing light from multiple angles to create a glasses-free 3D experience that mimics real-world perception.

Though long considered promising for entertainment, augmented reality (AR) and medical imaging, conventional Light Field Displays face commercialization challenges, including bulky optics, narrow viewing angles (around 15 degrees), reduced resolution and reliance on real-time eye tracking.

The research team addressed these limitations using polarization — the direction in which light oscillates — to design a metasurface lenticular lens (MLL) that dynamically adjusts focal properties.

Switching Between 2D and 3D

The study is the first to demonstrate a meta-optical system capable of switching between 2D and 3D modes in a single device using voltage control. For end users, it’s a breakthrough that could eventually enable them to choose between high-resolution 2D for everyday tasks and immersive, multi-view 3D for video.

The system switches the metalens between concave and convex modes depending on the polarization controller in front of the display. For 2D viewing — such as reading or browsing — the metalens acts as a concave lens (controller on), offsetting the convex lens and allowing light to pass straight through like a flat pane of glass to produce a clear image.

For 3D content, the metalens becomes convex when the controller is off and works with the existing lens to enhance depth and widen the viewing angle. Through this, it can provide both the clarity of 2D and the depth of 3D simultaneously.

Thinner Design, Wider Viewing Angles

A major achievement of this research is the dramatic improvement in both thickness and viewing angle. Traditionally, high image quality and a wide viewing angle required large, thick lenses. The team’s MLL, however, features a high numerical aperture (NA)² — enabling an ultra-thin profile of 1.2 mm and an ultra-wide viewing angle of up to 100 degrees. This represents more than a sixfold increase from the conventional 15-degree viewing angle, allowing multiple viewers to experience 3D content from different positions. It also demonstrates how nanoscale design can overcome the limitations of bulky optical systems.

A Step Closer to Commercialization

Beyond a simple proof of concept, the research demonstrates the practical viability of integrating metalens technology into real-world devices. The team fabricated a large-area metalens measuring 50 × 50 mm (25 cm²) and validated its use on OLED panels widely used in mobile devices.

This research was conducted in collaboration with the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research, Samsung Electronics, and the POSTECH Nanoscale Photonics & Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory.

Looking ahead, this technology has the potential to reshape next-generation displays across smartphones, tablets and commercial systems.

From optical design and fabrication to real-time switching validation, Samsung and POSTECH have broken through a technological barrier. With the publication in Nature, Samsung further strengthens its leadership in meta-optics and next-generation display technologies.

1. A next-generation optical technology that controls light beyond conventional refractive lenses. ︎
2. A measure of an optical system’s ability to gather light, indicating the maximum angle at which light enters the lens. ︎

Samsung has enabled seamless integration of IKEA’s twenty-five¹ practical Matter-over-Thread smart home devices — including smart bulbs and plugs — into the SmartThings platform, allowing users to effortlessly incorporate them into daily life.

Easy Integration With SmartThings Through Matter-Enabled IKEA Devices

Twenty-five IKEA smart home devices including a scroll wheel remote, smart bulbs, plugs, temperature and humidity sensors, air quality sensors, motion sensors, door sensors and water leak sensors, now support the global smart home standard Matter.²

Previously, connecting IKEA devices to SmartThings required an IKEA smart home hub³ and SmartThings hub, but they can now be connected directly to SmartThings hub. They also work with Samsung appliances including TVs, air conditioners and washing machines, as well as a wide range of third-party devices and protocols supported by the platform.

Smarter Care — From Checking on Loved Ones To Optimizing Sleep Environments

Users can connect an IKEA door sensor to SmartThings and attach it to a frequently used door to monitor when their parents start their day and whether they are active at home through SmartThings Family Care. This offers a convenient way to check on loved ones, even when living apart.

Installed on a wall, IKEA’s air quality sensors and its temperature and humidity sensors collect data on temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels and light intensity. SmartThings compares these readings with recommended ranges for optimal sleep and provides a Sleep environment report with actionable insights — such as lowering the temperature to 19-21°C — helping create an ideal bedroom environment.

Users can also set routines that activate the air conditioner’s dehumidification mode when rising humidity is detected. If the water leak sensor detects moisture, it sends an immediate alert enabling a prompt response.

Intuitive Control With the Scroll Wheel Remote

Ahead of launch, Samsung and IKEA conducted multiple rounds of validation to enhance connectivity stability and implemented a dedicated user experience within the SmartThings app for full compatibility.

A standout device is the scroll wheel remote, which significantly enhances user experience. When connected to lighting, users can precisely adjust brightness and color temperature by rotating the wheel, making it easy to create the desired ambiance. It can also be used for devices requiring fine control, such as blinds.⁴ It targets the design-conscious younger generation, who prioritizes aesthetic value in every detail, down to a single switch or lighting.

Expanding a Boundless Smart Home Ecosystem With Early Adoption of Thread

Samsung is not only leading the Matter ecosystem through the rapid adoption of new standards, but also demonstrating strong technology leadership in the smart home market.

SmartThings was the first to adopt Thread⁵ 1.4 — a low-power, short-range networking technology essential for smart home ecosystems — enabling Thread networks across brands to operate as a single unified system that enhances user convenience while helping drive the wider adoption of smart homes.

“By connecting IKEA devices to SmartThings, even first-time smart home users can enjoy a familiar and easy connectivity experience without financial burden,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President of SmartThings, AI Platform Center at Samsung Electronics. “SmartThings will continue to expand its ecosystem through partnerships, enabling more consumers to enjoy seamless and convenient smart home experience within the SmartThings ecosystem regardless of brand or communication protocol.”

1. Availability and timing may vary by market. ︎
2. Matter is a global smart home connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance to improve interoperability among devices. ︎
3. Hub is a central smart home device that connects multiple smart devices using different wireless protocols and enables unified control through a single platform. ︎
4. As of April 20, 2026, only lighting control is supported. Blind control will be available later this year. ︎
5. Thread is a low-power, mesh networking-based wireless protocol used in the Matter standard that enables smart home devices to communicate with each other quickly and reliably independent of Wi-Fi. ︎

“Samsung’s AI technology goes beyond everyday convenience to help users care for themselves and their families with greater peace of mind,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team, AI Platform Center, Samsung Electronics. “SmartThings will continue to strengthen its role as a platform that seamlessly connects customers’ daily lives with AI, and it will keep expanding differentiated services on an ongoing basis.”

Enhanced Family Care Makes It Easier To Check In on Loved Ones

Family Care connects SmartThings with a range of home appliances and mobile devices to provide notifications regarding the activities of users’ aging parents and reminders for medication and hospital visits — as well as location-based alerts. With this update, the service enables even more thoughtful care.

Additionally, Samsung’s new Care on Call¹ feature allows users to more closely check on the status of the care recipient through a simple phone call. When a caregiver using the service calls the care recipient, a floating pop-up that displays key information like the time of the first activity of the day, the most recent activity time and the local weather — all at a glance — appears before the call begins. This helps caregivers ask more meaningful check-in questions and respond accordingly.

SmartThings can also continuously monitor devices like air conditioners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers and humidifiers for indoor temperature, humidity and air quality. If unusual usage patterns are detected, the caregiver is immediately notified and can remotely control the relevant device.²

Family Care has made the Safety Patrol feature — which utilizes SmartThings to send a new Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra to check various areas around the house — even more convenient. If the care recipient’s activity is not detected for a specified period of time, users receive a notification and the feature can be remotely activated if the caregiver needs to take action.³ Using a camera built into the robot vacuum, caregivers can view issues that might occur — such as a person lying incapacitated — and two-way communication through the built-in speaker and microphone allows them to act.

To further enhance the level of care provided to loved ones, the Care Insight feature been enhanced to provide even more actionable, long-term data within the Family Care service. It analyzes factors like temperature and humidity levels, paying attention to whether they deviate from optimal ranges. It also tracks significant changes in activity levels and connected device usage compared to the previous week.

Expansion of Now Brief to TVs and Family Hub

Now Brief delivers a rich AI experience by integrating a broad range of key SmartThings services that help users stay informed about their daily lives, their family members and conditions inside and outside the home.

With the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, Now Brief will support Home Security, Family Care and Pet Care, in addition to existing features that include Home Insight, Energy and the Sleep Environment Report. Through Now Brief, users can access the useful information needed to care for themselves, their families and their homes at a glance.

 Now Brief is set to deliver a consistent customized experience throughout the home,⁴ and will soon roll out in phases to TVs launched in 2024 or later, as well as Family Hub refrigerators launched in 2021 or later.

For added convenience, users will not need to manually launch Now Brief. If the feature is set up in advance, it will be automatically activated when they approach the TV, touch the Family Hub refrigerator screen or open and close the refrigerator door.

And now, whether at home or on the go, the expanded Now Brief helps users stay up to date by providing information such as home device status and energy usage, as well as the sleep status of the previous night, Home Security updates based on door locks, door sensors, and security mode, parents’ daily activity updates and dog-walking information.⁵

1. Care on Call is available on Galaxy smartphones running One UI 8.5 or later. Internet calls are not supported. ︎
2. Remote control is available when the caregiver has been set up to remotely control the care recipient’s devices. ︎
3. Remote control is available when the caregiver has been set up to remotely control the care recipient’s devices. Availability may vary depending on product, model and region. ︎
4. Availability may vary depending on product, model, region, and each product’s Over The Network (OTN) software update schedule. ︎
5. The relevant devices should be registered in SmartThings, and the service must be activated in the Life tab. ︎

Through outdoor field testing, the companies demonstrated a peak downlink data rate of up to 3 gigabits per second (Gbps) in the 7 GHz band using X-MIMO. The breakthrough was enabled by ultra-high-density antenna technology that integrates significantly more antenna elements into equipment of comparable size. Considered a foundational component of 6G, ultra-high-density antenna technology achieves four times the antenna density of current 5G systems.

Overcoming 7 GHz Band Challenges

As data demands surge due to advancements in AI, immersive services and fixed wireless access (FWA), 6G is becoming increasingly important in meeting evolving global connectivity needs. The 7 GHz band stands out as a promising candidate for future communications, offering an optimal balance of coverage and capacity between the 5G 3.5 GHz band and millimeter-wave frequencies.

X-MIMO technology in the 7 GHz band is regarded as a core 6G technology because it enhances data throughput by increasing antenna density enabled by shorter wavelengths while achieving coverage comparable to 5G by compensating for the shorter propagation distance of 7 GHz.

Strengthening the 6G Ecosystem Through Collaboration

The verification took place at Samsung Electronics’ Seoul R&D Campus, where researchers measured data rates during the simultaneous transmission of eight data streams from the base station to a single user. To replicate real-world network conditions, Samsung collaborated with KT to establish an outdoor wireless test environment. The testing also utilized Samsung’s 6G base station prototype featuring 256 digital ports and Keysight’s 6G terminal testbed.

“Through our collaboration with KT and Keysight, we have demonstrated the potential for significant improvements in data rates for next-generation communications,” said JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center, Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics. “We remain committed to pioneering future network technologies that will enable diverse services and enhanced user experiences in the 6G era.”

“The validation of ultra-high-density antenna technology performance in the 7 GHz band marks a critical step toward 6G commercialization. By securing stable, high-capacity operation in high-frequency bands, we have established a foundational technology for enabling ultra-fast, immersive services,” said Jong-Sik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Network Laboratory at KT Corporation. “Moving forward, we will continue to drive network innovation in collaboration with Samsung Electronics.”

“This work with Samsung and KT highlights how Keysight’s industry-leading 6G capabilities are accelerating real-world innovation, unlocking new spectrum for early 6G deployments and bridging the gap between research and commercial readiness to enable next-generation AI-driven wireless communications that deliver greater value to customers,” said Kailash Narayanan, Senior Vice President and President of Communications Solutions Group at Keysight.

In addition to this achievement, Samsung and KT successfully validated user-level AI-based radio access network (AI-RAN) optimization technology in a commercial network in December 2025. Including further collaboration with KT on uplink coverage technologies, Samsung will continue working closely with global partners to make data transmission faster and more reliable for users.

Established in 2012, the award recognizes individual contributions to the development of next-generation mobile telecommunications standards.

Dr. Onggosanusi, who works in the Standards and Mobility Innovation Lab at SRA, was honored for his contributions to 3GPP RAN Working Group 1 (RAN1)¹ — particularly for his leadership in advancing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems within the 3GPP community.

“I am proud to contribute to Samsung’s efforts in 3GPP standardization,” said Dr. Onggosanusi. “It has been a privilege to serve in RAN1 as the 3GPP RAN MIMO rapporteur. My focus has been on fostering collaboration and consensus within the 3GPP community to develop state-of-the-art physical-layer technology and help shape the future of cellular standards.”

Dr. Onggosanusi has been a RAN1 delegate since 2005, contributing to the early development of 4G LTE. After joining Samsung in 2014, he became the rapporteur for full-dimension multiple-input multiple-output (FD-MIMO) systems. He has held the role across six consecutive MIMO work items spanning multiple releases from 2014 to 2025, covering both 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) standardization.

By improving network efficiency, data rates and coverage through advanced multi-antenna signal processing, MIMO is a core technology for both 4G and 5G. Its evolution, including active antenna systems, has enabled large-scale antenna deployments in 5G. Samsung Research — an advanced R&D hub within the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics — led this advancement through a pioneering 3GPP work item expected to play a key role in 6G networks and significantly enhance the mobile user experience.

This marks the eighth time a Samsung employee has received the 3GPP Excellence Award, more than any other company. The milestone further underscores Samsung’s leadership in advancing mobile telecommunications technology and standardization.

1. 3GPP RAN Working Group 1 (RAN1) is responsible for specifying the physical layer of radio interfaces for user equipment (UE), the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), the Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) and more. ︎

With minimalism having defined the visual language of the tech industry for the past two decades, this panel of designers convened by Samsung asked: What comes next? Together, the panelists explored how warmer, more expressive and emotionally resonant technology can shape meaningful experiences in today’s AI era, while also charting a path forward for the industry.

Design as an Act of Love

The session covered a shared view on the purpose of design as fundamentally people-first. “In recent years, design in tech has been somewhat uniform,” said moderator Debbie Millman. “Compared to other industries, the uniformity in the world of tech is an anomaly. So what if we were to extend technology beyond specifications and functionality?”

Samsung is currently addressing this question by introducing meaning beyond products by focusing on how technology fits into people’s lives, experiences and needs. The panelists discussed the growing importance of this mindset in the current landscape in which traditional barriers to entry such as access to tools, scale and technical capability continue to diminish.

The Human Side of Tech

The discussion highlighted technology’s role in making intention, care and humanity visible in everyday life. Panelists noted that technology should help people recognize the thoughtfulness embedded in the products they invite into their homes and routines.

In this context, Samsung Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini shared Samsung’s design purpose: to enrich the quality of people’s lives through meaningful technology designed for humanity. He outlined the company’s commitment to help people live longer, live better, live louder and live on through advanced technologies that support wellbeing, creativity and self-expression.

Panelist Karim Rashid added to this sentiment, saying, “When we think about physical things in our world, we think not only about diversity of choice but also the fact that we can develop strong connections to objects,” he said. “Through design, you can end up with a very powerful, emotional connection with inanimate objects, or even products.”

Designing for Human Values

The panel went on to explore how AI can unlock new possibilities for expression when shaped by human values. Panelists discussed a shared view that AI reaches its true potential when guided by Emotional Intelligence and Human Imagination, not as a replacement for human creativity but as a force that expands it.

CDO Porcini articulated this with “AI × (EI + HI),” his approach to balancing Emotional Intelligence and Human Imagination to bring meaning to innovation. While describing this philosophy, CDO Porcini said, “When we design and develop, AI is amplified by Emotional Intelligence and Human Imagination. Then, when people use products, AI amplifies Emotional Intelligence and Human Imagination.” He added, “Do not fear technology. We are here to humanize it, guide it, and shape it.”

Through these insights, the session reinforced the belief that technology should be humanized, guided and shaped to serve people’s lives in increasingly new and meaningful ways.

Expressive Design Drives More Meaningful Experiences

The discussion reinforced the importance of expressive design in bringing human-centered purpose to life, creating experiences that reflect emotion, support self-expression, invite connection and stimulate imagination.

“Happiness is the aim of design,” said Fabio Novembre. “Our pursuit of happiness is through design, making the impossible possible. I strongly believe in design, and that it must move back to the center of the stage.”

Panelists noted that this reflects a shift from merely designing objects to designing experiences where emotion, meaning and identity are increasingly integral to how people relate to technology. This approach inspires a new kind of expression, resulting in designs that range from subtle and minimal to bold and imaginative — all meant to shape a future that isn’t just worth living, but worth loving.

Making Invisible Intelligence Feel Trustworthy

As AI increasingly anticipates needs, curates routines and operates autonomously across devices, panelists Allie K. Miller, CEO of Open Machine; Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group; Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor at ZKAI Advisory and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI; and Shin Baik, AI Platform Center (APC) Group Head at Samsung Electronics, emphasized that trust must be earned not through promises, but through consistent, understandable behavior.

At the session, Samsung shared its approach to trust-by-design, highlighting the importance of AI systems that are predictable, transparent and easy for users to control. “When it comes to AI, users are looking for transparency and control,” Allie Miller said. “They want to be leaders in their own personalized experiences — to understand whether an AI model is running locally or in the cloud, to know their data is secure and to clearly see what is powered by AI and what is not. That level of visibility builds confidence. On the provider side, there is a responsibility to show up for users by designing personalized experiences around the core components of trust — clarity, security and accountability.”

Samsung also underscored how on-device AI allows personal data to remain local whenever possible, while cloud-based intelligence can be used selectively when greater speed or scale is required, giving users flexibility without compromising privacy.

Security Built for an AI-Driven World

The panel also explored how, as intelligence becomes distributed across phones, TVs and home appliances, security must evolve. In the session, Samsung highlighted its Knox security platform — which now protects billions of devices from the chipset up — as well as Knox Matrix, a cross-device security framework that enables products to authenticate and protect one another.

“Trust in AI starts with security that’s proven, not promised,” Shin Baik said. “For more than a decade, Samsung Knox has provided a deeply embedded security platform designed to protect sensitive data at every layer. But trust goes beyond a single device — it requires an ecosystem that protects itself. With Knox, devices continuously authenticate and monitor one another, so each device acts as a shield for the rest, creating a resilient, secure environment users can rely on.”

A Cross-Industry Conversation on the Future of Trust

Shin Baik emphasized how trust grows when AI behaves predictably and securely across devices, arguing that users need visible signals of control rather than “black box” systems. Samsung pointed to its partnerships with industry leaders such as Google and Microsoft as a way to strengthen shared security research, interoperability and ecosystem-wide protection, while Allie Miller highlighted the importance of transparency for users including clear visibility into where AI models run, how data is used and explicit labels that show what is powered by AI and what is not. Meanwhile, Zack Kass added that while misinformation and misuse present real challenges, “For every risk, there is also a countermeasure and technology itself will play a critical role in mitigating AI’s downsides.”

Amy Webb evaluated the relationship between trust and the purchasing habits of consumers. “I don’t think they’re making decisions based on trust alone,” she said. “People aren’t paying for trust. They don’t buy things because of trust. They buy things because of convenience. So, if the AI piece of this hooks people in, it makes their lives easier and more convenient.”

As AI becomes increasingly invisible, the panel concluded that the technologies that earn long-term trust will be those that prioritize security, transparency and meaningful user choice from the start.

The First Look 2026 by Samsung Electronics unveiled a forward-looking vision for AI under the theme “Your Companion to AI Living.” Held in Samsung’s dedicated space at Wynn Las Vegas, the exhibition guided visitors through how AI can enhance everyday enjoyment and convenience while supporting health and safety.

Samsung Newsroom explored the exhibition, highlighting the company’s evolving AI companion experiences across entertainment, home and care.

AI Gallery Zone: An Artistic Welcome to AI Living

The AI Gallery zone welcomed visitors with iconic works from both Eastern and Western art, seamlessly integrated into the space. Featured pieces included Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhône,” along with selections from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection — donated to public institutions by the late Samsung chairman and available through Samsung Art Store — such as Jeong Seon’s “Clearing After Rain on Mount Inwang” and the Joseon Dynasty painting “Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks.”

Entertainment Companion Zone: Every Moment of Sight and Sound

The Entertainment Companion zone stood out as the exhibition’s largest area, featuring a variety of visual display and audio products. Excitement built as Samsung debuted the Micro RGB 130” TV, winner of the CES Innovation Awards 2026 Best of Innovation.

Centered on the Micro RGB TV, the Vision AI showcase highlighted hands-free interaction. Through voice commands, visitors could look up match predictions, search for recipes or play music — demonstrating how the TV functions as an Entertainment Companion.

Beyond innovation, this year’s lineup emphasized a refined design philosophy balancing simplicity and elegance. Highlights included the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7, Wi-Fi speakers developed in collaboration with French designer Erwan Bouroullec; the AI Beauty Mirror for personalized beauty care; the Sound Tower with lighting optimized for sports viewing; and the Transparent Micro LED, reimagining the nostalgic charm of vinyl records as a floating visual audio device.

The zone concluded with Spatial Signage — an interactive display that animates visitors in real time — combining the clarity of 2D imagery with the depth of 3D expression.

Home Companion Zone: Less Housework, More Everyday Freedom

The Home Companion zone presented the evolution of Samsung’s home appliances — moving beyond reducing household chores toward eliminating them and pointing to a future with less housework.

At the entrance, three flagship Samsung AI home appliances — the Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub 32”, Bespoke AI Laundry Combo washer-dryer and Bespoke AI Jet Bot Combo robot vacuum — demonstrated how cameras, screens and voice interaction work together to support daily life as an integrated Home Companion.

The home appliances highlighted smarter food management through AI Vision and hands-free control through voice recognition, offering greater freedom in the kitchen.

A North America kitchen package, unveiled publicly for the first time at the exhibition, also drew attention from visitors.

The exhibition showed that a zero-housework home is within reach, highlighting stronger connectivity among washing machines, dryers and garment care systems, alongside advances in the AI capabilities of robot vacuums.

Care Companion Zone: A Safer, Healthier Everyday Life

In the Care Companion zone, visitors saw how the latest Galaxy form factors — including the new Galaxy Z TriFold — connect mobile and wearable devices with home appliances to serve as a central hub for AI-powered living.

The area demonstrated how Samsung Health is continuing to improve sleep environments by controlling air conditioners, air purifiers, lighting and sensors. A brain health training program for users concerned with cognitive health was also showcased. Other features of the health platform include analyzing health metrics through connected devices to help identify potential signs of chronic conditions, as well as exercise and sleep coaching and recipe recommendations based on ingredients in connected refrigerators.

Samsung further highlighted its Care Companion approach through a Pet Care system that helps identify potential health issues in companion animals and Home Care services, such as SmartThings Safe, that can request emergency assistance in critical situations.

“What impressed me was how everything is connected,” said Maxence Fleury, a digital content creator from Los Angeles. “The exhibition clearly showed how the ecosystem is expanding and the impact it is having.”

“Once again, Samsung didn’t disappoint,” said Lucy Hedges, host of The Travel Show on the BBC. “What I especially liked was how AI blends naturally into everyday life. These connected products ultimately make users’ lives easier and more comfortable.”

As a standalone exhibition, The First Look 2026 presented a more expansive and advanced range of AI products and experiences than ever before. Samsung’s vision of AI — as a trusted companion in everyday life — offers much to look forward to in the years ahead.

Under the theme “Your Companion to AI Living,” Samsung outlined its vision for bringing joy, convenience and care to people’s daily lives — unveiling new products and technologies designed to support that goal. The company also emphasized its commitment to democratizing AI by integrating the technology across its product lineup and services.

Watch how Samsung is embedding AI into everyday life.

TM Roh, CEO and Head of Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division, opened The First Look by describing the company’s AI leadership and how, due to its vast, AI-enabled, connected ecosystem, Samsung can provide users with a true AI companion experience in their daily life. This approach gives users a chance to access more than just the basics from their technology and instead, provides opportunities to find more meaningful moments everywhere.

“Samsung is building a more unified, more personal experience across mobile, visual display, home appliances and services,” said TM Roh. “With our global connected ecosystem, and by embedding AI across categories, Samsung is leading the way to offer more meaningful everyday AI experiences.”

Entertainment Companion: Extending the Experience Beyond Simple Viewing

SW Yong, President and Head of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics, and Sukhmani Mohta, Chief Marketing and Partnerships Officer, VD Business at Samsung Electronics America, took the stage to describe how Samsung’s displays are combining hardware excellence and visual intelligence to provide a true entertainment companion. Drawing from twenty years of leading the TV industry, Samsung has built a full AI TV lineup that provides an entirely new way for users to interact with their TV.

The center of the display lineup is the 130-inch Micro RGB, which represents a monumental leap in scale and picture quality. The 130-inch Micro RGB marks a new era of color, featuring the widest and most detailed spectrum ever seen in Samsung TVs while its Timeless Frame design minimizes distractions and allows the picture to take center stage with understated elegance. A micro-sized RGB light source drives the unprecedented picture quality, with each microscopic red, green and blue diode shining independently to produce color in its purest, most natural form. Micro RGB AI Engine Pro enables precise control of RGB colors and creates overwhelmingly vivid picture quality in every scene.

Elevating this next-level viewing experience, Vision AI Companion (VAC)¹ uses AI technology to work alongside users as a full entertainment companion to enhance viewing, dining and mood, anywhere in the home. With it, users can receive guidance on what to watch, what to eat and what music to listen to, enhancing the overall TV experience in a way that extends far beyond simple viewing.

Samsung also offers intuitive modes to personalize the viewing experience. For soccer fans, AI Soccer Mode Pro delivers a more exciting gameday experience through AI-driven picture and sound tuning to stadium-level quality. AI Sound Controller Pro lets you raise or lower the volume of the crowd, commentary, or background music, providing a personalized listening experience for TV shows and movies. Users can simply make verbal requests, and any TV equipped with VAC — which includes Micro LED, Micro RGB, OLED, Neo QLED, Mini LED and UHD TV — contextually carries out those requests.

Across different types of programming, VAC also boosts the overall lifestyle experience. It allows users to find recipes for meals they see on TV by simply asking and uses the most up-to-date information to make recommendations that align with health and fitness goals. VAC offers multi-device functionality, as well, sending recommended recipes directly to other devices like the newly-unveiled The Movingstyle, designed to move easily throughout the home and kitchen appliances, for a multi-device experience achieved through complete ecosystem integration.

Samsung has led the global soundbar market for 11 consecutive years. This year, it is introducing two new WiFi speakers, the Music Studio 5 and 7, to further expand its integrated ecosystem. These models support a wider range of sound system combinations, enhance audiovisual quality and improve the aesthetics of any space. Each model shares a timeless, dot design concept by renowned designer Erwan Bouroullec, inspired by a universal symbol in music and art and grounded in Samsung’s signature design language.

Samsung also unveiled a host of new products that blend beautifully with users’ homes and aesthetics.  The new, ultra-thin OLED S95H features a refined bezel that gives it art gallery elegance, and Samsung’s new portable projector, The Freestyle+, is powered by VAC and allows users to view content on walls and ceilings, as well as uneven surfaces like corners and curtains.

The 2026 TV lineup² supports HDR10+ ADVANCED, delivering enhanced brightness, genre-based optimization, intelligent motion smoothing, advanced local tone mapping and improved gaming experience.

As HDR10+ adoption grows among major OTT providers, Samsung will be the first to launch HDR10+ ADVANCED in its 2026 TV lineup. Samsung also features Eclipsa Audio, the company’s new spatial sound system, introduced across all 2026 TVs.

Samsung also unveiled its most advanced Odyssey gaming monitor lineup yet, introducing five new models that push the boundaries of resolution, refresh rate and immersive visual performance. Led by Samsung’s first 6K 3D Odyssey G9, the 2026 lineup debuts world-first display technologies for gamers and creators, including the next-generation Odyssey G6 and three new Odyssey G8 models.

At the center of all these display innovations is the most powerful Tizen OS yet. Users can now enjoy seven years of Tizen OS upgrades, ensuring that TVs continue to evolve long after they have entered the home.

Home Companion: Connected Smart Appliances That Guide You Through Your Day

Cheolgi Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances (DA) Division at Samsung Electronics, and Elizabeth Anderson, Head of Integrated Marketing, DA at Samsung Electronics America (SEA) outlined Samsung’s vision to evolve from providing home appliances to true home companions that work to eliminate the stress of daily chores. Cheolgi Kim also announced that as of December 2025, SmartThings now serves more than 430 million users, empowering Samsung with a significant scale and depth of insight that sets it apart from other brands.

This insight comes to life with the Family Hub. The AI-enabled refrigerator is the centerpiece of the home and now, with an upgrade to AI Vision built with Google Gemini,³ it redefines living for an AI future. With this update, AI Vision unlocks existing limitations in recognizing food items, seamlessly tracking what is placed into and taken out of the refrigerator, making meal planning and food management simpler than ever.⁴ The Family Hub has won 10 CES Innovation Awards so far, and Samsung’s AI-enabled fridges have received the award for the past three years.

Through a gamified feature called “What’s for Today?”,⁵ select refrigerators provide recipe recommendations based on what is in the refrigerator or also random recommendations, reducing the stress caused by choosing what to cook. When selected, recipes show up through SmartThings Food, where users receive a step-by-step guide to help them get started instantly. The selected recipe can also be sent to connected cooking appliances to begin the process seamlessly. Video to Recipe⁶ adds even more simplicity, providing users with recommended cooking videos and converting those videos into easy-to-follow steps, allowing users to follow along while they cook without pausing the video or backtracking.

Samsung also unveiled FoodNote,⁷ a new, weekly report that recaps users’ food intake patterns, from most-used ingredients and recipe recommendations, and which items it’s time to restock. Additionally, Now Brief⁸ includes more widgets on the Family Hub screen and with Voice ID,⁹ can distinguish between family members and display content relevant to each individual. Ultimately, these features come together to provide various helpful insights and information throughout the week.

In the laundry room, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo removes the need to transfer loads of laundry, solving a major pain point for households. This year’s model comes with enhanced features, like a faster super speed cycle and enhanced drying performance. Moreover, Samsung’s new Bespoke AI AirDresser is here to solve another common problem with your clothes. It features Auto Wrinkle Care, which blasts strong air and steam jets to smooth out shirts. All users have to do is hang their shirt and wait, reducing the burden in busy mornings.

Around the house, the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra, powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing processor, features an Active Stereo 3D Sensor to recognize liquids¹⁰ like coffee, juice, or even transparent liquids like water. While its camera helps with navigation, it also allows the robot vacuum to serve as a monitoring device for when users are away from home, notifying them about their pets and whether there is any suspicious activity.¹¹ Plus, with a smarter Bixby,¹² users can speak conversationally to their robot vacuum to carry out tasks with ease. For the deep level of connectivity and integration that forms the backbone of a holistic, AI-powered experience, Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances have received a CES Innovation Award.

Additional benefits include a first-of-its-kind partnership with Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) to help unlock real, meaningful savings to the smart home experience. HSB President and CEO Greg M. Barats joined the presentation to discuss the partnership, explaining the potential benefits of having smart appliances connected to SmartThings to reduce insurance premiums. This is the best of the AI era — increased protections and reduced costs for users. After a successful pilot run in the U.S. in 2025, the collaboration is expanding to more states across the U.S., as well as to leading home insurance carriers in other global regions.

Care Companion: Shifting From Reactive to Proactive Care

Finally, Praveen Raja, Vice President and Head of Digital Health at Samsung Research America (SRA), introduced Samsung’s long-term vision for intelligent care enabled by Samsung’s integrated device ecosystem, redefining care from a reactive need to a proactive opportunity. With AI, phones, appliances, wearables and other connected devices will help users prevent potential health concerns before they occur.

For example, Samsung aims to provide personalized health coaching, offering effective exercise and sleep coaching to help decrease risk for major chronic diseases and also suggesting appropriate recipes based on ingredients available in connected refrigerators. Additionally, if any abnormal signs or patterns are detected, it will alert users while allowing their health metrics to be shared with providers via the Xealth platform and facilitating virtual professional consultations.

Recognizing the importance of preventative health, Samsung is also expanding its capabilities in dementia detection through research partnerships, with wearable devices registering subtle changes to mobility, speech and engagement that can be indicative of long-term cognitive changes.

Samsung Knox and Knox Matrix serve as the foundation of this hyper-personalized ecosystem, safeguarding user data at every turn. As AI is constantly evolving, so are Knox and Knox Matrix. To maintain security despite constant changes, Samsung’s security systems are consistently identifying AI risks by advancing to protect data in AI training processes and approving models through red team analysis.

The Samsung Exhibition Zone at CES is available to the public Jan. 4-7. For more information, visit the Samsung Newsroom.

1. Feature available in certain regions and models. Availability and supported features may vary by region and watching conditions. Voice commands recognize English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian and Korean, but not all accents, dialects and expressions are recognized. This feature provides AI-created content, with accuracy not guaranteed, so results should be confirmed. Requires a specific Bluetooth remote (TM2660H/TM2661H) (sold separately on some models). In-box remote for some models (M70H/U800H) does not support voice recognition. Requires either a Mobile Quick Remote or separately purchased Bluetooth remote. Feature accessible with the AI button or the Home button (via long press) on remote controls without an AI button. ︎
2. HDR10+ ADVANCED will be available on the following models: QN990H, R95H, S95H, S90H, R90H, S85H, LS03HW, LS03H and QN80H. ︎
3. Google Gemini is provided by Google LLC. Service availability, supported functions, and accuracy may vary by country, language, device model and OS/One UI version. Users must be 18 or older. Some functions may require additional app settings, and features or results may vary by subscription. ︎
4. AI Vision refers to the refrigerator’s internal camera and AI-based processing that helps recognize food items. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. If a food item is not recognizable, 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. The user may need to manually check and adjust the list to ensure its accuracy. A red light turns on when the camera is operating. The user’s appearance may be captured, but areas other than the food item are automatically blurred. ︎
5. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. ︎
6. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. ︎
7. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. ︎
8. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung, Google, or Microsoft account may be required. You must use the same log-in account on each of the devices. Availability of certain apps may vary by country, region, service provider, network environment, or device, and may change without notice. ︎
9. Each user must register for a Samsung Account on screen appliances in advance. Up to six accounts can be registered on a single device. To use Voice ID, users must have agreed to the Bixby terms and conditions. Voice ID registration is available on select appliances, TVs and mobiles, and only one voice can be registered per account. ︎
10. A liquid spill is defined as a colored or transparent liquid, such as water or juice, having a size of 7cm x 7cm (15 ml in volume) or larger. Identification may be affected by the size of the liquid or the environmental conditions of the floor, such as the floor pattern, color of the floor, direct or reflected light, or shape of the liquid. Excessive amount of liquid on the floor may cause secondary contamination. ︎
11. Must download the SmartThings app available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. Only cats and dogs can be recognized. The recognition capabilities may be limited by the posture or position of a pet. The ability to recognize your pet may vary depending on the type of animal and the living environment. It only recognizes a pet presence based on generic visual indicators, and cannot identify individual pets. Each appliance needs to be set to be optimized for pets by the SmartThings App. ︎
12. Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes selected languages and certain accents/dialects, including Korean, English (US/GB/IN), Spanish (MX/ES), German, French, Italian, and Portuguese (BR). The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required. ︎

The teaser reflects Samsung’s vision of integrating AI across its products and services, positioning the company as a trusted partner that enhances and supports AI experiences throughout users’ daily lives.

Designed to build anticipation for the event, the video uses vibrant lights and lines to form silhouettes of new innovations set to debut at The First Look, symbolizing the seamless integration of AI across Samsung’s portfolio. In the final scene, the light flows into Wynn Las Vegas, where the event will be held, revealing the theme.

The First Look 2026 will officially kick off on January 4 at 7 p.m. PST — two days before the opening of CES 2026 — with a media event at Wynn Las Vegas, followed by four days of exhibitions, tech forums and other events through January 7.

The media event will feature key Samsung executives, including TM Roh, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division; SW Yong, President and Head of Visual Display (VD) Business; and Cheolgi Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliance (DA) Business. Together, they will outline customer experience innovation strategies across their respective areas.

The tech forums will be held from January 5 to 6, with four sessions covering topics including AI, home appliances and design. More information about The First Look 2026 will be revealed on Samsung Newsroom.

Samsung Electronics today announced that it will host a series of four moderated Tech Forum panel discussions at CES 2026, to highlight industry trends and unveil its distinct AI vision and strategy.

Samsung’s Tech Forums will be held Jan. 5–6 at Samsung’s dedicated exhibition space in the Latour Ballroom at the Wynn Las Vegas. The company will host a total of four moderated panels covering AI, Home Appliances, Services and Design. Samsung executives along with partners, academics, media and industry analysts will participate in each session by topic:

• When Everything Clicks: How Open Ecosystems Deliver Impactful AI (Jan. 5, 9:00 AM) —  Yoonho Choi, Digital Appliances Business, Samsung Electronics (Chair, Home Connectivity Alliance)

Description: Collaborating smart home innovators hold an open discussion on the necessity of cross-industry partnership and what it takes for meaningful smart home technology to be woven into daily living.

• In Tech We Trust? Rethinking Security & Privacy in the AI Age (Jan. 5, 2:00 PM) — Shin Baik, Group Head, AI Platform Center, Samsung Electronics

Description: Experts in security and AI examine the science of trust and how transparency and secure systems can spark a meaningful change for AI adoption.

• FAST Forward: How Streaming’s Next Wave is Redefining Television (Jan. 5, 4:00 PM) —
  Salek Brodsky, Executive Vice President, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics

Description: Leaders in TV and entertainment explore the next wave of streaming, including free ad-supported streaming television (FAST), hybrid models and creator-led channels to shape a more interactive future.

• The Human Side of Tech: Designing a Future Worth Loving (Jan. 6, 1:00 PM) — Mauro Porcini, President and Chief Design Officer, DX Division, Samsung Electronics

Description: Design leaders urge the tech industry to look beyond minimalist, spec-driven approaches toward more expressive, human-centered design shaped by new materials, AI and creativity.

In covering the latest trends in technology and daily living, the Technology Forum discussions will serve as a complement to the company’s latest product innovations, which will be showcased at the Samsung Exhibition Zone at the Wynn from Jan. 5–7.

Samsung Electronics today announced that its smart home platform, SmartThings, now supports Matter 1.5 — the global smart home standard — making it the first in the industry to support Matter-compatible cameras.

Starting later this month, Samsung will roll out SmartThings updates to expand its existing list of Matter devices, including lights, door locks, switches and various sensors, by adding cameras. With this update, SmartThings will become the smart home platform with the broadest support for Matter devices.

“Samsung aims to ensure that products and services built on different brands and protocols deliver a unified experience through SmartThings,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings Team at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to expand our support for industry standards, including Matter, and further strengthen collaboration to drive new customer experiences.”

Enhanced Security and Safety With Matter 1.5 Camera Support

Matter 1.5, announced by the Connectivity Standard Alliance (CSA) in November, adds camera support as well as enhanced features for closure operations, including blinds, awnings and garage doors — along with improved energy management.

The industry is particularly focused on the inclusion of a camera standard, as cameras are an essential part of any smart home ecosystem. Matter 1.5 supports a wide range of camera use cases including indoor and outdoor security cameras, video doorbells and more. It also includes features such as live video streaming, two-way communication, motion detection, event history and pan-tilt-zoom controls.

Expanded User Choice and Enhanced Developer Convenience

With SmartThings supporting the standard, camera manufacturers can now launch Matter-based cameras that seamlessly integrate with SmartThings without the need to customize separate API (Application Programming Interface).

Samsung has collaborated with leading global IoT device makers, including Aqara, Eve and XThings, to develop Matter cameras, and these products are expected to roll out starting in March 2026.

SmartThings has already partnered with Aqara, Arlo, Hue, Ring and others to provide a wide array of smart home camera experiences across various protocols and connection methods. With this update, users will have even more options, as Matter cameras can now be integrated easily into the SmartThings ecosystem.

Integrating cameras with SmartThings helps users build a safe and convenient smart home tailored to their lifestyle. This integration enables essential functions such as monitoring the home environment while away, checking on the well-being of pets and configuring customized routines by connecting with smart doorbells.

Strengthening Industry Leadership With the Broadest Support for Matter Devices

Samsung SmartThings continues to expand its global partnerships under an open-platform strategy. Through the WWST (Works With SmartThings) certification program, SmartThings now supports more than 4,700 models from over 390 partner brands. By rapidly adopting the Matter standard, Samsung has also helped bring 58 Matter device types into users’ everyday lives.

Samsung Electronics and KT Corporation (KT) announced they have successfully validated AI-based radio access network (AI-RAN) optimization technology on KT’s commercial network, confirming that stable, uninterrupted service can be delivered across a range of real-world environments. Following simulation-based verification completed in June, this marks the first successful demonstration of the technology on a live commercial network.

As user-perceived communication quality becomes a key priority for telecom operators, Samsung has been developing AI-RAN optimization technologies to meet this need.

Traditionally, the same network configuration has been applied to all user devices — such as smartphones — connected to a base station. When users move through weak-signal areas or travel at high speeds, the connection between their devices and the base station may weaken or drop.

The AI-RAN optimization technology verified by the two companies automatically applies optimal configurations for each user — rather than for the network as a whole — based on real-time wireless conditions. The system leverages AI to learn from issues tied to a user’s movement paths and usage patterns, identifying recurring trends to predict potential problems. By proactively preventing disruptions, the technology helps users avoid the connectivity issues they experienced in the past.

Samsung Research of Samsung Electronics and the Future Network Laboratory at KT Corporation conducted a field test with approximately 18,000 users in select areas of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, featuring varying environmental conditions. The AI-RAN technology was applied to users who had repeatedly experienced service disruptions, allowing the teams to identify recurring issue patterns and develop user-specific network configurations. The companies then compared the number of disconnections before and after applying these configurations on the commercial network. The results showed a significant drop in connection failures among users who had faced frequent disruptions, as well as a notable decrease in issues for other users in the region.

AI-RAN optimization will be essential as the industry prepares for the 6G era, when data usage is expected to surge and networks must deliver stable service across a wide range of communication environments. Because the improvement in communication quality was noticeable at the user level, this achievement is expected to be recognized as a leading example of AI-RAN technology. Moving forward, the two companies plan to expand validation across additional commercial networks and further advance 6G technology.

“This is a major milestone that shows how AI can improve user experience on real-world commercial networks,” said JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of the Advanced Communications Research Center, Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics. “Through close collaboration with KT, we will continue shaping and validating the next generation of AI-driven communication technologies.”

“This achievement demonstrates that AI can transform network operations around users,” said Jong-Sik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Network Laboratory at KT Corporation. “Together with Samsung, we will continue developing customized optimization technologies to deliver stable, uninterrupted service and drive core 6G capabilities that create new value for customers.”

Samsung is leading AI-driven 6G innovation through its research on AI-RAN technology, integrating advanced AI capabilities into wireless networks. The company will continue to strengthen collaboration with both domestic and global operators and partners to further enhance user experiences in next-generation communications.

TM Roh, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division, will be the keynote speaker for The First Look. SW Yong, President and Head of the Visual Display (VD) Business, and Cheolgi Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances (DA) Business, will also appear on stage to share their respective business directions for the upcoming year.

The event will be streamed live on Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Electronics’ official YouTube channel and as well as Samsung TV Plus, the company’s FAST (free, ad-supported TV streaming) service. Additional Samsung events and exhibitions will take place at the company’s exclusive exhibition at the Wynn Las Vegas through January 7.

On December 1, the two companies have launched the “Smart Tagged Baggage Service,” enabling Turkish Airlines passengers to quickly track lost or delayed baggage using Samsung’s location-tracking service, SmartThings Find.

SmartThings Find leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to locate registered Samsung Galaxy devices. Supported by a global network of more than 700 million Galaxy devices, the service allows users to securely locate smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds and items with Galaxy SmartTags attached — anytime, anywhere.

Through this collaboration, Turkish Airlines can more efficiently recover baggage equipped with a Galaxy SmartTag when passengers include a link with location data in their lost baggage report. Passengers can also use the “Change Device Image” feature in SmartThings Find to register a photo of their actual luggage in the app, making it easier to identify if misplaced.

With Turkish Airlines as the launch partner, Samsung plans to expand collaborations with additional airlines. The airline aims to extend the use of SmartThings Find beyond baggage management to other customer services that benefit from location tracking. As the flag carrier of Türkiye, Turkish Airlines plans long-term cooperation with Samsung to drive customer experience innovation through AI-powered devices and software solutions.

“Samsung is expanding the SmartThings Find experience through partnerships across industries to help customers stay connected and at ease wherever they are,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. “We are delighted to work with Turkish Airlines to deliver a more convenient and streamlined travel experience.”

“Turkish Airlines continues to lead the industry on its road to digitalization. We are delighted to partner with Samsung to leverage their cutting-edge technology for the benefit of our passengers,” said Kerem Kızıltunç, Chief Information Technologies Officer at Turkish Airlines. “We will continue to strengthen our industry leadership with technological collaborations that prioritize guest satisfaction and set new standards for the aviation industry.”

Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom (SKT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop core 6G technologies, with a primary focus on artificial intelligence-based radio access network (AI-RAN) technology.

The companies will develop and test key technologies for the 6G era including AI-based channel estimation, distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission, AI-RAN-based schedulers and core network architectures.

Samsung Research of Samsung Electronics and the Network Technology Office of SK Telecom will lead the collaboration.

AI-based channel estimation predicts and corrects signal transmission in real time, enhancing network performance by enabling faster, more accurate data delivery in environments where radio waves are distorted by obstacles such as buildings or walls.

Unlike traditional architectures where a single base station handles data processing, distributed MIMO technology allows multiple base stations or antennas to work together to transmit and receive data. This approach supports reliable, ultra-high-speed communication across both urban and rural areas.

AI-RAN schedulers and AI-based core networks determine when, where and how to send data, ensuring efficient resource allocation even when many user devices are connected. These technologies are key to improving network quality and driving automation in a future hyperconnected society.

Through this partnership, Samsung Research will develop AI-RAN technologies including AI-based channel estimation models, schedulers and distributed MIMO. SKT will lead data provision and test infrastructure setup based on its nationwide network operations.

The companies are also collaborating as members of the AI-RAN Alliance. They jointly proposed an AI-based channel estimation technology that was officially approved as a work item. This month, they presented their research outcomes at the alliance’s all-member meeting, continuing their joint efforts.

“Through field-focused collaboration with SKT, we will be able to verify the effectiveness of AI-based wireless technologies in real-world settings and secure key AI-RAN technologies at an early stage,” said JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC), Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics. “We hope that continued collaboration between our companies will help pave the way for the rollout of 6G.”

“The convergence of AI and wireless communications will be crucial to 6G competitiveness,” said Takki Yu, Vice President of SK Telecom Network Technology Office. “Through our collaboration with Samsung Electronics, we plan to secure world-class AI-RAN-based 6G technologies and lead the global 6G ecosystem.”

Since establishing the ACRC in 2019, Samsung has pursued full-scale 6G research and published the 6G White Paper and 6G Spectrum White Paper — presenting its vision and direction for next-generation communications. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, the company showcased a range of demonstrations in collaboration with the AI-RAN Alliance. Following last year, Samsung again hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit in November to advance AI-RAN research and strengthen industry collaboration.

Unlike server-based systems, on-device environments operate under strict memory and computing constraints. As a result, reducing AI model size and maximizing runtime efficiency are essential. To meet this challenge, Samsung Research AI Center is leading work across core technologies — from model compression and runtime software optimization to new architecture development.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Dr. MyungJoo Ham, Master at AI Center, Samsung Research, to discuss the future of on-device AI and the optimization technologies that make it possible.

The First Step Toward On-Device AI

At the heart of generative AI — which interprets user language and produces natural responses — are large language models (LLMs). The first step in enabling on-device AI is compressing and optimizing these massive models so they run smoothly on devices such as smartphones.

“Running a highly advanced model that performs billions of computations directly on a smartphone or laptop would quickly drain the battery, increase heat and slow response times — noticeably degrading the user experience,” said Dr. Ham. “Model compression technology emerged to address these issues.”

LLMs perform calculations using extremely complex numerical representations. Model compression simplifies these values into more efficient integer formats through a process called quantization. “It’s like compressing a high-resolution photo so the file size shrinks but the visual quality remains nearly the same,” he explained. “For instance, converting 32-bit floating-point calculations to 8-bit or even 4-bit integers significantly reduces memory use and computational load, speeding up response times.”

A drop in numerical precision during quantization can reduce a model’s overall accuracy. To balance speed and model quality, Samsung Research is developing algorithms and tools that closely measure and calibrate performance after compression.

“The goal of model compression isn’t just to make the model smaller — it’s to keep it fast and accurate,” Dr. Ham said. “Using optimization algorithms, we analyze the model’s loss function during compression and retrain it until its outputs stay close to the original, smoothing out areas with large errors. Because each model weight has a different level of importance, we preserve critical weights with higher precision while compressing less important ones more aggressively. This approach maximizes efficiency without compromising accuracy.”

Beyond developing model compression technology at the prototype stage, Samsung Research adapts and commercializes it for real-world products such as smartphones and home appliances. “Because every device model has its own memory architecture and computing profile, a general approach can’t deliver cloud-level AI performance,” he said. “Through product-driven research, we’re designing our own compression algorithms to enhance AI experiences users can feel directly in their hands.”

The Hidden Engine That Drives AI Performance

Even with a well-compressed model, the user experience ultimately depends on how it runs on the device. Samsung Research is developing an AI runtime engine that optimizes how a device’s memory and computing resources are used during execution.

“The AI runtime is essentially the model’s engine control unit,” Dr. Ham said. “When a model runs across multiple processors — such as the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU) and neural processing unit (NPU) — the runtime automatically assigns each operation to the optimal chip and minimizes memory access to boost overall AI performance.”

The AI runtime also enables larger and more sophisticated models to run at the same speed on the same device. This not only reduces response latency but also improves overall AI quality — delivering more accurate results, smoother conversations and more refined image processing.

“The biggest bottlenecks in on-device AI are memory bandwidth and storage access speed,” he said. “We’re developing optimization techniques that intelligently balance memory and computation.” For example, loading only the data needed at a given moment, rather than keeping everything in memory, improves efficiency. “Samsung Research now has the capability to run a 30-billion-parameter generative model — typically more than 16 GB in size — on less than 3 GB of memory,” he added.

The Next Generation of AI Model Architectures

Research on AI model architectures — the fundamental blueprints of AI systems — is also well underway.

“Because on-device environments have limited memory and computing resources, we need to redesign model structures so they run efficiently on the hardware,” said Dr. Ham. “Our architecture research focuses on creating models that maximize hardware efficiency.” In short, the goal is to build device-friendly architectures from the ground up to ensure the model and the device’s hardware work in harmony from the start.

Training LLMs requires significant time and cost, and a poorly designed model structure can drive those costs even higher. To minimize inefficiencies, Samsung Research evaluates hardware performance in advance and designs optimized architectures before training begins. “In the era of on-device AI, the key competitive edge is how much efficiency you can extract from the same hardware resources,” he said. “Our goal is to achieve the highest level of intelligence within the smallest possible chip — that’s the technical direction we’re pursuing.”

Today, most LLMs rely on the transformer architecture. Transformers analyze an entire sentence at once to determine relationships between words, a method that excels at understanding context but has a key limitation — computational demands rise sharply as sentences get longer. “We’re exploring a wide range of approaches to overcome these constraints, evaluating each one based on how efficiently it can operate in real device environments,” Dr. Ham explained. “We’re focused not just on improving existing methods but on developing the next generation of architectures built on entirely new methodologies.”

The Road Ahead for On-Device AI

What is the most critical challenge for the future of on-device AI? “Achieving cloud-level performance directly on the device,” Dr. Ham said. To make this possible, model optimization and hardware efficiency work closely together to deliver fast, accurate AI — even without a network connection. “Improving speed, accuracy and power efficiency at the same time will become even more important,” he added.

Advancements in on-device AI are enabling users to enjoy fast, secure and highly personalized AI experiences — anytime, anywhere. “AI will become better at learning in real time on the device and adapting to each user’s environment,” said Dr. Ham. “The future lies in delivering natural, individualized services while safeguarding data privacy.”

Samsung is pushing the boundaries to deliver more advanced experiences powered by optimized on-device AI. Through these efforts, the company aims to provide even more remarkable and seamless user experiences.

The summit attracted approximately 100 distinguished participants, including representatives from major telecommunications operators, manufacturers, government agencies and academia. Following the official launch of 6G standardization discussions by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in June, the industry has shifted its focus toward developing next-generation technologies that integrate AI into 6G communications. Samsung demonstrated its leadership in future communication technology at the event, unveiling achievements in AI-native technologies deployed in actual systems.

“We are focusing on integrating AI into communication systems to maximize user experience and network operational efficiency,” said JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of the Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Research. “Through the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit, we will expand collaboration with the telecommunications industry and continue our efforts to advance next-generation communication technology.”

AI-Driven Innovation in Wireless Communications, With Full-Scale AI-RAN Technology Validation

The summit commenced with keynote presentations from telecommunications industry experts, followed by three main sessions: “New AI-Driven Services,” “AI Radio Innovation” and “AI Network Innovation,” along with technology demonstrations. Each session included a lecture on the topic, as well as panel discussions that facilitated dynamic exchanges between participants through Q&A sessions and active debates.

The “New AI-Driven Services” session focused on new wireless network services enabled by AI technology. The session came within the context of the industry having reached a consensus on the potential for AR∙XR and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), among others.

The “AI Radio Innovation” session covered the latest developments in AI-RAN and wireless network performance optimization through AI. Furthermore, active discussions were held on AI-RAN as a core technology for 6G communications.

The “AI Network Innovation” session featured in-depth discussions on the various impacts of AI-native communication technology extending from wireless networks to wired networks and servers. Participants learned how AI will be utilized in network automation, resource management optimization and predictive maintenance to maximize network operational efficiency.

The technology demonstration session that closed out the day showcased AI-RAN technology jointly developed by Samsung and its partners. Attendees showed particular interest in the validation results demonstrating how base station communication equipment with AI-RAN autonomously makes determinations and adjustments to optimize network quality.

Leading the Development of AI-Native Next-Generation Communications Through Global Partnerships

Samsung is expanding its collaboration on 6G and AI-native communication technology with global partners, including telecommunications carriers, research institutes and consortia.

This year, the company has initiated collaboration with domestic carriers in Korea like KT — as well as global companies and research institutes such as SoftBank and KDDI Research — to enhance future communication quality. It is also participating in the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum, a global consortium leading the way in 6G technology development and commercialization.

Going forward, Samsung plans to further strengthen collaboration with global partners and continue research on the convergence of AI and communications technology to solidify its leadership in next-generation communications technology.

Titled “Divalent and Halide Dual-Ion Storage of a Redox-Active Symmetric Cell for an Efficient Wastewater-Energy Nexus,” the paper presents a new paradigm for simultaneously implementing water treatment and energy storage while addressing the high power consumption and cost issues of existing electrochemical water treatment technologies. In particular, the research demonstrates that energy efficiency can be enhanced by supplying power generated from the electrode regeneration process to external devices — showing potential for wide application in various industries as well as daily life.

The study was jointly conducted by the Life Solution Team at Samsung Research of Samsung Electronics and the research team led by chemical engineering professor HoSeok Park at SKKU. Samsung participated in the entire process — from ideation to experiment design, implementation and validation — substantially contributing to proving the potential of the unique electrochemical water treatment technology.

An international academic journal that covers cutting-edge energy technologies, Joule was established by Cell Press in 2017 and is highly influential across physical chemistry, energy and fuels, materials science and other scientific fields. The paper’s publication marks a milestone for Samsung Research and SKKU.

Overcoming the Limits of Electrochemical Water Treatment

Electrochemical water treatment technologies are based on capacitive deionization (CDI), wherein voltage is applied to an electrode, causing ions in water to adsorb onto the electrode through electrostatic forces. This removes the ions from the water, purifying it. The method is especially effective against hardness ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) that reduce the detergency of cleaning agents and lead to scale buildup.

Unlike membrane-based water treatment technologies, which employ thin barriers to selectively allow or block the passage of liquid or gas microparticles, electrochemical technologies use no physical filters. As a result, maintenance and repair are easier, making these technologies an active area of research.

Despite their advantages, electrochemical water treatment technologies still face certain challenges. Additional power is consumed in the electrode regeneration process, and the required use of ion exchange membranes — which selectively allow ions with a specific electrical charge to pass while preventing their re-adsorption — remains an obstacle to commercialization due to increased costs.

To overcome these limitations, the Samsung Research-SKKU team developed a next-generation electrochemical water treatment technology that can be applied without ion exchange membranes. The technology offers low module composition costs, enables the removal of large volumes of hardness ions and can supply the power generated in the electrode regeneration process to external devices — paving the way for its potential as a multifunctional water treatment solution.

A New Approach to Ion Storage With a Next-Generation Electrode

The research team used a metal oxide-based nanostructure — a departure from conventional electrode materials — to create their electrode. Compared to conventional designs, this newly developed electrode demonstrated a 200% increase in ion storage capacity and a 20% improvement in storage rate.

Conventional electrode materials remove ions through electrostatic forces, requiring expensive ion exchange membranes to prevent re-adsorption during electrode regeneration. The new electrode, however, enables ions to be stored and spontaneously desorbed through direct electron exchange, eliminating the need for an ion exchange membrane.

The Potential To Evolve Into a Multifunctional Energy System

For repeated operation, existing electrochemical water treatment technologies also require electrode regeneration through the supply of additional power. During this process, sudden ion leakage can cause an overcurrent and reverse the polarity of the electrodes, making it impossible to utilize the stored energy.

The next-generation water treatment electrode developed by Samsung Research and SKKU is free from this issue, as spontaneous electrode regeneration can be achieved without the supply of additional power. Furthermore, it can recover stored energy and supply power to nearby devices. The team also found that the power required to operate an electrochemical water treatment module using this technology was 76Wh/kg — about half that of existing technologies.

Future Expansion to Home Appliances and Environmental Solutions

With its innovative new electrode, the electrochemical water treatment module developed by Samsung Research and SKKU has the potential to serve as a multifunctional unit that can treat water while supplying backup power for various home appliances that use water, such as dishwashers, washing machines and water purifiers. It is expected to play a key role as an innovative technology of the future.

Building on this study, Samsung plans to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and expand its research efforts to secure the core technologies that will shape the future of the environment and energy sectors. Through these initiatives, the company aims to accelerate the development of innovative solutions for a more sustainable tomorrow.

In line with this transformation, Samsung Electronics is building a next-generation technology ecosystem through AI-native networks and strengthening global partnerships to prepare for the 6G era.

In the final part of this interview series, Samsung Newsroom spoke with JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) at Samsung Electronics, about the company’s strategy to drive the convergence of telecommunications and AI for the 6G era through global partnerships.

Defining a New 6G Paradigm With AI-Native Networks

Ahead of the 6G era, the integration of AI and telecommunications is creating new value beyond performance gains. “The fusion of AI and telecommunications will deliver two core benefits — innovation in user experience and greater network efficiency through automation,” said Jeong. “To achieve this, Samsung is leading research on AI-native networks that embed AI across every layer of the telecommunications network.”

“AI native doesn’t mean applying AI to specific equipment or functions — it means embedding AI technologies throughout the entire process, from design to operation,” he continued. “For example, in the physical layer (L1), AI reduces noise in radio signals, while in the data link layer (L2), it efficiently allocates network resources for each user.” This approach enhances network performance while reducing power consumption, paving the way for a more sustainable telecommunications environment.

Advancing 6G Through Open Innovation and Collaboration

Through its AI-native approach, Samsung is developing intelligent networks that learn and optimize themselves. “Close collaboration with global telecom operators is essential to realizing the user experience innovations and operational efficiencies enabled by AI,” said Jeong. “Samsung is pursuing joint initiatives to bring these technologies to real-world network environments.”

“These efforts are driven by our open innovation strategy,” he added. “By diversifying collaborations with partners — from field trials with telecom operators to advanced research with academia and partnerships with global industry alliances — Samsung is expanding the ecosystem and taking a leading role in standardization.”

Since 2024, Samsung has strengthened its global partnerships. The company has worked with NTT DOCOMO on user-specific network optimization technologies and with KT to improve coverage and data transmission speeds in potential 6G frequency bands.

Samsung is also enhancing user experience through collaboration with KDDI Research on distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. With Verizon, the company is expanding global discussions on next-generation telecommunications through the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum. In addition, Samsung has begun research with SoftBank on AI-based network performance enhancements. Moving forward, the company plans to continue strengthening its partnerships with telecom operators worldwide.

Beyond these partnerships, Samsung is expanding the AI-driven telecommunications ecosystem through global collaborations. As part of the NextG Initiative Corporate Affiliates Program, the company is co-developing next-generation 6G technologies with Princeton University. Samsung is also broadening its collaboration with leading chip vendors, including Qualcomm, Intel, Arm and NVIDIA.

“The expansion of our partnerships with major telecom operators shows our commitment to turning the technological direction outlined in our 6G white paper earlier this year into concrete research agreements,” said Jeong. “In particular, AI-RAN has moved beyond general simulations and lab-based testing and can now be validated in real-world network environments — allowing global telecom operators to directly experience its benefits. This will be a key driver in accelerating global standardization discussions.”

Global Leadership Toward 6G

Samsung is also leading technical discussions within global industry alliances, shaping the transition to the 6G era.

Since the founding of the AI-RAN Alliance in 2024, Samsung has served as vice chair of the board and chair of Working Group 3 (AI-on-RAN) — spearheading efforts to explore new services through the convergence of AI and wireless technologies. As vice chair of the board for the Next G Alliance, the company also plays a key role in driving research, development and standardization for 6G across North America. “Leveraging our industry-leading expertise in semiconductors, hardware, and software, Samsung is helping lead technical discussions and decision-making within these global alliances,” said Jeong.

Building on its strengths, Samsung continues to demonstrate leadership on the global stage by showcasing proven technologies. At international exhibitions such as Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, the company drew significant attention with its latest AI-RAN innovations. Through its own Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit, Samsung invites telecom operators, manufacturers, government agencies, and academic experts from around the world to share the latest research and achievements in AI-powered telecommunications.

Under the theme “Future Wireless for the AI Era,” last year’s Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit featured a live demonstration of AI-RAN technologies and explored AI integration, sustainability and user experience innovation. “This year’s summit, scheduled for November, will take place under the theme ‘Unlocking New Possibilities With AI-Centric Networks,’” said Jeong. “We plan to showcase AI-RAN technologies validated in real network environments, along with innovative real-world applications.”

Transforming Everyday Life Through Next-Generation Communications

Samsung’s ongoing participation in global alliances and international forums is ultimately aimed at creating meaningful user experiences in everyday life. “In the 6G era, we’ll go beyond improving network performance. Services such as AR and XR will become more widespread, and entirely new ones will emerge,” said Jeong. “Events like the 6G Innovation Forum will also focus on these new services.”

Mobile communications technology has evolved in roughly 10-year cycles, with each generation delivering leaps in performance. The 6G era, however, will redefine network performance and serve as a catalyst for transformative services across industries and everyday life. With ultra-high speeds, ultra-low latency and massive connectivity, 6G is expected to deliver unprecedented communication quality and differentiated user experiences.

Samsung is ushering in a new paradigm through the convergence of telecommunications and AI. By working closely with telecom operators, global industry alliances and academia, the company is leading next-generation communications innovation through ongoing technical collaboration and shared achievements.

With this fourth and final installment, the Next-Generation Communications Leadership series has explored Samsung’s 6G standardization vision, global leadership initiatives, AI-RAN research achievements and global partnership strategy. As Samsung prepares for the 6G era with its unrivaled leadership, the company is poised to bring meaningful change to everyday life.

The two companies will categorize next-generation communications technologies into four candidate areas — 6G, AI for RAN, AI and RAN, and Large Telecom Model (LTM) — and collaborate on select fields to drive future innovation. Leveraging their advanced technological expertise and network deployment capabilities, they plan to identify new use cases, jointly develop core technologies and demonstrate the technologies’ effectiveness.

This year marks a significant push toward 6G standardization, with discussions emerging on new frequency bands such as the 7GHz spectrum. Under the “AI for RAN” concept, AI-RAN technologies are expected to play a pivotal role in optimizing wireless networks.

Moreover, AI-RAN orchestration technologies under the “AI and RAN” concept — designed to seamlessly integrate AI workloads with base station workloads and operate them efficiently — hold significant potential for network optimization and enhanced user experiences. The use of Generative AI within communications networks is being considered a viable area of research as well.

“Through this collaboration with SoftBank, we aim to define meaningful use cases for both operators and end users, while securing key technologies for future commercialization,” said JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) at Samsung Research. “Building on our advanced expertise in AI-RAN and 6G, Samsung will continue to lead innovation in next-generation communications.”

“We are very pleased to collaborate with Samsung, a global leader in communications technologies. By combining our advanced expertise, we will accelerate the realization of next-generation networks that evolve to become more efficient and highly reliable through AI-RAN,” said Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO, SoftBank Corp. “SoftBank remains committed to taking on the challenge of building the next-generation social infrastructure essential for a future society where AI and humans coexist.”

Samsung Electronics continues to lead research in 6G and AI-powered communications technologies through its ACRC under Samsung Research. In November, the company plans to host the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit, an event aimed at fostering dialogue among industry leaders, academia and government organizations on AI-RAN research.

“Zero Waste to Landfill” is a claim validation program administered by UL Solutions, a global safety science company. Designations are determined by the percentage of waste diverted from landfills, serving as a key indicator of a company’s resource circularity efforts. Platinum represents a 100% landfill diversion rate, while Gold and Silver represent 95% to 99% and 90% to 94% respectively.

Since announcing its Environmental Strategy in 2022, focused on climate action and resource circularity, Samsung has steadily advanced sustainable management practices — repurposing waste generated at its sites into valuable resources and expanding other recycling initiatives worldwide.

Last year, all 10 business sites of the Device Solutions (DS) Division earned Platinum designation through integrated validation. This year in July, the Device eXperience (DX) Division’s Hungarian subsidiary, SEH-P, also achieved Platinum, marking the final step in securing Platinum status across all 22 domestic and overseas DX manufacturing sites.

▲ “Zero Waste to Landfill” Platinum designation for Samsung’s headquarters in Suwon, issued by UL Solutions

Samsung Electronics has established key directions for waste management — strengthening sorting systems, expanding reuse and increasing resource recovery — and has been implementing them through concrete initiatives.

Examples include introducing more refined waste separation systems within worksites and strengthening employee training to ensure thorough sorting.¹ Food waste and used paper are composted,² while general and construction waste is recycled into alternative fuels³ or basic raw materials.⁴ In addition, e-waste and battery residues are repurposed for solid fuel production.⁵ Through these efforts, Samsung has made steady progress toward its goal of achieving Zero Waste to Landfill.

▲ Plastic waste reduction training at Samsung Electronics’ SEHC subsidiary in Vietnam

Samsung is continuously developing technologies to recycle waste generated from semiconductor production processes into materials that can be reused in semiconductor manufacturing. For example, waste liquids are reused as a cleaning agent in scrubbers that reduce air pollutants and as water treatment agents in wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, adsorbents, activated carbon and catalysts used to control air pollutants undergo regeneration and are reused as raw materials for the same applications.

▲ Waste adsorbent regeneration process

Samsung recycled approximately 1.32 million tonnes of waste in 2024 — equivalent to 260,000 five-tonne waste trucks.

In addition to reducing waste at its worksites, Samsung has also repurposed by-products and discarded materials into new resources. The Galaxy S25, launched this year, has incorporated recycled cobalt extracted from previously used Galaxy smartphones and batteries discarded during the manufacturing process through Samsung’s Circular Battery Supply Chain. Discarded wafer trays from semiconductor manufacturing were recycled and applied to the Galaxy S25 series’ components as well.

Looking ahead, Samsung Electronics plans to further enhance systematic waste sorting and material-specific management to secure high-quality recycled resources and expand their application in products, strengthening its commitment to resource circularity.

Junhwa Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Global EHS Office, DX Division at Samsung Electronics, highlighted the significance of the achievement as “a major milestone” in the company’s environmental management strategy, adding that the company will continue to apply innovation across all areas of its business to put sustainable management into practice.

More information on Samsung Electronics’ sustainability initiatives can be found on the Samsung Electronics Sustainability website.

¹ Subsidiaries in Hungary (SEH-P), Malaysia (SEMA), Brazil (SEDA-P(M)), Türkiye (SETK-P), etc.
² Subsidiaries in Thailand (TSE-P), India (SIEL-P(C)), Malaysia (SEMA), Mexico (SEM-P), etc.
³ Subsidiaries in Vietnam (SEHC), Malaysia (SEMA), the United States (SEHA), etc.
⁴ Subsidiaries in Vietnam (SEV, SEVT), etc.
⁵ Subsidiary in Indonesia (SEIN-P)

The signing ceremony was held at Samsung’s corporate headquarters in Seoul, Korea, attended by Young Hyun Jun, Vice Chairman & CEO of Samsung Electronics; Sung-an Choi, Vice Chairman & CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries; Sechul Oh, President & CEO of Samsung C&T; and Junehee Lee, President & CEO of Samsung SDS.

Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics will work with OpenAI as a strategic memory partner to supply advanced semiconductor solutions for OpenAI’s global Stargate initiative. With OpenAI’s memory demand projected to reach up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month, Samsung will contribute toward meeting this need with its extensive lineup of high-performance, energy-efficient DRAM solutions.

As a comprehensive semiconductor solutions provider, Samsung’s leading technologies span across memory, logic and foundry with a diverse product portfolio that supports the full AI workflow from training to inference.

The company also brings differentiated capabilities in advanced chip packaging and heterogeneous integration between memory and system semiconductors, enabling it to provide unique solutions for OpenAI.

Samsung SDS

Samsung SDS has entered into a potential partnership with OpenAI to jointly develop AI data centers and provide enterprise AI services.

Leveraging its expertise in advanced data center technologies, Samsung SDS will collaborate with OpenAI in the design, development and operation of the Stargate AI data centers. Under the LOI, Samsung SDS can now provide consulting, deployment and management services for businesses seeking to integrate OpenAI’s AI models into their internal systems.

In addition, Samsung SDS has signed a reseller partnership for OpenAI’s services in Korea and plans to support local companies in adopting OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise offerings.

Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries

Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will collaborate with OpenAI to advance global AI data centers, with a particular focus on the joint development of floating data centers.

Floating data centers are considered to have advantages over data centers because they can address land scarcity, lower cooling costs and reduce carbon emissions. Still, their technical complexity has so far limited wider deployment.

Building on their proprietary technologies, Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will also explore opportunities to pursue projects in floating power plants and control centers, in addition to floating data center infrastructure.

Starting with the landmark partnership with OpenAI, Samsung plans to fully support Korea’s goals to become one of the world’s top three nations in AI and create new opportunities in the field.

Samsung is also exploring broader adoption of ChatGPT within the companies to facilitate AI transformation in the workplace.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company. Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.

Heart and brain health are two key areas of global healthcare innovation, where our groundbreaking advancements are shaping the future of preventative care.

Our wearable technology will soon enable early detection and monitoring of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD), a serious cardiovascular condition responsible for approximately 50% of all heart failure cases and is more fatal than some cancers. Similarly, we are advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies by overcoming the limitations of bulky devices to unlock immense potential in mental health management and productivity.

World-First LVSD Detection Through Smart Watch

Heart failure stands out as one of the most fatal cardiovascular diseases, with a 5-year survival rate of only 50% following diagnosis. As a result, early detection of LVSD is critical, as timely diagnosis along with medication and lifestyle adjustments, can significantly reduce hospitalization and lower the risk of death.

Samsung has overcome this limitation by introducing AI algorithms that were developed in collaboration with Medical AI, a leading Korean medical device company specializing in AI-based ECG technology. These algorithms were developed based on Medical AI’s in-house algorithm for the 12-lead ECG analysis, which is already deployed across over 100 major hospitals in Korea and used for over 120,000 patients on a monthly basis, bringing clinically proven, real-word reliability that led to securing regulatory approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as the first smart watch to gain LVSD detection capabilities.

This technology not only enables early screening for asymptomatic individuals but also aims to reduce the surging healthcare costs associated with heart failure by promoting early diagnosis and timely treatment.¹ Furthermore, this product aligns with global healthcare priorities, including personalized patient care, proactive health management, lowering healthcare burdens, and advancing the application of AI in medicine.

Advancing Brain-Computer Interface Technology in a Wearable

Our commitment to collaboration extends beyond heart health innovation. Much like the groundbreaking work with Medical AI on LVSD detection, we recently partnered with Hanyang University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering to develop an around-the-ear electroencephalogram(EEG) prototype device, advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with unmatched wearability and precision.

Engineered to overcome limitations of traditional EEG systems, the Ear-EEG offers a sleek, ergonomic design that allows seamless brainwave monitoring outside laboratory settings. Designed to capture high-quality signals with strategically placed electrodes around the ear, the research prototype delivered strong real-world application potential:

• Drowsiness Detection: It accurately detected the onset of drowsiness in real-time, showcasing its potential to enhance learning efficiency and support focus in education and beyond.
• Video Preference Analysis: Using artificial intelligence to analyze brainwaves, the device identified participants’ personal video preferences with 92.86% accuracy, pointing to potential applications in neuromarketing and entertainment.

This research was recently featured in the Volume 25, Issue 18 of the IEEE Sensors Journal, where it was selected as the sole feature article, further solidifying Samsung’s leadership in wearable sensor innovation.

“This study is a prime example of academia-industry collaboration being recognized internationally for its scholarly significance,” said Professor Chang-Hwan Im of Hanyang University. “The technology we developed is not limited to education and marketing but has the potential to expand into diverse fields such as entertainment and mental health management.”

Collaborating for a Smarter, Healthier Future

Through relentless focus on innovation, rigorous research, and ongoing partnerships with world-class experts and institutions, Samsung is redefining the future of healthcare by delivering technologies that are personalized, connected, and more accessible than ever.

Looking ahead, Samsung is poised to redefine the future of healthcare by delivering technologies that are personalized, connected, and accessible to everyone. Through relentless innovation and strategic collaboration, Samsung continues to simplify the wellness journey, offering users the tools they need to proactively manage their health and embrace smarter, healthier lifestyles. This commitment ensures that Samsung’s solutions not only meet the needs of today’s users but also push the boundaries of what’s possible in tomorrow’s healthcare landscape.

¹ Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

Samsung Electronics today unveiled TRUEBench (Trustworthy Real-world Usage Evaluation Benchmark), a proprietary benchmark developed by Samsung Research to evaluate AI productivity.

TRUEBench provides a comprehensive set of metrics to measure how large language models (LLMs) perform in real-world workplace productivity applications. To ensure realistic evaluation, it incorporates diverse dialogue scenarios and multilingual conditions.

Drawing on Samsung’s in-house use of AI for productivity, TRUEBench evaluates commonly used enterprise tasks — such as content generation, data analysis, summarization and translation — across 10 categories and 46 sub-categories. The benchmark ensures reliable scoring with AI-powered automatic evaluation based on criteria that are collaboratively designed and refined by both humans and AI.

“Samsung Research brings deep expertise and a competitive edge through its real-world AI experience,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, CTO of the DX Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research. “We expect TRUEBench to establish evaluation standards for productivity and solidify Samsung’s technological leadership.”

Recently, as companies adopt AI for tasks there has been a growing demand for measuring the productivity of LLMs. However, existing benchmarks primarily measure overall performance, are mostly English‑centric, and are limited to single‑turn question‑answer structures. This restricts their ability to reflect actual work environments.

To address these limitations, TRUEBench is composed of a total of 2,485 test sets across 10 categories and 12 languages¹ — while also supporting cross-linguistic scenarios. The test sets examine what AI models can actually solve, and Samsung Research applied test sets ranging from as short as 8 characters to over 20,000 characters, reflecting tasks from simple requests to lengthy document summarization.

To evaluate the performance of AI models, it is important to have clear criteria for judging whether the AI’s responses are correct. In real-world situations, not all user intents may be explicitly stated in the instructions. TRUEBench is designed to enable realistic evaluation by considering not only the accuracy of the answers but also detailed conditions that meet the implicit needs of users.

Samsung Research verified evaluation items through collaboration between humans and AI. First, human annotators create the evaluation criteria, and then the AI reviews it to check for errors, contradictions or unnecessary constraints. Afterward, human annotators refine the criteria again, repeating this process to apply increasingly precise evaluation standards. Based on these cross-verified criteria, automatic evaluation of AI models is conducted, minimizing subjective bias and ensuring consistency. In addition, for each test, all conditions must be satisfied for the model to pass. This enables more detailed and precise scoring across tasks.

TRUEBench’s data samples and leaderboards are available on the global open-source platform Hugging Face, which allows users to compare a maximum of five models and enables comprehensive AI model performance comparisons at a glance. Moreover, data on the average length of response results are also published, enabling simultaneous comparison of both performance and efficiency. Detailed information can be found on the TRUEBench Hugging Face page at https://huggingface.co/spaces/SamsungResearch/TRUEBench.

¹ Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese

Ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day, Samsung Newsroom is highlighting Samsung Research’s ongoing work on the early detection of dementia.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease is incurable and irreversible. Once symptoms appear, cognitive function declines steadily — disrupting daily life in profound ways.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often considered a precursor to dementia, is of particular concern. Clinical tests reveal measurable cognitive decline in those with MCI, yet they remain capable of performing daily activities. According to studies cited by the Alzheimer’s Association, about 12 to 18% of people 60 and older live with MCI, and 10 to 15% of them progress to dementia each year. As a result, early detection and management of MCI has become a growing priority in the medical community.^1,2

Multiple studies show that changes in the brain can begin 10 to 20 years before the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia.³ Therefore, detecting these early signs is critical. While recent advances in therapies have raised hopes for treatment, early diagnosis combined with ongoing care remains the most effective approach today.

The benefits of early detection include:

• Implementing lifestyle modifications — such as enhancing diet, engaging in exercise and promoting cognitive stimulation — to help delay disease progression.
• Starting drug and non-drug interventions earlier to preserve cognitive abilities
• Gaining access to new therapies including newly approved or trial-stage drugs

Tracking Change Through Digital Biomarker Technology

Smartphones and wearables have become essential in daily life, capturing detailed information about users’ habits and behaviors. Device data captures subtle routine changes with remarkable high sensitivity.

Recognizing this potential, researchers at Samsung Research developed digital biomarker technology that tracks changes in cognitive function by analyzing multimodal data from smartphones and wearables — including app usage, typing speed, messaging patterns, call frequency, sleep and voice.

Researchers proposed that digital biomarkers could measure symptoms of cognitive decline identified in prior studies. By analyzing multimodal smartphone and wearable data, they estimated cognitive states, confirming that digital biomarker algorithms effectively track cognitive changes.

Recalling and repeating short sentences can evaluate short-term memory-related brain regions, while assessing speech fluency and accuracy reveals the state of language ability. Likewise, the regularity and variety of app and messaging use, along with call frequency, can offer insights into social networks and the brain’s executive functions.

In short, the study demonstrated that brain regions responsible for language and short-term memory — typically impaired by Alzheimer’s disease — can be assessed through voice data. The findings also indicate that declines in social and behavioral abilities are associated with patterns of app use, messaging and call frequency.

Detecting Decline With Everyday Data

In July, the Samsung Research team presented studies on smart device–based technologies for detecting cognitive decline at the International Conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

One study introduced technology that analyzes smartphone keyboard input patterns to detect early signs of cognitive impairment. The research prioritized analyzing nonverbal features like typing speed and correction patterns over examining user input to minimize privacy risks. The language-independent approach demonstrated significant global potential, and the paper ranked within the top 7% of papers presented at the conference.

Another study analyzed data from smartphones and Galaxy Watch sensors to monitor walking patterns — including gait speed, stride length and balance — for early detection of cognitive decline.

Both studies demonstrate performance comparable to hospital-based dementia screening tests by leveraging everyday behavioral data, eliminating the need for additional user input, and showcasing the potential to track cognitive changes through routine data.

Improving Quality of Life Using Technology

Digital biomarker technology is designed to improve the early detection of subtle signs of Alzheimer’s Disease that might otherwise go unnoticed in daily life. Samsung Research plans to continue validating the performance of its digital biomarker models while further advancing the technology.

Although continued collaboration with academia and the medical field is required for further refinement and improved accuracy, advances in early detection of dementia are anticipated to improve personal health, enhance quality of life and alleviate pressure on healthcare systems. Further research with academia and the medical community is needed for validation and enhanced accuracy, but ongoing advancements in this technology are expected to enhance personal health and quality of life while reducing the strain on healthcare systems.

* Alzheimer’s disease is an underlying pathology in which amyloid-β and tau proteins build up in the brain.
** Alzheimer’s disease dementia is dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

¹ Petersen RC et al., “Mild cognitive impairment: clinical characterization and outcome,” Archives of Neurology (1999). Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10190820/.
² Petersen RC et al., “Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment,” Archives of Neurology (2001). Available at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/781015.
³ Jack CR Jr, et al., “NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer’s disease,” Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2018). Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29653606/.

At the forefront of research into next-generation network architectures, Samsung Electronics embeds AI throughout communications systems while leading technology development and standardization efforts in AI-RAN.

▲ Charlie Zhang, Senior Vice President, 6G Research Team at Samsung Electronics

In part three of this interview series, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Charlie Zhang, Senior Vice President of 6G Research Team at Samsung Electronics, about the evolution of AI-RAN and how Samsung’s research is preparing for the 6G era. This follows parts one and two of the series exploring Samsung’s efforts in 6G standardization and global industry leadership.

Reimagining 6G for a Dynamic Environment

In today’s mobile communications landscape, sustainability and user experience innovation are more important than ever.

“End users now prioritize reliable connectivity and longer battery life over raw performance metrics such as data rates and latency,” said Zhang. “The focus has shifted beyond technical specifications to overall user experience.”

In line with this shift, Samsung has been conducting 6G research since 2020. The company published its “AI-Native & Sustainable Communication” white paper in February 2025, outlining the key challenges and technology vision for 6G commercialization. The paper highlights four directions — AI-Native, Sustainable Network, Ubiquitous Coverage and Secure and Resilient Network. This represents a comprehensive network strategy that goes beyond improving performance to encompass both sustainability and future readiness.

▲ The four key technological directions in “AI-Native & Sustainable Communication”

“AI is not only a core technology of 5G but is also expected to be the cornerstone of 6G — enhancing overall performance, boosting operational efficiency and cutting costs,” he emphasized. “Deeply embedding AI from the initial design stage to create autonomous and intelligent networks is exactly what we mean by ‘AI-Native.’”

How AI-RAN Transforms Next-Gen Network Architecture

To realize the evolution toward next generation networks and the vision for 6G, network architecture must evolve to the next level. At the center of this transformation is innovation in RAN, the core of mobile communications.

Traditional RAN has relied on dedicated hardware systems for base stations and antennas. However, as data traffic and service demands have surged, this approach has revealed limitations in transmission capacity, latency and energy efficiency — while requiring significant manpower and time for resource management. To address these challenges, virtualized RAN (vRAN) was introduced.

vRAN implements network functions in software, significantly enhancing flexibility and scalability. By leveraging cloud-native technologies, network functions can run seamlessly on general-purpose servers — enabling operators to reduce capital costs and dynamically allocate computing resources in response to traffic fluctuations. vRAN is a key platform for modernization, efficiency and the integration of future technologies without requiring a full infrastructure rebuild. Samsung has already successfully mass deployed its vRAN in the U.S. and worldwide.

▲ Network Evolution towards AI-RAN

AI-RAN ushers in a new era of network evolution, embedding AI to create an intelligent RAN that learns, predicts and optimizes on its own. Not only does AI integration advance 4G and 5G networks that are based on vRAN, but it also serves as the breakthrough and engine for 6G. Real-time optimization sets the platform apart, boosting performance while reducing energy consumption to improve efficiency and stability.

In addition, AI-RAN enables networks to autonomously assess conditions and maintain optimal connectivity. “For instance, the system can predict a user’s movement path or radio environment in advance to determine the best transmission method, while AI-driven processing manages complex signal operations to minimize latency,” Zhang explained. “By analyzing usage patterns, AI-RAN can allocate tailored network resources and deliver more personalized user experiences.”

Proven Potential Through Research

Samsung is advancing network performance and stability through research in AI-based channel estimation, signal processing and system automation. Samsung has verified the feasibility of these technologies through Proof of Concept (PoC). At MWC 2025, the company demonstrated AI-RAN’s ability to improve resource utilization even in noisy, interference-prone environments.

“With AI-based channel estimation, we can accurately predict and estimate dynamic channel characteristics that are corrupted by noise and interference. This higher accuracy leads to more efficient resource utilization and overall network performance gains,” said Zhang. “AI also enhances signal processing. AI-driven enhancements in modem capabilities enable more precise modulation and demodulation, resulting in higher data throughput and lower latency.”

System automation for RAN optimization further analyzes user-specific communication quality and real-time changes in the network environment, dynamically adjusting modulation, coding schemes and resource allocation. This allows the network to predict and mitigate potential failures in advance, easing operational burdens while improving reliability and efficiency.

“These advancements enhance network performance, stability and user satisfaction, driving innovation in next-generation communication systems,” he added.

Global Collaboration Fuels AI-RAN Progress

International collaboration in research and standardization — such as the AI-RAN Alliance — is central to advancing AI-RAN technology and expanding the global ecosystem.

“Global collaboration enables knowledge sharing and joint research, accelerating the industry’s adoption of AI-RAN,” said Zhang. “Samsung is a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance and currently holds leadership positions as vice chair of the board and chair of the AI-on-RAN Working Group.”

▲ Organizational structure and roles of the AI-RAN Alliance

Building on its expertise in communications and AI, Samsung is advancing R&D in areas such as real-time optimization through edge computing and adaptability to dynamic environments.

“Samsung’s involvement accelerates AI‑RAN adoption by bridging technology gaps, promoting open innovation and ensuring that advances in AI‑driven networks are both commercially viable and technically sound — thereby advancing the ecosystem’s maturity and global impact,” he explained.

Through this commitment to collaboration and investment, AI-RAN technology is expected to progress rapidly worldwide and become a core competitive advantage in next-generation communications.

Leading the Way Into the 6G Era

Samsung is strengthening its edge in AI-RAN with a distinctive approach that combines innovation, collaboration and end-to-end solutions in preparation for the 6G era.

Through an integrated design that develops RAN hardware and AI-based software in parallel, the company is enabling optimization across the entire network stack. Samsung has boosted performance with its deep expertise in communications, while partnerships with global telecom operators and standardization bodies are helping accelerate industry adoption of its research.

Continued research in areas such as radio frequency (RF), antennas, ultra-massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)¹ and security is playing a critical role in transforming 6G from vision to market-ready technology. With the establishment of its AI-RAN Lab, Samsung is accelerating prototyping and testing, shortening the R&D cycle and paving the way for faster commercialization.

“Beyond ecosystem development, Samsung is positioning itself as a leader in AI-RAN through a blend of innovation, strategic collaboration and end-to-end solutions,” Zhang emphasized. “Together, these elements cement Samsung’s role at the forefront of AI-RAN.”

AI-RAN is redefining next-generation communications. By integrating AI across networks, Samsung is leading the way — and expectations are growing for the company’s role in shaping the future.

In the final part of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the latest trends in the convergence of communications and AI, along with Samsung’s future network strategies in collaboration with global partners.

¹ Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission improves communication performance by utilizing multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver.

“Samsung is applying AI across our operations to develop foundational technologies that make AI more intuitive and seamless,” said Young Hyun Jun, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, in his opening remarks. “This year’s Samsung AI Forum brings together leading experts from industry and academia to discuss how AI is transforming society and industry, and to share insights in what we expect will be a meaningful exchange of ideas.”

This year’s forum features keynote lectures from world-renowned AI scholars; including Yoshua Bengio, Professor at the University of Montreal and a pioneer in deep learning; as well as Stefano Ermon, Professor at Stanford University and Co-founder of the startup Inception, who spearheaded the development of diffusion-based language model (DLM).

Day One: Global Scholars Explore the AI Semiconductor Future

Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) Division hosted the first day of the forum under the theme “Vertical AI Strategies and Vision for the Semiconductor Industry,” near Samsung’s semiconductor site in Yongin, Korea.

Professor Bengio delivered a keynote address outlining the far-reaching risks of today’s AI models, including their ability to bypass human control and the potential for misuse. As a safeguard, he introduced Scientist AI, a new model designed to help mitigate such concerns.

“Unlike models built to mimic or please humans, Scientist AI focuses on providing truthful answers grounded in verified facts and data,” said Professor Bengio, highlighting the model’s potential to enhance AI safety and accelerate scientific discovery. He also shared his latest research findings on AI for materials development in the keynote.

Amit Gupta, Senior Vice President of Siemens EDA, led a session titled, “The Future of AI-Driven Electronic Design.” During his presentation, he emphasized the importance of integrating AI into electronic design automation (EDA) tools and noted that end-to-end systems spanning the entire workflow will be key to unlocking AI’s full potential.

Technical sessions featuring Yong Ho Song, Executive Vice President and Head of the DS Division’s AI Center, Professor Seokhyung Kang of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Professor Il-Chul Moon of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) followed. Each speaker shared recent research developments in AI applications for semiconductor design and manufacturing, while also offering perspectives on how the field is evolving.

“AI is already an essential tool in chip design and software development,” said EVP Song. “As semiconductor manufacturing grows more complex, we expect AI to help address the technical challenges that arise.”

The forum also recognized three winners of the Samsung AI Researcher of the Year award: Professor Nicolas Papernot of the University of Toronto, Professor Rose Yu of the University of California San Diego and Professor Lerrel Pinto of New York University. All the award recipients were invited to present their work and share insights from their latest research.

Day Two: Focusing on the Era of Agentic AI and Boosting Productivity

Day two of the forum will be held online by Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division and streamed live on Samsung Developer’s YouTube channel under the theme “Generative to Agentic AI.”¹

“Generative AI has already become an essential tool across daily life and industries,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, CTO of the DX Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research. “As we enter the era of Agentic AI, Samsung will continue to focus on developing AI technologies that provide users with tangible benefits.”

The second day includes keynote speeches from Joseph E. Gonzalez, Professor at UC Berkeley and a leading researcher in language models and AI agents; Subbarao Kambhampati, Professor at Arizona State University and a world authority in AI planning and decision-making; and Stefano Ermon, Professor at Stanford University and Co-founder of Inception.

Professor Gonzalez will present his research on enhancing the agentic capabilities of large language model (LLM)-based systems. In particular, he will introduce the sleep-time compute paradigm, which enables agents to use idle interaction intervals to reason, learn and plan.

Professor Kambhampati will share his research on large reasoning models (LRMs) aimed at addressing the limitations of LLMs. He will point out that while current models excel at text generation, they remain limited in factual accuracy, planning and complex reasoning — highlighting key challenges such as ensuring answer guarantees, enabling context-adaptive computation, and providing interpretations of intermediate reasoning steps.

Professor Ermon will introduce diffusion language model, which applies diffusion models — widely used for image, video, and audio generation — into the language domain. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional sequential text generation methods and propose a more efficient paradigm for language models.

In the technical sessions, Samsung Research representatives will present their latest developments, including:

• Camera AI technology for automatic color temperature adjustment
• Knowledge distillation-based methods for more efficient training of LLMs and their applications
• On-device AI technologies designed to bring LLMs to consumer electronics such as smartphones and TVs
• Automatic dubbing technology that generates voiceovers in the original speaker’s voice
• Deep dive technology that uses multi-agent systems to analyze and automatically generate various reports
• Document AI technologies that automatically convert diverse document formats into structure data for LLMs and agent systems
• An on-device AI studio for developers that shortens the development cycle of generative AI models

¹ Intelligent systems capable of making autonomous decisions and carrying out tasks on their own.

At Innovation For All (IFA) 2025, Samsung Electronics showcased its vision for “AI Home: Future Living, Now”. Samsung’s AI Home aims to be a reality people can experience today — not just in the future — and one designed for everyone, not just a select few.

“At Samsung, we’re not just imagining the future of AI; we’re building it into everyday life. Samsung’s AI Home moves beyond smart devices to homes that truly understand you, adapt to your needs and care for what matters most,” said Cheolgi Kim (CK), Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances (DA) Business. “This is the beginning of a new era — where technology supports your life in the background so that you can live it more fully.”

Samsung’s AI Home experience is designed to make everyday living more convenient, efficient, healthy and safe.

Samsung research¹ reveals that 66% of consumers find the idea of an AI-enabled home appealing, with many envisioning streamlined daily tasks (44%) and greater control via phone or voice commands (45%). AI Home, with SmartThings automated routines, delivers on this vision — automating lighting, temperature and even syncing blinds with the weather for effortless living.²

The home is a sanctuary for 93% of people and a social hub for 80%. As families spend more time together, AI Home enhances shared moments with wellness checks, personalised sleep settings and nutrition planning.

Energy efficiency is one of the main benefits consumers look for from AI. 66% believe an AI enabled home can help track costs and save money. With SmartThings Energy, AI Home can reduce washing machine energy use by up to 70%.^3,4

Security remains critical, with 40% expecting AI to improve home protection through timely alerts. Samsung Knox Vault safeguards sensitive data at the hardware level, while Knox Matrix extends protection across connected devices with ecosystem-wide security.⁵

Bespoke AI Enhances AI Capabilities

Samsung’s latest Bespoke AI appliances have taken AI features to a new level, offering a better living experience in both the kitchen and other spaces:

• Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra: Upgraded with improved AI Object Recognition,⁶ it can now detect liquids,⁷ even transparent ones.
• Bespoke AI Washer: AI Wash+ enables a laundry experience that better fits your clothes. It clears the minimum threshold for a Grade A in energy efficiency testing by 65%.⁸
• Bespoke AI Dishwasher: AI Wash optimises the cleaning cycle based on how dirty the dishes are,⁹ and Auto Open Door allows steam to escape, accelerating the drying process.
• Extractor Induction Hob: Integrating the extractor into the hob maximises kitchen space.

Vision AI Expands to Larger Displays

Samsung’s Vision AI Companion is designed to feel more like a trusted companion — someone you can engage with naturally, and that responds in a human-like way — redefining home entertainment. Pursuing an open platform approach, Samsung is strengthening its partnerships with global AI technology leaders, including Google, Microsoft and Perplexity.

Other highlights included:

• Micro RGB: A 115” display delivering cinema-quality visuals at home with perfect colour, bringing every scene to life with stunning depth and vibrancy.
• The Movingstyle: A portable touchscreen TV with built-in battery and adaptive AI — perfect for any room or on the go.
• Samsung Sound Tower: Powerful, portable sound with an 18-hour battery.¹⁰ You can strengthen the party mood with customisable lighting and sound effects via the dedicated app.

Galaxy AI Expands With New Devices

Starting with the Galaxy S24 series and a commitment to democratise Galaxy AI to over 200 million devices in 2024, Samsung Galaxy has defined a new era of mobile AI innovation.

Now, the latest Galaxy AI experience comes to new products, designed to ensure a seamless mobile experience on a wider range of devices with multimodal capabilities.

By the end of 2025, Samsung aims to bring the Galaxy AI experience to over 400 million devices worldwide.

Experience Future Living, Now at IFA 2025

The Samsung exhibition at IFA will be open from September 5 – 9 at the CityCube, Berlin.

Samsung Electronics is also showcasing a large-scale media art installation created in collaboration with world-renowned digital artist Maotik on a massive 50-meter-wide digital façade at the entrance of the exhibition hall.

The video, themed around “wind,” features dynamic waves formed by the organic movement of data, symbolizing how Samsung’s AI technology contributes to enhancing everyday life for its customers.

For more information on the products mentioned within this release, please visit the Samsung Newsroom here.

¹ All consumer statistics referenced in this release are sourced from EO CMI Quantitative Survey, UK/DE/FR, consumers owning 1+ smart home appliances or devices, sample 1200.
² Requires a wireless network, a Samsung account and the Samsung SmartThings App. AI Home routines must be manually set up by the user before AI Home can assist with their automation.
³ Savings amount estimated based on tests performed by Samsung. Estimated savings may differ from users actual savings. https://www.samsung.com/uk/home-appliances/smartthings/energy/#energy
⁴ Wi-Fi connection, Samsung account and SmartThings required. Can be applied when the selected washing temperature is 20~40°C. Max saving results from washing a 40 degree cycle as a cold wash. Savings based on internal testing on the WW11BB944AGB model in normal usage conditions. Results: Power consumption without AI Energy Mode = 0.539 KWh. Power consumption with AI Energy Mode = 0.145 KWh. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.
⁵ For further information see: Knox Vault | Fundamentals | Samsung Knox Documentation
⁶ Based on our deep learning model trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New datasets may be introduced to our learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy. Object recognition may be affected by an object’s shape or the environmental conditions. Only certain object types can be recognized. Stained Area Recognition needs to be activated beforehand via the SmartThings App. A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account are required.
⁷ A liquid spill is defined as a colored or transparent liquid, such as water or juice, having a size of 7cm x 7cm (15 ml in volume) or larger. Identification may be affected by the size of the liquid or the environmental conditions of the floor, such as the floor pattern, color of the floor, direct or reflected light, or shape of the liquid. Excessive amount of liquid on the floor may cause secondary contamination.
⁸ Based on Samsung internal testing. The energy consumption of this 9kg model is EEI 18.2, which is 65% more energy efficient compared to the minimum threshold of energy efficiency class A (EEI 52 for 9kg models). Energy ratings tested with Eco 40-60 program, 65% savings tested with the Eco 40-60 program.
⁹ Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.
¹⁰ 18 hours of battery tested with lighting off and at volume level of 12~13.

All eyes were fixed on the screen, set to announce the champion. Then, when the Team Atlanta logo appeared, the silence erupted into thunderous cheers and applause. It was the culmination of two years of relentless effort and determination, which had resulted in the team rising above world-class competitors to win the first-place prize of $4 million.

▲ Team Atlanta wins first place at the AI Cyber Challenge.

To take readers behind the scenes of their inspiring journey, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Taesoo Kim, Corporate Vice President, and Joonun Jang from Samsung Research’s Security & Privacy Team, along with Yunjae Choi from the AI Productivity Team.

▲ (From left) Taesoo Kim, Joonun Jang and Yunjae Choi from Samsung Research

Team Atlanta: A 40-Strong Global Alliance of Top Researchers, Engineers and Hackers

The AI Cyber Challenge is a global security technology competition hosted by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Sponsored by leading tech companies including Google, Microsoft and OpenAI, the latest edition of the event featured a total prize pool of $22.5 million. At this event, Team Atlanta — a coalition of more than 40 world-class security researchers from Samsung Research, the Georgia Institute of Technology, KAIST, POSTECH and other leading institutions — came together under the leadership of Taesoo Kim, who also played a pivotal role in assembling the team.

▲ Taesoo Kim explains what inspired the team to take on the challenge.

Also a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Kim reached out to several of his former Ph.D. students after first learning about the AI Cyber Challenge and encouraged them to join. They soon became the core members of Team Atlanta.

Under Kim’s leadership, Team Atlanta brought together talent from across Korea and both the East and West Coasts of the United States. “Because our members came from such diverse locations, we structured our collaboration framework around each member’s base,” he recalled. “Some of our colleagues in Korea even carved out time from their busy schedules to travel to the Georgia Institute of Technology so we could work side by side.”

How Team Atlanta Outpaced the Competition

The AI Cyber Challenge is a competition designed to test the ability to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in large-scale software systems. Its ultimate aim is to accelerate the development of AI-powered security technologies capable of protecting critical infrastructure such as transportation, energy and healthcare. In the final round, participants were tasked with building an AI-driven “Cyber Reasoning System (CRS)” capable of autonomously detecting software vulnerabilities and generating security patches.

Scoring was mainly based on two components: vulnerability discovery and program repair. Teams earned discovery points for accurately identifying weaknesses in the given code, and repair points for successfully patching them. In short, a team’s score reflected how quickly its system could detect vulnerabilities in the organizer’s source code, how many it could detect and how accurately it could fix them.

▲ The first-place trophy and Team Atlanta’s winning scorecard

Team Atlanta clinched the championship with a decisive lead, uncovering more vulnerabilities and patching them with better accuracy than their competitors.

Jang, who oversaw the development of a large language model (LLM) agent for detecting vulnerabilities in Java programs, explained that the agent helped Team Atlanta’s system detect more vulnerabilities during the competition. “Team members each developed their agents in various ways, and by bringing them together, we were able to build a system capable of covering a wide range of weaknesses,” he said.

▲ Joonun Jang explains the LLM agent Team Atlanta developed for detecting vulnerabilities in Java programs.

Choi, meanwhile, was in charge of developing AI agents that automatically patch vulnerabilities once they are identified. “Since AI was a common tool provided to all participants, true technological excellence lay in how effectively we could harness it,” he noted. “The key challenge was creating AI agents flexible enough to respond to newly discovered vulnerabilities.”

▲ Yunjae Choi explains the AI agents Team Atlanta developed to automatically patch vulnerabilities.

When Seconds Feel Like Eternity

On August 8, the seven finalists gathered in Las Vegas for the final announcement — the culmination of two years of effort. As the world’s largest cybersecurity competition, the event brought together top teams from around the globe, all waiting in tense anticipation. When the third- and second-place winners were revealed, Team Atlanta’s name had still not been called.

“Given how many outstanding teams were competing, I thought that even placing in the top three would have been a great achievement,” said Jang. “So in those moments before the first-place announcement, I was worried but cautiously hopeful at the same time.”

When Team Atlanta’s logo finally appeared on the screen confirming their victory, the audience erupted. “We had only dared to hope, but when we were actually named first place, it was as if the whole team had suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a festival,” said Choi.

“The two years of preparation felt like the shortest time of my life, while the one hour spent waiting for the results felt like the longest,” Kim reflected.

▲ The moment Team Atlanta was announced as the winner of the 2025 AI Cyber Challenge

“I suddenly became emotional when I remembered how, just before the final submission deadline, we had discovered a critical bug in the system we had submitted early to stay ahead of schedule. We worked frantically until the very last minute. I even had to wake the entire team up at 5 a.m. to fix the problem. Just thinking about it still gives me chills,” he added.

▲ (From left) Taesoo Kim, Yunjae Choi and Joonun Jang,

Samsung’s Vision for the Future of AI Security

With its victory at the AI Cyber Challenge, Samsung has once again underscored its technological leadership and global competitiveness in AI security. Going forward, the company plans to further advance next-generation AI security solutions so that they become increasingly capable of autonomously identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.

“Samsung’s AI security technologies are already being applied to strengthen the protection of products and services, including Galaxy devices and AI TVs,” said Kim. “Through continued open-source contributions and active community engagement, we aim to solidify our position as a global leader in AI security.”

By connecting Samsung’s global connected living platform SmartThings with TVs and home appliances, SmartThings Family Care provides activity notifications, medication and appointment reminders, as well as location-based alerts.² This service offers practical support for caregivers and care recipients living apart, granting peace of mind while empowering daily independence.

Available in over 200 countries worldwide,³ the service’s latest update simplifies the initial connection and setup process. Settings can now be customized with greater precision, tailored to fit each family’s lifestyle and needs. Additionally, integration with Samsung Health makes it easier to keep track of the well-being of loved ones.⁴

Samsung Newsroom took a closer look at the new and improved Family Care experience.

Easy Setup With Just One Link

▲ Care recipients can easily join Family Care by accessing an invitation link sent by their caregiver.

With this update, even people unfamiliar with using apps can install Family Care and complete the setup on their own. Caregivers can simply send an invitation link that includes easy-to-follow guided steps to join the service.

Personalized Experiences for Caregivers and Care Recipients Alike

▲ Care recipients can select what information to share with their caregivers — and stop sharing at any time.

SmartThings Family Care ensures convenience for caregivers and privacy for care recipients. Care recipients can choose what information to share, while caregivers can quickly and intuitively access the necessary details within those boundaries. This update allows families to define caregiver and care recipient roles more clearly, reflecting their individual preferences and circumstances.

Activity Monitoring and Inactivity Alerts: Peace of Mind Even When Apart

▲ Family Care provides a summary of the care recipient’s activities, and automatically sends an alert to the caregiver if no activity is detected for a set period of time.

If Family Care detects that a care recipient has not used certain appliances like the refrigerator or TV for an extended period, it sends an alert to caregivers to check in. Upon receiving the alert, they can respond immediately — either by calling the care recipient or by remotely activating a registered robot vacuum with a built-in camera to check the situation at home. The inactivity alert interval can also be adjusted to suit each family’s needs.

If care recipients use the Samsung Health app, caregivers can also view details such as wake-up times, bedtimes and daily step counts — enabling a more proactive approach to health management.⁵

From Daily Safety to Cherished Moments: Keeping Families Connected

▲ By registering places of interest and setting alert conditions, caregivers can ensure the care recipient remains safe wherever they go.

With the consent of the care recipient, caregivers  can register essential locations such as hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets and cultural venues to monitor their visit histories, real-time routes and current whereabouts — helping to ensure their safety when out of the house. This feature is also invaluable for tracking children’s journeys to and from school.

▲ By registering important schedules, caregivers can receive reminders to help ensure the care recipient never misses them.

Caregivers can also use Family Care to help loved ones remember important events such as regular health check-ups, hospital appointments, medication schedules and family gatherings. Once set up, reminders are sent to the caregiver and care recipient at the scheduled time.

Even when families live apart and daily life grows hectic, caring for those who matter most remains at the heart of what people do. SmartThings Family Care embraces this belief by offering a smarter, more connected way to support and look after one another.

Stay closer to your family than ever before with SmartThings Family Care.

¹ Available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones with Android OS 11 or later and at least 3GB of RAM
² Applicable to Samsung smartphones, tablets, TVs, refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, cooktops and robot vacuum cleaners connected to SmartThings
³ Product and service availability may vary by country, region, service provider, network environment or device, and may change without notice.
⁴ Not intended for medical purposes
⁵ “Sleep and wake-up events” and “Step count” permissions under Connect with Samsung Health app in SmartThings settings must be enabled. After entering the care recipient’s profile in Family Care, Samsung Health usage must be activated from the More options menu at the top of the screen.

To hear the story of how One UI 8 came together, Samsung Newsroom sat down with three of the leading minds behind the new user interface: Mihyun Jeong and Joonhwan Kim, who were in charge of development, and Nawoong Han who coordinated collaboration with Google — all from Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business.

▲ (From left) Nawoong Han, Framework Development Team; Mihyun Jeong, Experience Planning Team; and Joonhwan Kim, UX Team of Samsung Electronics’ MX Business

A Personalized Daily Experience, Powered by AI and Foldables

One UI 8 takes Galaxy’s distinctive foldable form factor to the next level, delivering an even more powerful AI experience. Jeong, who was in charge of One UI planning, noted that as AI technology rapidly advances, user expectations are also rising — making One UI both more complex and more important. “To address this, Samsung’s customer experience (CX), user experience (UX) and development teams formed a task force that focused on defining the core concepts and enhancing the overall quality of One UI 8,” she said. “As a result, these core concepts were summed up as ‘multimodal AI, a form factor–optimized UX and a proactive personalized experience.”

Kim, who was in charge of One UI design for foldables, highlighted the design concept for One UI 8 — “When Foldables Meet AI” — as the convergence of form factors and AI innovation. “From the FlexWindow of Galaxy Z Flip7 to the expansive main display of Galaxy Z Fold7, users can now experience Galaxy’s evolution into AI phones across multiple form factors,” he explained.

AI Innovation on the FlexWindow

With One UI 8, Galaxy Z Flip7 lets users access AI features quickly and effortlessly, even without unfolding the device. A simple press of the side key launches Gemini Live, and its FlexWindow-optimized UX enables natural, conversational interactions with AI, as if chatting with a friend.

“You can, for example, view what’s shown on the camera and speak with AI in real time, or add events directly to your calendar. Everyday tasks become quick and effortless,” Jeong added.

▲ Mihyun Jeong from the MX Business demonstrates how One UI 8 enables easy access to AI functions on Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow.

The expanded FlexWindow on Galaxy Z Flip7 also makes it easy to check real-time sports scores, news, app updates and more through Now Bar. Plus, Now Brief delivers richer, more personalized information and insights, all available at a glance from the Flex Window.

Innovating Multitasking on a Large Screen

Galaxy Z Fold7’s large main display brings out the full potential of One UI 8. “On the big screen, you can display Galaxy AI-generated results in Split view or in Floating view, and freely resize or move them for highly efficient multitasking,” explained Kim.

Powered by multimodal AI that understands complex contexts, Screen sharing on Gemini Live enables users to share their current screen with AI in real time, even while running multiple apps, and instantly ask questions.

Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist also takes full advantage of the expansive screen. By placing the original and edited versions of an image side by side, users can compare every detail with precision for more refined image editing.

▲ Joonhwan Kim from the MX Business demonstrates how One UI 8 enables efficient multitasking on Galaxy Z Fold7.

Perfected Through Close Collaboration With Google

At the foundation of One UI 8’s refined AI experience is a special partnership with Google. “Both companies worked together from the very beginning, defining concepts during the early planning stage and collaborating throughout the process to bring the latest features to One UI 8,” explained Han, who managed joint efforts with the Android team at Google.

▲ Nawoong Han from the MX Business explains the collaboration process with the Android team at Google.

The way the two teams worked together was also unprecedented. “We collaborated with Google in real time, using a shared development branch that allowed us to exchange code around the clock and fix bugs on the fly,” said Han. Thanks to this close collaboration at the engineering level, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 became the first devices to feature Android 16 out of the box.

▲ With One UI 8, Gemini can be activated directly from Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow without unfolding the device.

The multimodal Gemini Live experience on Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 —  capable of recognizing on-screen content, enabling natural interactions in the moment, and connecting to Samsung apps to get things done — is also a product of Samsung and Google’s cohesive teamwork.

The development of Samsung DeX for One UI 8 is another prime example of this deep partnership. Developed by Samsung through close collaboration with Google, DeX has evolved and expanded to address key user needs by introducing desktop windowing to the core Android platform. From the underlying structure to detailed user scenarios, Samsung contributed its expertise built over years of operating DeX to the joint expansion effort. This new desktop windowing experience offers app developers a consistent user environment and helps boost productivity on Android devices.

“I traveled between Korea and the UK several times for workshops with Google. We’d gather in front of a whiteboard, sketching out screen transition flows and discussing even the smallest details,” recalled Han.

“We spent so much time together that our teamwork became rock solid. We made matching team hoodies and later grew close enough to even ask about each other’s pets,” he added with a smile. For users, the result of this tight bond was a more powerful and productive Samsung DeX.

Emotion-Embracing Design, Backed by Strong Security

One UI 8 places as much emphasis on thoughtful design as it does on powerful AI features. “In addition to the weather app, which received particularly positive feedback during beta testing, we enhanced animations and visual effects across other everyday apps to create a more immersive experience,” said Kim.

“In One UI 8, the clock can recognize the subject in a chosen wallpaper and organically align itself with its outline. This feature is not only available on the main display but also on Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow,” he added, introducing it as an element that brings a sense of liveliness to One UI 8’s design.

Jeong added that beyond AI, One UI 8 also brings a host of enhancements designed to maximize everyday convenience. She highlighted features such as a more streamlined Quick Share for easier content sharing; Audio Eraser, which reduces unwanted background noise in videos and audio recordings at the touch of a button; and four new pet profiles added to the Portrait Studio in Photo Assist.

▲ Mihyun Jeong (left) and Joonhwan Kim (right) explain the development process behind One UI 8.

Security, now more critical than ever in the AI era, has also been reinforced. One UI 8 utilizes a new security solution, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), and Knox Vault to protect personalized AI features and further safeguard user data by blocking unauthorized access.

“We fully understand the security concerns users may have in the AI era,” said Jeong. “That’s why we’ve built powerful threat-blocking mechanisms into the device, while also providing and continuously upgrading a range of security tools that users can easily use and manage by themselves.”

New Everyday Life With One UI 8

One UI 8 marks the beginning of a new user experience born from the fusion of foldables and AI.

“These are completely new foldable experiences — unlike anything before. Through One UI, we will naturally connect users with AI to deliver even more effective automation and personalization,” said Jeong, expressing confidence in the advancements One UI 8 brings.

“From bar-type phones to foldables and tablets, we hope our form factor–optimized AI experiences will bring even greater value and enjoyment to users’ daily lives,” Kim added.

Looking ahead, Samsung’s collaboration with Google is set to deepen further. “The more advanced the technology becomes, the more important collaboration will be,” noted Han. “We aim to broaden our partnership with Google across all areas of Galaxy, especially in AI — so stay tuned.”

One UI 8 will begin rolling out to other devices in September, starting with the Galaxy S25 series. By taking the synergy between AI and Samsung’s foldable form factors to new heights, the new user interface promises to open up new possibilities for everyday life.

The study was jointly led by Dr. Jeong-Geun Yun, from Samsung Research, and Junsuk Rho, a professor at POSTECH. Hyunjung Kang, a researcher at POSTECH, served as co-first author. Samsung adopted a comprehensive approach — spanning ideation, implementation and validation — to demonstrate the potential of next-generation photonic device technologies and new opportunities for product differentiation.

In particular, the research shows promise for reducing the thickness and weight of extended reality (XR) devices and lowering the height of smartphone camera modules — offering a possible solution to the so-called “camera bump,” where the camera protrudes from the body of the device. Most notably, the team successfully overcame long-standing technical limitations that had hindered the commercialization of metalenses.

▲ (From left) Professor Junsuk Roh and researcher Hyunjung Kang, both from POSTECH, and Dr. Jeong-Geun Yun from Samsung Research

World’s First Implementation of Two-Third Wavelength Phase Delay

A metalens is an ultra-thin lens that manipulates light using nanostructures — much thinner than a human hair — arranged on a flat surface, rather than relying on curved surfaces like traditional lenses. This design makes metalenses ideal for developing compact and lightweight optical devices.

To control light precisely, a metalens must create a phase delay¹ of one wavelength — the distance light travels in one oscillation. This phase delay ensures light waves overlap properly at the focal point, producing a sharp image. Achieving this has typically required constructing tens of millions of extremely narrow and tall nanostructures with aspect ratios² of at least 1:10. These structures are difficult to fabricate and prone to breakage, posing a major challenge to commercialization.

▲ The operating principle of metalenses

“Metalenses have been difficult to commercialize due to complex fabrication and low mechanical stability. To overcome this, we collaborated with experts in design, simulation, manufacturing and validation to develop a new nanostructure design method.”

— Dr. Jeong-Geun Yun, Samsung Research

The team was the first in the world to propose a method of achieving light diffraction using a phase delay of only two-thirds of a wavelength, rather than the conventional full wavelength. This approach leverages the phenomenon that the nanostructures forming a supercell³ maintain a constant phase gradient even with a two-thirds wavelength phase delay, allowing the wavefront to remain stable in the far field.

Because phase delay is proportional to a nanostructure’s width and height, this method allowed the aspect ratio to be reduced to about 1:5. As a result, the nanostructure height was lowered without compromising optical performance. These improvements reduce fabrication difficulty and defect rates, improve structural stability and boost production and cost competitiveness.

▲ A metalens with reduced nanostructure height achieved aspect ratio adjustment

New Possibilities in Camera Optics

Using the newly developed metalens, the team built an ultra-compact infrared eye camera for XR devices. Despite its thin profile, the camera demonstrated accurate pupil tracking and iris pattern recognition.

By integrating the metalens, the team reduced the camera’s thickness by 20% compared with conventional refractive-lens cameras — from 2.0 millimeters to 1.6 millimeters — resulting in reduced weight and volume. The system also achieved precise gaze tracking and iris feature-point recognition at a wide 120-degree field of view. In addition, modulation transfer function (MTF) performance⁴ improved from 50% to 72%.

A New Pathway to Metalens Commercialization

This study introduces a new design principle for controlling light diffraction — reducing phase delay requirements for while unlocking the potential for high optical performance, mechanical stability and cost efficiency.

Looking ahead, the technology is expected to expand into the visible light spectrum and be applied to minimizing smartphone camera protrusion and miniaturizing a range of imaging sensor systems — paving the way for new forms of device differentiation.

Samsung will continue to pursue diverse research initiatives, including industry-academia collaborations, to secure next-generation technologies that help shape the future.

¹ A phenomenon in which a wave of a single frequency arrives later at another point due to a delay in its propagation
² The ratio of a nanostructure’s height to its width
³ The smallest structural unit that generates diffraction, formed by an arrangement of nanostructures
⁴ A measure of a lens’s ability to reproduce image sharpness

In this context, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Electronics’ Technology Standards Research Team, was elected Chair of the 3GPP Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN) in March, marking the first time a Korean has taken on the role. As Chair, Dr. Kim is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping next-generation communications standards in this early and formative phase.

Following part one of this interview series, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Dr. Kim for part two to explore the strategic challenges and opportunities he faces in his leadership roles at 3GPP and Samsung Research, as well as his vision for the future of 6G standardization.

▲ Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Electronics’ Technology Standards Research Team

Full-Scale Launch of 6G Technical Standardization Efforts in 2025

In 2023, the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) released the 6G Framework, outlining the overarching direction for future communications technologies. By 2026, the organization aims to finalize both the technical requirements and evaluation methods for candidate technologies.

In line with this timeline, 3GPP held a 6G workshop in Korea this past March, officially marking the start of formal standardization efforts. TSG RAN — currently chaired by Dr. Kim — plays a central role in this process, accounting for a major portion of patents associated with global communication standards.

“During the June meeting — the first meeting I chaired since taking on the role — we approved the 6G Study Item,¹ the official starting point of 6G technology research,” said Dr. Kim. “We’ve now entered the phase of closely evaluating the performance enhancement potentials of candidate technologies. Based on these findings, the roadmap and timeline for 6G specifications are expected to be finalized by June of next year.”

▲ 6G standardization roadmap

6G development is currently in the stage of establishing use cases and technical requirements, which lays the groundwork for detailed research on candidate technologies. This research is expected to continue for approximately two years, through mid-2027. After that, the process will formally transition to the standard specification development phase, known as the Work Item,² with the first set of official 6G specifications projected to be completed by mid-2029.

Consensus-Building: The Core of Standardization Leadership

Dr. Kim is an industry veteran who began his work on mobile-communication physical-layer standardization in 1999. Over the past 26 years, he has been involved in standardization activities across multiple generations from 3G to 6G. In 2017, he was appointed Vice Chair of RAN1, one of the working groups within 3GPP TSG RAN, and became Chair of RAN1 in 2021, where he led the development of the initial 5G standards and subsequent discussions to further advance 5G standardization. Since being elected Chair of the 3GPP TSG RAN in March, he now oversees all RAN-related standardization discussions.

▲ The journey from 3G to 6G standardization

“As RAN1 Chair, I mainly approached the decision making process from a technical perspective. Even when discussions were intense, decisions could ultimately be made based on technical merit or evidence,” said Dr. Kim. “But now, overseeing the entire scope of RAN standardization, I find that many issues can no longer be resolved just based on technical aspects alone.”

3GPP is a global partnership project comprising more than 800 member organizations from 43 countries. With such a wide range of stakeholders — each bringing their own needs, strategies, and technical proposals — the Chair plays a crucial role in shaping the technical agenda, mediating conflicting viewpoints, and guiding the overall direction of discussions.

▲ (Left) Dr. Younsun Kim presides over a 3GPP TSG RAN meeting; (Right) Attendees engage in the meeting proceedings.

“One of the Chair’s key responsibilities is to lead discussions on future work scope of RAN working groups and coordinate development timelines. The role also involves setting technical priorities and steering dialogue in the right direction,” Dr. Kim explained. “That said, since 3GPP operates based on consensus, decisions are made only when a shared understanding is reached among participating companies.”

The Need for Balance That Goes Beyond Corporate and National Interests

Building consensus is no easy task. As the focal point of standardization discussions, the Chair must act as both a trusted architect and an impartial mediator, capable of reconciling a wide range of interests. The role demands a global perspective and strong sense of balance that transcend corporate or national affiliations.

“The foremost duty of the Chair is to build a structure that partners can trust and rally behind,” said Dr. Kim. “Driving consensus requires the ability to understand differing regional and business perspectives — and to craft workable compromises. Over the next four years, I’ll focus on deepening engagement with member companies and gaining a fuller understanding of their views.”

As the first Korean to chair the 3GPP TSG RAN, Dr. Kim is a true trailblazer. His leadership not only marks a personal milestone but also reflects Samsung Electronics’ growing influence across the global standardization landscape. Backed by the company’s technological expertise, Dr. Kim is helping carry forward Samsung’s legacy of innovation on the world stage as the industry turns its focus to how the 6G standard will take shape in the years ahead.

In part three of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore AI-RAN, a next-generation communications technology poised to reshape the industry, and highlight Samsung’s research initiatives aimed at establishing it as a global standard.

¹ A preliminary research phase focused on evaluating the technical feasibility and performance of candidate 6G technologies before formal specification begins.
² A formal development phase in which technologies identified during the Study Item are further refined, specified and incorporated into official standard specifications.

The AI Cyber Challenge is a prestigious competition hosted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research and development institute of the U.S. Department of Defense, with a total prize pool of $22.5 million.

The finals took place during DEF CON 33, a major hacking and security conference. Universities, research institutions and global tech companies from various countries participated, engaging in a fierce AI security technology competition.

Samsung participated in the competition as Team Atlanta, a joint team led by Samsung Research, the Device eXperience (DX) Division’s advanced research institute, in collaboration with security experts from leading global universities, including the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).

The competition, which spanned two years starting from 2023, saw forty-two teams compete in the semifinals last year, with only seven advancing to this year’s finals.

“Samsung Electronics was able to achieve meaningful results by demonstrating its AI-based security technology capabilities at a global security technology competition,” said Taesoo Kim, VP of Samsung Research, who led Team Atlanta. “We will continue to expand collaboration with global security experts to further advance Samsung Electronics’ security technology proficiency.”

Team Atlanta advanced to the finals with exceptional technical capabilities, being the sole participant to detect an unintended vulnerability — not a flaw that had been set up for the competition — in the semifinals, and once again proved world-class security technology capabilities in the finals.

The finals evaluated each team’s ability to analyze source code vulnerabilities and apply security patches using AI-powered security technologies alone, without any human intervention.

By showcasing leading expertise with precise and sophisticated AI security technology, Team Atlanta earned the honor of first place and received $4 million in prize.

Building on its achievement, Samsung plans to develop next-generation security solutions powered by AI that can autonomously identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities, enabling continuous enhancement of products and service security.

Juyeon Song, a researcher at Samsung Electronics, has been appointed to lead the 6G Spectrum Drafting Group within the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Conference Preparatory Group for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (APG-27). Representing South Korea, Song was elected chair following a competitive process involving candidates from six other countries — reaffirming the global leadership of both Korea and Samsung in shaping the future of 6G technology.

APT is an intergovernmental organization that promotes the development of information and communication technology across the Asia-Pacific region by coordinating the shared interests and policy directions of its member countries. Operating under APT, the APT Conference Preparatory Group (APG) enables the region to respond collectively to the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC).¹

Scheduled for October 2027, WRC-27 is expected to identify the new 6G spectrum bands. Song will play a pivotal role in aligning the perspectives of the 38 APT member countries to develop a unified proposal on 6G spectrum bands. Her efforts will also support the broader goal of securing favorable outcomes for the Asia-Pacific region at WRC-27.

Previously, Song served as chair of the 5G Vision Group for the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), where she led the development of the global vision for 5G mobile communications. She later played a key role in the 5G standardization process as vice chair of Study Group 5 (SG 5), ITU-R’s terrestrial services group. With her latest appointment, she will oversee 6G spectrum discussions across the Asia-Pacific region. This reinforces Samsung’s leadership in 6G and provides a strategic advantage in securing mid-band spectrum — critical for expanding the company’s presence in the mobile communications market.

Since 2019, Samsung has accelerated its 6G technology research through the establishment of its Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC). In parallel, the company has articulated its vision for next-generation mobile communications by publishing the 6G White Paper and 6G Spectrum White Paper. Building on Samsung’s existing leadership in standardization through the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Song’s new role in the 6G spectrum domain highlights the company’s expanding influence in next-generation communications. Looking ahead, Samsung plans to take a strategic approach across key areas such as technology development, global standardization and spectrum acquisition as it prepares for the 6G era.

¹ Held every four years by the International Telecommunication Union, the World Radiocommunication Conference is the highest decision-making body in the field of radiocommunications — responsible for determining global frequency allocation and usage policies. Due to its significance, it is often referred to as the “Olympics of spectrum.”

Since 2020, Samsung Electronics has played a pioneering role in advancing next-generation communication technologies through active participation in international standardization efforts. This includes the publication of its 6G white papers and securing of key positions in major organizations such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). At the May 2025 3GPP elections, Samsung secured additional leadership positions, reaffirming its distinct standing at the forefront of the industry.

To shine a light on this progress, Samsung Newsroom is launching an interview series with the leaders of the company’s communications business, which will introduce the current state of next-generation communications technology research and global standardization efforts. In part one of the Communications Leadership Interview series, the Newsroom sat down with Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research, to discuss the current landscape and future outlook of 6G standardization, as well as Samsung’s strategies and vision.

▲ Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research

International Standards for Seamless Communication Across Borders

Today, using our own smartphones to access roaming services while traveling abroad is something we often take for granted. This is a convenience that has only become truly seamless through the invisible promise of international standards — born from the collaboration of countless companies and experts around the world.

“Common protocols are essential for products and services from different companies to work together seamlessly,” explained Han. “In the mobile communications industry, where a diverse range of players — including smartphone manufacturers, network equipment vendors, telecom operators and semiconductor companies — are involved, standardization is an indispensable element. It plays a key role in uniting the world into a single market.”

Standardization serves as the backbone that drives the global communications industry toward a unified direction. “At technological inflection points like the transition to 6G, the importance of industry-wide discussions and consensus on standards becomes even greater,” Han emphasized.

Global Collaboration Driving 6G Standardization

How does global standardization actually function? Unlike initiatives driven by a single entity, global telecommunications standardization is built on a clear, step-by-step framework of collaboration. Two key players in this process are the International Telecommunication Union (ITU¹) and the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP²).

“The ITU sets the direction for each new generation of communication technology, and based on that blueprint, the 3GPP works with global companies to define the technical details and carry out the standardization process,” explained Han.

▲ Overview of ITU and 3GPP

Global 6G standardization has now entered its launch phase. Following preliminary discussions on 6G technology directions that began in 2021, ITU-R officially announced the recommended framework for 6G standardization in November 2023. With the goal of finalizing 6G technical specifications by 2030, 3GPP plans to develop and propose a range of candidate technologies.

“3GPP took its first step toward 6G standardization by hosting a workshop in Korea this March,” explained Han. “6G study items were approved during its plenary meeting in June, and starting in the second half of this year, detailed technical discussions will begin within its Working Groups (WGs).”

▲ Key milestones and objectives of the ITU and 3GPP by year

The standardization of 6G is a shared journey in which the world works together toward a common goal. As standardization efforts gain momentum, companies worldwide are moving quickly to position their technologies within this framework, ensuring interoperability while developing solutions that meet market demands.

Samsung’s 6G Leadership: Driving Consensus Amid Fierce Competition

Countries and companies around the world are participating in discussions on next-generation communications standardization, each taking on specific roles. This process demands forward-looking leadership capable of both steering technological development and harmonizing diverse viewpoints—a role where Samsung Electronics has emerged as a central figure, simultaneously advancing innovation while building industry consensus.

Standardization is a continuous process marked by fierce competition among countless global stakeholders that aim to secure a lead in standards by having their own technologies incorporated. In this complex landscape, Samsung has consistently been elected to leadership positions within groups, earning recognition for its neutrality, credibility and coordination capabilities

“Samsung chaired the ITU-R’s 6G Vision Group, helping to establish the initial global vision for 6G and contributing to the design of its early roadmap,” explained Han. “We’re also leading discussions within 3GPP by serving as chairs and vice chairs across various technical groups, steering the direction of standardization.”

Currently, Samsung Electronics holds a total of eight chair and vice-chair positions across 3GPP’s key Technical Specification Groups (TSGs). Han added, “In particular, the Radio Access Network (RAN) and System Architecture (SA) WG2 groups, where Samsung serves as chair, are central to shaping the structure and direction of 6G technologies. These groups are at the core of industry-wide technical discussions and the fact that Samsung chairs them is a testament to our influence.”

Samsung is also laying a solid technological foundation for standardization discussions through its pioneering research activities across various core 6G technologies. Since standardization only holds real value when it is backed by concrete technologies and practical feasibility, Samsung’s technological competitiveness contributes to making these discussions more effective.

“3GPP chairs are responsible for guiding discussions according to the timeline, while mediating and resolving various conflicts that arise during the standardization process,” Han explained. “Holding a significant number of chair positions is a clear sign that the mobile communications industry recognizes our technological capabilities and leadership.”

Key Focus Areas for Next-Generation 6G Research

As technical discussions within 3GPP begin in earnest this year, Samsung is concentrating its research on the core technologies necessary for 6G commercialization. At the heart of these discussions are three key phrases: AI integration, enhanced energy efficiency, and strengthened security.

“6G should deliver user-perceivable improvements, not just faster speeds or higher quality,” noted Han. “By applying AI technologies to network operations, we can automate complex processes while simultaneously reducing operational costs and improving service quality.”

“From the increasingly critical perspective of security and privacy, Samsung is also focusing on building safer communication systems while increasing system flexibility to easily and rapidly incorporate new services,” he added.

As we approach the 6G era — where technologies and services will connect seamlessly across national borders — international cooperation and coordination are more important than ever. In this evolving landscape, Samsung Electronics continues to play a leading role in shaping the global conversation on next-generation connectivity.

In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the 6G standardization roadmap, key focus technologies and Samsung’s role as chair of the 3GPP TSG RAN, providing a closer look at the forefront of next-generation communications discussions.

¹ Short for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations specialized agency dedicated to advancing information and communication technologies (ICT) and networks. Its work includes allocating radio frequencies, establishing technical standards, and supporting developing countries, while playing a vital role in fostering international cooperation in the global ICT sector.
² Short for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, an international collaborative initiative established to develop standards for mobile communication technologies. It primarily develops globally applicable specifications for mobile communication systems, including radio access networks, services and systems, core networks, and mobile devices.

The team successfully developed a high-efficiency thin-film semiconductor Peltier device  using nano-engineering technology and demonstrated refrigerant-free cooling, highlighting the potential to deliver outstanding performance without conventional refrigerants.

Previously in 2024, Samsung Electronics opened a new chapter in refrigeration technology through the launch of the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator, which combines Peltier devices with high-efficiency compressors. Much like a hybrid vehicle, this system intelligently switches between the two cooling methods depending on what best suits the situation.

While the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator marked a major step forward, the new thin-film Peltier technology developed with Johns Hopkins APL represents a leap into the future.  How will this newly unveiled innovation be applied to home appliances, and how will it shape the cooling technology of tomorrow? To find out, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Sungjin Jung from Samsung Research, who has led the technology’s development, and Hajin Jeong from the DA (Digital Appliances) Business at Samsung Electronics, who is working to integrate it into Samsung’s next-generation refrigerators.

▲ (From left) Hajin Jeong from the Refrigerator Platform Lab of Samsung Electronics’ DA Business and Sungjin Jung from Samsung Research’s Life Solutions Team

Precise Temperature Control With Semiconductor Devices? Understanding the Principles Behind Peltier Cooling Technology

Conventional refrigerators operate using vapor compression technology. In this system, refrigerant gas is compressed into a liquid and then repeatedly evaporated to absorb and release heat, thereby lowering the internal temperature. While this widely used cooling method has proven effective, the use of refrigerants raises environmental concerns, and there are limitations in reducing power consumption — making it a challenge to carry this approach into the future and adapt it to evolving needs. Additionally, the bulky compressors and complex mechanical components inherent in this system place constraints on refrigerator design.

In contrast, Peltier cooling technology takes a different approach. As a semiconductor-based method that uses electricity to transfer heat, Peltier cooling utilizes the Peltier effect, in which an electric current passing through both ends of a Peltier device  causes one side to absorb heat while the other side releases it.

▲The Peltier effect

Utilizing the Peltier effect, the surface that absorbs heat and cools can be placed inside the refrigerator, while the surface that releases the absorbed heat can be positioned outside — effectively lowering the internal temperature. The greatest advantage of this method is its precise control of heat flow using only electricity. In addition, its simple structure compared to refrigerant-based mechanical systems allows for greater flexibility in refrigerator design.

Advancing Peltier Technology and Expanding Possibilities Through Global Collaboration

In early 2023, Samsung Electronics ramped up cross-organizational collaboration — bringing together the DA Business, Samsung Research and Global Technology Research — to commercialize Peltier cooling technology and enhance its performance. The DA Business primarily focused on Peltier-technology-based product development, leading to the launch of the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator in early 2024. Samsung Research and Global Technology Research, meanwhile, drove technological advancement by developing high-performance Peltier devices with improved output and durability.

Around the same time, Samsung Research also initiated global collaboration efforts to pursue breakthroughs in fundamental technologies. In late 2023, it partnered with Johns Hopkins APL in the United States eventually launching an eight-month-long full-scale joint research project in April the following year.

The core objective of this joint research was to leverage Johns Hopkins University’s nano-thin-film Peltier device technology to boost the output of conventional milliwatt-class Peltier devices to several tens of watts, paving the way for a high-efficiency thin-film Peltier system suitable for integration into home appliances.

▲ Researchers from Samsung Research and Johns Hopkins APL (left); the high-efficiency thin-film Peltier device they co-developed (right)

Over the course of the project, Samsung Electronics particularly demonstrated strengths in system design and packaging technology. As Peltier cooling involves simultaneous heat absorption and heat generation occur simultaneously on opposite sides of the device, performance can drop sharply if the temperature difference between the two sides is not minimized. During the process of applying the nano-thin-film Peltier devices — structured differently compared to conventional ones — directly to refrigerators, challenges such as increased contact thermal resistance, which hindered heat transfer, or unstable performance arose. As a result, packaging solutions that enable efficient heat transfer on both sides of the Peltier device became one of the core components in developing a high-efficiency Peltier cooling system.

“We designed a new packaging method to become the world’s first to apply nano-thin-film Peltier devices to refrigerators.”

– Sungjin Jung, Samsung Research, Samsung Electronics

▲ Sungjin Jung from Samsung Research

“Through simulations and iterative testing, we identified the root causes of the issues and designed new thermal interface materials (TIM) and assembly techniques to enable efficient heat transfer,” Jung explained.

This newly developed next-generation thin-film Peltier device boasts a cooling efficiency approximately 75% higher than conventional devices. By minimizing heat loss on each side of the Peltier device, the joint research demonstrated the potential for developing high-efficiency cooling appliances using the new technology.

Bringing Peltier Cooling Technology Into Everyday Life

With Samsung Research and Johns Hopkins APL having developed the next-generation Peltier cooling technology, it was now the DA Business’s turn to translate this technology into consumer products.

“With this next-generation Peltier cooling technology, we plan to introduce an even more advanced hybrid refrigerator.”

– Hajin Jeong, DA Business, Samsung Electronics

▲ Hajin Jeong from the DA Business

In the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator Samsung launched in 2024, the compressor operates under normal conditions such as routine storage and retrieval, while the Peltier device activates alongside the compressor during high-load situations — like when storing large amounts of groceries or placing hot food inside — thereby enhancing both cooling performance and energy efficiency. Additionally, when defrosting frost inside the cooling unit, the Peltier device remains active, minimizing internal temperature fluctuations during the process.

▲ In the Samsung Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator, a Peltier device is mounted at the top of the interior, while an AI Inverter Compressor is installed at the bottom.

In sections where both cooling mechanisms operate simultaneously, optimal efficiency hinged on the layout design. “Since the compressor is located at the lower rear, we redesigned the interior structure to position the Peltier device at the top, where it wouldn’t be affected by heat interference,” explained Jeong.

As a result, the refrigerator reduced power consumption by as much as 30% compared to the top grade of Korea’s energy efficiency rating labeling system,¹ while also significantly improving its ability to maintain a stable internal temperature.

The DA Business’ vision for hybrid refrigeration continues to evolve. Currently available only in select markets such as Korea, the U.S. and Europe, the company is accelerating joint development with Samsung Research to create models that can operate reliably even in hot and humid tropical regions such as India.

With the application of Samsung’s next-generation Peltier cooling technology, the hybrid refrigerators of tomorrow are expected to deliver even greater cooling performance and energy efficiency. “Integrating this next-generation Peltier cooling technology into our existing hybrid refrigerators will enable more precise temperature control and further reduce power consumption,” said Jeong.

Toward a Fully Refrigerant-Free Future

Peltier cooling is also a technology for a better planet. Refrigerants commonly used in refrigerators can damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming if released, prompting increasingly strict regulations in the U.S. and Europe. Against this backdrop, Peltier cooling technology is gaining recognition as a versatile, energy-efficient solution.

Samsung Electronics has set a medium- to long-term goal of going beyond hybrid structures to develop a fully refrigerant-free refrigerator powered solely by Peltier cooling technology.

“There’s still considerable research ahead before we can create a fully refrigerant-free refrigerator,” said Sungjin Jung . “Moving forward, we plan to unlock new possibilities in Peltier cooling by integrating other cutting-edge technologies such as AI, semiconductor processing and 3D printing into our work.”

“The DA Business and Samsung Research are working in lockstep from a product development standpoint to perfect this next-generation technology and fast-track its commercialization,” added Hajin Jeong.

▲ (From left) Sungjin Jung and Hajin Jeong

Samsung Electronics remains committed to not only innovating home appliances, but also transforming  the very paradigm of cooling technology. The future of refrigeration is being shaped by next-generation Peltier cooling — and the evolution is only just beginning.

¹ Based on the energy efficiency rating of the 2024 Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator model RF91DB90LE**, as registered with the Korea Energy Agency. Compared against the minimum threshold for Grade 1 under the KEA’s energy efficiency rating labeling system.

On June 8, Samsung Electronics launched the 32-inch Color E-Paper — an ultra-low-power digital signage solution capable of delivering rich, high-quality visuals.

Behind this innovative product lies Samsung’s proprietary Color Imaging Algorithm technology, developed through close collaboration between the Visual Display (VD) Business and Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with two key figures behind its development — Daewoong Cho from the VD Business and Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research — to learn more about the creation of Color E-Paper.

▲ (From left) Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research and Daewoong Cho from the VD Business

Paradigm Shift: Ultra-Slim, Ultra-Light and Ultra Low-Power

The Color E-Paper sets a new benchmark for digital signage — redefining hardware, operational methods and content expressiveness.

The globally released EM32DX model (32-inch) sports an ultra-slim profile, measuring just 8.6 millimeters at its thinnest point, and boasts a lightweight structure, weighing only 2.5 kilograms with the battery.

▲ Daewoong Cho from the VD Business

“We designed the device to be ultra-slim and ultra-light so that it can be installed easily, even in tight spaces,” said Cho, who led Color E-Paper’s hardware development. “This versatility means it can serve as a menu board at a café entrance or be mounted on a wall to function as a seasonal, emotionally resonant interior display.”

One of the biggest advantages of the Color E-Paper is its ultra-low power consumption, as it draws 0.00W¹ while displaying a static image. This allows content to remain visible for extended periods on battery power alone, significantly reducing energy usage in retail environments. Changing the display image requires only a minimal amount of power as well. In addition, as part of Samsung’s commitment to sustainability, the product incorporates recycled plastics in its exterior and comes in eco-friendly packaging.

▲ Content for the Color E-Paper can be easily created, replaced and managed through the Samsung VXT platform.

▲ Samsung VXT enhances the Color E-Paper experience with content visibility optimization, a preview function that ensures color accuracy before deployment, and other convenient features.

A Display That Runs Without a Continuous Power Supply

The secret behind the Color E-Paper’s ultra-low power consumption is its distinctive method of displaying images.

▲ Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research

“While conventional LCD signage uses a backlight to illuminate images, the Color E-Paper arranges six colors of digital ink in precise locations — just like printing on paper,” said Ahn, who participated in developing the product’s image enhancement technology. “This is also what gives the display its eye-friendly visual texture.”

The display consists of millions of microcups, each containing four colored ink particles (red, yellow, white and blue). When an electrical signal is applied to each cup, the designated ink particles rise to the surface to produce six colors.

“This process closely resembles the printing principle by which ink adheres to paper,” Ahn explained. “Once an image is formed, it can be semi-permanently retained without any further power consumption.”

Rich Images With Just Six Colors Through Samsung’s Proprietary Technology

The Color E-Paper’s strengths go far beyond power efficiency. The product can reproduce vibrant, natural hues using only six colors thanks to Samsung Electronics’ independently developed Color Imaging Algorithm.

“Conventional products had limitations in accurately reproducing input colors, and issues such as distortion and noise occurred . A solution was needed to overcome these challenges, so the VD Business and Samsung Research joined forces to come up with one,” said Ahn.

The starting point for developing the Color Imaging Algorithm, which enhances both color expressiveness and visibility, was the Human Visual System (HVS). The algorithm was built around a key aspect of human vision: the eye perceives the average color across a certain region, rather than focusing on the colors of individual pixels.

“By leveraging this trait, it’s possible to create the perception of different colors by naturally combining the six colors. The key lies in optimizing the ratio and arrangement of those combinations to avoid any color distortion,” Ahn added.

▲ The Color E‑Paper’s color-rendering process, powered by the Color Imaging Algorithm.

Calculating Color Ratios: Probability Map Extraction

Conventional e‑paper relies on error-diffusion² techniques to approximate digital images using a limited color palette. While effective, these methods carry significant drawbacks, as they are prone to visual distortion and suffer from slow computation speeds.

To overcome these limitations, Samsung devised an innovative approach that calculates the probability of placing certain colors within arbitrary regions, allowing for more precise color expression.

▲ The Color Imaging Algorithm computes color-specific weights as probability distributions.

By computing color weights as probabilities, the Color E-Paper can render nearly 2.5 million distinct hues using just six colors — a dramatic 40-fold increase in color richness compared to the roughly 60,000 hues achievable with conventional methods.

Optimizing Color Arrangement: Color Sampling

Along with color ratios, the way colors are arranged also plays a critical role in color rendition quality. Building on the probability map, Samsung developers applied blue-noise-based³ sampling (arrangement)to assign colors on a pixel-by-pixel basis, ensuring uniform and smooth color rendering.

▲ The blue-noise-based color sampling process

▲ (Left) Grocery store promotions brought to life in vivid color on a Samsung Color E-Paper display; (Right) A magnified view of the onion demonstrates how various color combinations naturally render shades and hues.

This advanced Color Imaging Algorithm technology significantly reduces eye strain and delivers images with soft, natural boundaries — just like printed material.

▲ Samsung’s Color Imaging Algorithm technology overcomes the shortcomings of conventional e-paper.

A Globally Acclaimed Technology With a Bright Future

With reactions like “I thought it was real paper!” and “Where’s the power cable?”, people are often surprised or impressed when they see the Color E‑Paper for the first time. The innovation drew significant attention at this year’s edition of Europe’s largest display exhibition, Integrated Systems Europe, where it won three Best of Show at ISE 2025 awards.

“I felt so proud when I heard that a global brand, one that had previously insisted on analog signage only, began seriously considering a digital transformation after seeing the Color E‑Paper at ISE 2025,” Daewoong Cho recalled.

“The natural, paper-like color of the Color E-Paper will offer consumers a fresh experience across various commercial settings. We plan to introduce it in a range of sizes, from small to large displays.”

“We are continuing our research with the goal of being able to render a broader range of colors more effectively. Samsung Research and the VD Business will keep working in close partnership to deliver the next breakthrough in display technology,” added Iljun Ahn.

With its paradigm-shifting power efficiency and color accuracy, the Samsung Color E‑Paper is leading the evolution of digital signage. Driven by a spirit of continuous innovation, Samsung’s product developers are committed to enhancing visual experiences in commercial spaces — setting a new standard for the displays of tomorrow.

¹ Based on IEC 62301 standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission. Power consumption below 0.005W is indicated as 0.00W.
² This method diffuses the quantization error — introduced during image quantization — by distributing it in specified proportions to adjacent pixels, ensuring the errors become visually less noticeable across the entire image.
³ Unlike white noise, blue noise is concentrated in the high-frequency spectrum, distributing fine-grained, evenly spaced patterns without large blotches — enabling smoother and more natural image rendering on displays.

Samsung Electronics today announced it has published a joint research paper titled “Nano-Engineered Thin-Film Thermoelectric Materials Enable Practical Solid-State Refrigeration” with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The paper details the development of a next-generation Peltier cooling technology and was published in the prestigious multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications.

Peltier devices achieve cooling via the Peltier effect, in which applying an electric current to a semiconductor causes one side to cool and the other to heat. As it requires no refrigerants, this method is gaining traction as a next-generation alternative to refrigerants that offers a lower-impact solution.

The paper is the result of a collaborative project between researchers from Samsung Research’s Life Solution Team and Dr. Rama Venkatasubramanian’s thermoelectrics research team within the physics, electronic materials and devices research program at APL.

Demonstration of World’s First High-Performance Peltier Refrigerator Opens the Door to Commercialization

By leveraging newly created thin-film Peltier semiconductor devices advanced through cutting-edge nano-engineering technology for the first time, the research team has successfully developed and demonstrated a high-performance Peltier refrigerator.

This thin-film Peltier refrigerator surpasses the cooling efficiency of traditional vapor compression refrigerators, creating the potential for the commercialization of next-generation refrigerators without refrigerants.

Compared to traditional vapor compression methods, Peltier cooling enables fast and precise temperature control with a simpler configuration, making it applicable to various industrial fields, including home appliances, semiconductors, medical devices, automotive electronics and data centers.

Nanofabrication Boosts Cooling and Resource Efficiency, Paving the Way for Solutions with Reduced Environmental Impact

For the commercialization of high-performance Peltier cooling, achieving superior cooling efficiency in Peltier semiconductor devices is essential.

Samsung and the APL research team have done this by improving the efficiency of Peltier devices by nearly 75% through the use of new thin-film semiconductor materials as well as miniaturization and lightweight design.

The newly developed Peltier device demonstrated significant advantages in terms of resource efficiency and mass production. The research team confirmed that the new manufacturing process not only drastically reduced the amount of Peltier materials required down to about 1/1,000 of the material typically required, but also simplified the production steps. This advancement enhanced scalability and enabled mass production, with promising prospects for significant gains in both cost-effectiveness and environmental impact.

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland is a not-for-profit university affiliated research center (UARC) that solves complex research, engineering, and analytical problems that present critical challenges to our nation. Our scientists, engineers, and analysts serve as trusted advisers and technical experts to the government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard our nation’s security and advance the frontiers of space. We also maintain independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities. For more information, visit jhuapl.edu.

▲ (From left) Rajavelsamy Rajadurai and Lixiang Xu

Samsung Electronics has secured new chair and vice-chair positions in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest telecommunications standards organization.

Established in 1998, 3GPP develops global mobile communications standards with participation from major companies and organizations including Samsung, Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei. The international body consists of three Technical Specification Groups (TSGs) — Service and System Aspects (SA), Radio Access Network (RAN) and Core Network and Terminals (CT) — each overseeing four to six Working Groups (WGs) for a total of 15 WGs across the organization.

Rajavelsamy Rajadurai, Principal Architect at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore (SRI–B), has been elected chair of 3GPP’s Service and System Aspects Working Group 3 (SA WG3). Meanwhile, Lixiang Xu, Principal Engineer at Samsung R&D Institute China-Beijing (SRC-B), has been elected vice chair of 3GPP’s Radio Access Network Working Group 3 (RAN WG3). SA WG3 defines standards related to network security and user privacy, whereas RAN WG3 develops base station interface protocol technologies. 

In March, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research, was elected chair of 3GPP’s Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN) — leading standardization across all areas of wireless technology including the physical layer, protocol aspects and radio resource control.

With these latest appointments, Samsung now holds three chair positions (SA WG2, SA WG3 and TSG RAN) and five vice-chair positions (SA WG4, SA WG6, RAN WG2, RAN WG3 and CT WG3) within 3GPP.

Beginning in the second half of 2025, 3GPP will initiate research into 6G technologies. SA WG3 plans to explore security enhancements to counter cyberattacks, including those from quantum computers, and to develop privacy protection technologies for mobile communications networks. RAN WG3 is expected to research AI-powered solutions to reduce energy consumption at base stations and improve service quality. These groups are positioned to play a crucial role in advancing the use of AI, strengthening security and promoting sustainability — all key focus areas in the development of 6G.

Through its expanded leadership within 3GPP, Samsung has established a framework to help drive standards across the mobile industry and collaborate with partners to shape the future of next-generation communications.

Samsung Electronics has led the evolution of the Galaxy camera under three development principles:

• Delivering the best picture quality for anyone, anywhere, anytime
• Offering features that satisfy even professional users
• Providing the ability to create content with easy and simple editing

The Galaxy S25 series is the culmination of these innovations, delivering a camera experience that pushes the limits of smartphones with high-pixel sensors, high-performance APs and powerful AI models.

So how did the Galaxy S25 series’ revolutionary camera experience come together? Samsung Newsroom sat down with camera developers from the Visual Solution Team of the MX Business at Samsung to hear the story directly from them.

▲ (From left) Jihye Kim, Pyojae Kim, Yunju Bae and Wonchul Choi from the MX Business’ Visual Solution Team

From Landscapes to Portraits, Every Moment Is Crystal Clear

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is equipped with a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera, the first in the Galaxy series. “This means that photos with a wide angle of view can be taken with greater clarity and detail,” said Wonchul Choi, who led the development of camera quality. “We optimized not only hardware upgrades such as high-pixel sensors and lenses, but also software technology by building a system that enables AI models to operate organically,” Choi explained. As a tip for getting the most out of the feature, he added, “The ultra-wide-angle camera is ideal for capturing vast landscapes, but it can also be used for close-up shots to create a unique sense of depth.”

▲ Wonchul Choi

The ProVisual Engine, which uses AI-powered technology to enhance the camera experience, has also evolved. “We analyzed a full range of skin tones and preferences, and worked to use AI technology to present options for a broader variety of users. For better results, developers of various age groups took portraits themselves in different environments,” said Choi, explaining the improved portrait experience compared to previous models. “AI recognition and processing technologies analyze elements such as the person, clothing and background in the photo and optimizes each area to bring out the finer details, such as hair texture and even the subject’s pupils.”

The Nightography feature for shooting in low-light conditions has been improved as well. “For the Galaxy S25 series’ Nightography, we focused a lot on video shooting,” said Choi. “We applied 10-bit HDR video as the default for videos to achieve more realistic and richer picture quality, and applied a solution that separates the subject from the background and analyzes movement to remove noise with precision,” he said.

Shooting and Editing With DSLR Quality Like a Pro

Is it possible to get DSLR-quality results with a smartphone camera? The new Virtual Aperture feature in the Expert RAW app does by creating depths of field and aperture effects similar to those of a DSLR camera, delivering high-quality results that look like they were shot by a professional.

“We applied an interface that recreates the effect of changing the aperture of a lens on a DSLR camera, allowing users to flexibly select deep or shallow depths of field,” said Pyojae Kim, who led the development of the Virtual Aperture feature, before proudly adding that the AI-powered innovation overcomes the physical limitations of smartphones.

▲ Pyojae Kim

Achieving the depths of field and bokeh effects unique to DSLR cameras was no easy task. The training image database was built using more than 200,000 photos taken simultaneously with both Galaxy and DSLR cameras. “We had to manually control both the focus and exposure of the DSLR camera, and there were some nerve-wracking moments of having to dispose of our hard work because the photos were out of focus or taken with the wrong exposure,” said Kim. “We learned how difficult of a task it is to obtain data.”

While photos have a DSLR-like quality, videos can now be filmed in Log Video mode, a feature normally found in digital cameras that professionals use. Log video is a recording format that makes it easier to color-correct in post-production and create high-quality videos. To make log videos accessible to the average user, the Galaxy S25 series also comes with the Color Correction feature, which allows users to easily correct their video footage in the Gallery app with the click of a button.

Fun and Easy AI Editing With Just a Few Taps

First introduced in the Galaxy S24 series, Generative Edit has evolved by leaps and bounds in the Galaxy S25 series. “We focused on enhancing the fun and useful features that only generative AI can deliver,” said Jihye Kim. “We’ve improved the AI models so that they can now accurately recognize areas of the photo with only a simple touch and seamlessly erase those areas or add onto them. We also made improvements to each of the component technologies involved in generative editing.”

▲ Jihye Kim

The AI models used for Generative Edit and other generative AI features were developed through continuous collaboration with Google. “My team members and I took turns traveling to Google’s San Francisco Campus for a month at a time,” Jihye Kim said. “I remember staying up late at night, sharing ideas with the developers to improve the model.”

The nature of generative AI, which produces different results each time, often posed challenges during development. “We constantly mulled over how to quantitatively evaluate the results in a situation where they change every time. We also had to anticipate a wide range of edge cases to prevent the AI from producing inappropriate images,” she explained.

New to the Galaxy S25 series and the Galaxy lineup as a whole is the Best Face feature. This feature selects the best facial expressions of up to five people from multiple Motion Photos and composites them into a single picture-perfect group shot. “The Best Face feature can not only change a closed-eyed face to an open-eyed face, but can also turn a face from looking to the side to looking straight ahead,” Kim said. “My mom kept closing her eyes every time we took family photos, so we often had to retake them several times. It’s very useful in that kind of situation,” she added with a laugh.

An Unrivaled AI Filter Experience That Captures the User’s Unique Vibe

With Filters, the Galaxy S25 series also offers a variety of filters that intuitively capture each user’s unique aesthetic.

“We have enhanced the AI-powered feature to make it easier for anyone to capture the color or mood of their favorite photos while also improving the overall user experience to make it more user-friendly,” said Yunju Bae, who led the development of Filters. “We went through detailed tuning and repeated evaluations to balance technology and aesthetics to perfect filter quality.”

▲ Yunju Bae

Filters let users choose a photo they like and utilize AI to analyze the color and style of the photo to produce a personalized filter. “I often look at a photo and think, ‘I want to take a photo with this kind of vibe,’ so I wanted to make it easy to recreate the style I like without going through complicated editing,” Bae said as she explained the background behind the feature’s development.

Filters’ new film-style filters naturally capture the aesthetic unique to analog film. “The look and feel of analog film is a subjective area, so we went through a lot of trial and error to quantify it for digital reproduction,” Bae said. “We analyzed a lot of actual film, and through constant experiments and adjustments, we made meaningful progress in numerical representation to adequately reproduce the aesthetic of analog film,” she said. Bae also expressed her gratitude for the various experiments and analyses done in collaboration with Samsung Research, which played an integral role in enhancing the technical reliability of Filters.

The Future of the Galaxy Camera Visual Experience

The Galaxy S25 series has set a new standard for mobile cameras — but the Visual Solution Team is just getting started. The developers are already working on even bigger innovations to shape the future of smartphone imaging.

Asked about the team’s plans and ambitions for the future, Wonchul Choi replied, “Our goal is to further strengthen the camera’s picture quality fundamentals, all while maximizing convenience and accessibility so that it can perform at its best no matter where or when it’s used.”

“We plan to analyze the market’s response to Virtual Aperture and incorporate it into Portrait mode. By continuing to expand the features, we’ll ensure that the photo quality of the best DSLR cameras out there can be fully experienced on mobile devices,” added Pyojae Kim.

“We’ve put forth our best effort to continuously improve quality and introduce new generative AI features to users, but there’s always room to do better We’ll make these features more accessible so that users can more easily and comfortably utilize the powers of generative AI,” said Jihye Kim.

Sharing her bold aspirations, Yunju Bae concluded with, “We want to expand the shooting experience to the point where artistic sensibilities and technology naturally blend together through AI. We aim to deliver an experience that’s good enough to replace different types of hardware.”

Smartphone cameras are no longer just a technical feature. They’ve become iconic, indispensable items that capture and share life’s stories. The Galaxy camera is constantly evolving to make it easier for anyone to create high-quality photos and videos, and to personalize their content. As it evolves, so too will the ways users see, share and shape the moments that matter most.

Samsung Electronics is bringing people together through sound. The company will showcase the capabilities of Auracast technology by partnering with hearing-aid provider GN on a groundbreaking event at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 16 to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Attendees wearing Galaxy Buds3 Pro or GN hearing aids will utilize Auracast, which allows a single audio source to broadcast to multiple receivers simultaneously, and embark on a unique journey of shared listening.

What’s Happening

Auracast microphones and transmitters will broadcast audio directly into participants’ Galaxy Buds3 Pro or GN hearing aids, decreasing background noise to enhance clarity. A select group was given the opportunity to discover the potential of Auracast at a pilot event on May 1.

“The Auracast experience with the tour guide was amazing,” said one participant. “Ordinarily I wouldn’t be able to join in with the tour because I would be unable to hear properly, but today it was completely different. This technology allowed me to hear everything so clearly so I didn’t miss a word.”

▲ Attendees at the pilot event enjoying clearer audio with Auracast

Auracast and LE Audio

What is LE Audio? Introduced in 2022 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, Low Energy (LE) Audio¹ is an updated standard for Bluetooth technology. It enables more power-efficient and higher-quality wireless transmission of audio from a broadcasting device to a receiver such as from a smartphone to earbuds.

Samsung has led efforts to increase LE Audio compatibility for mobile devices and hearing aids. Since 2022, the company has been pushing for the expansion of LE Audio, introducing 360 Audio Recording² and adopting Auracast through the Buds2 Pro software update.

What is Auracast? Auracast³ is a feature of LE Audio that allows broadcasting from a compatible audio source⁴ to multiple supported audio receivers,⁵ including earbuds⁶ and hearing aids. Think of it as turning your phone into a radio station.

Benefits of Auracast

• Shared Audio Experiences: As Auracast enables simultaneous audio streaming to multiple devices, listeners can enjoy a unified and enriched experience whether using ear buds or a compatible hearing aid. This represents a significant leap from traditional Bluetooth technology, which allows only one device to pair with an audio source.
• Seamless Audio Handoff: When moving from your smartphone to TV, or from public to private spaces, sound stays with you — as you don’t have to manually pair your device to each new audio source.
• Audio Clarity Anywhere: Auracast reduces background noise as audio is directly broadcast into your ears, providing a clearer sound experience. This is particularly beneficial in venues with loud echoes such as cathedrals and museums.
• Personalized Sound: Whether in a museum, a stadium, an airport or at home, Auracast allows you to tailor audio settings to your preferences. This customization ensures that users with varying hearing abilities can enjoy optimal clarity.

▲ Experience the benefits of Auracast with Galaxy Buds3 Pro

The Big Picture

Commitment to Accessibility: Samsung’s mission to redefine hearing accessibility has led to an unprecedented collaboration between mobile technology and hearing-aid innovation. With Auracast, Samsung bridges the gap between consumer audio and compatible hearing devices, crafting a seamless, intelligent and connected listening experience.

¹ Available on devices with Bluetooth 5.2 and above that support Auracast.
² 360 Audio Recording is available on Galaxy Buds paired with a Galaxy smartphone running One UI 5.0 or above with LE Audio support, including the Galaxy S25 series, Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 and upcoming Galaxy smartphones. Requires installation of the latest software versions of the Galaxy smartphone and Galaxy Buds devices. To activate the feature, go to the Samsung Camera app > select Video mode and then tap Camera settings > tap Advanced video options > turn on 360 Audio Recording.
³ The quality of the Auracast audio stream may vary depending on the application, network connection and other factors.
⁴ Auracast Transmitter supported devices : Samsung Galaxy smartphones, tablets with Samsung One UI version 6.1 or later, and select TV models. Supported Galaxy smartphone and tablet models include: S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE, S23 (except FE edition), S23+, S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy Z Fold6, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Fold5, A56, Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S9+, Tab S9, Tab S9 Ultra. Supported TV models include: 2025 Neo QLED 8K QN990F, QN950F, QN900F, 2024 NeoQLED 8K QND800, QND850, QND900, 2024 MICRO LED models, 2023 Neo QLED 8K QNC 800, QNC900 and 2023 MICRO LED models.
⁵ Auracast Assistant supported devices : Samsung Galaxy smartphones, tablets with Samsung One UI version 6.1 or later. Supported Galaxy smartphone and tablet models include: S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23FE, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, A56, A55, A54, A36, XCover7 Pro, Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab Active5 Pro, TabS10 FE, Tab S10 FE+, Tab S9, Tab S9+, Tab S9 Ultra, Tab S9 FE
⁶ Auracast Receiver supported devices : Galaxy Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds2 Pro

The Galaxy S25 series uses vision AI technology and the understanding of natural language to address these issues and provide a more intuitive mobile experience for users in their daily lives. When searching for a photo in their gallery, users can enter keywords that describe the situation — such as the date or locality, any objects present, any actions taking place and so forth — and Galaxy AI will analyze them to find matching photos. In addition, the flagship series boasts Auto Trim, a new video editing feature that can automatically select key segments from multiple videos and edit them into a separate video.

These features are the result of advanced research in visual technology and close collaboration. Samsung Newsroom met with developers from the Visual Technology Team of Samsung Research and the Visual Solution Team of the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics to learn how the company developed even smarter photo and video experiences for Galaxy users.

▲ (From left) Wonwoo Lee, Inho Choi, Hongpyo Lee and Seonghwan Kim

Labeling Every Element in a Photo With AI-Powered Classification

Smartphones store a massive number of photos, with the average user having several thousand — or even tens of thousands — on their devices. As the number grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a specific photo right away. On the Galaxy S25 series, the Gallery app automatically tags and categorizes various elements in photos such as objects, people and localities, allowing users to quickly and accurately find the desired images. This is incredibly convenient for users who want to relive past memories or retrieve important information fast.

Keeping in mind that an effective search depends on classification, the developers tripled the number of tag types compared to that of the previous Galaxy series, fine-tuning photo subject recognition and labeling capabilities in the Galaxy S25 series. In addition, they expanded the scope of clustering, a technique that groups data for people recognition.

“By developing an image analysis engine and using zero-shot technology, we improved the performance so that the Galaxy S25 series can recognize object data it encounters for the first time,” said Hongpyo Lee from the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research. “For people, we expanded analysis beyond facial features to include clothing, time and location, making it easier to group photos of the same person.”

▲ Gallery Search

Finding Photos With Conversational, Natural Language Through Gallery Search

Samsung also focused on enhancing natural language search performance in the Gallery. The company developed a search model that reflects frequently used phrases and various application cases, allowing users to find the photos they want using natural, conversational sentences instead of word-based searches.

“We leveraged a vision-language model that learns by associating images with text and used generative AI to automatically generate a wide range of sentences that users might enter,” Lee shared. “We also optimized and compressed the search model so it runs quickly on-device.”

“Building on our previous research, we successfully applied natural language processing capabilities to our products, including a context-aware image analysis engine and a large language model (LLM),” said Inho Choi from the Visual Solution Team of Samsung Electronics’ MX Business.

The developers also worked to deliver unbiased and more accurate search results. “We wanted to anticipate various usage scenarios and identify potential issues in advance so that malicious search queries wouldn’t lead to inaccurate results,” Choi explained. “Building a database of negative words, profanity and neologisms, and then conducting user tests to improve search accuracy was both the most challenging and rewarding part of the process.”

▲ Inho Choi from the MX Business and Hongpyo Lee from Samsung Research

Editing Multiple Videos at Once With Auto Trim

Video editing is also becoming an increasingly important part of the gallery experience. While video is a popular form of media consumption, having video editing tools readily available and using them with ease is often not as simple as it seems. To address this, the Galaxy S25 series introduces a feature that makes editing much faster and more convenient through enhanced AI-powered video analytics. The Auto Trim feature extracts key scenes from multiple videos of the user’s choice to create a new short-form video.

It was important for Auto Trim to be able to quickly analyze videos up to 90 minutes long, generate an edited video and adjust the length of that new video. The developers achieved this through close collaboration, seamlessly integrating Samsung Research’s advanced technological expertise with the MX Business’ mobile optimization capabilities.

“Existing video analytics technologies have limitations, such as large model sizes, slow processing speeds and the uniform selection of key video segments,” said Seonghwan Kim from the MX Business’ Visual Solution Team. “We optimized the Galaxy S25 series’ video processing performance by testing and verifying multiple candidate solutions to deliver a fast and easy editing experience based on on-device AI.”

“We’ve introduced a feature that enables users to effortlessly identify key moments in videos, demanding significantly more data processing than photos, and tailor the duration of these edited segments to their preferences” explained Wonwoo Lee from Samsung Research’s Visual Technology Team.

“Getting Galaxy AI to identify highlights in videos with a level of sensitivity comparable to that of humans was a challenge, but by establishing the standards together, Samsung Research and the MX Business were able to significantly improve overall functionality.”

▲ Auto Trim

From Analyzing to Generating: Vision AI and Its Endless Possibilities

Samsung Electronics is researching a wide range of vision AI technologies, ranging from filming and editing technologies for smartphones to multimodal interaction technologies used in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). The core of this research is the ability to quickly and accurately analyze subjects such as people and animals, as well as their surroundings, in videos on-device, and to recognize the meaningful moments in those videos. Through vision AI technology, Samsung aims not only to evolve typical smartphone features like shooting and viewing photos and videos, but also pioneer novel ways to consume content.

“We’re actively utilizing AI technology for fast, easy and high-quality editing in the video domain,” said Kim. “Samsung will focus on further developing the technology so that AI can better understand the context of video content, helping users reduce editing time effectively and generate edited videos that reflect the user’s intent — all without requiring professional editing skills.”

“By continuously advancing video analytics technology, we aim to develop even more innovative features that leverage the power to understand video content — such as video search, intelligent video editing effects and beyond,”said Wonwoo Lee. “Samsung will strive to develop cutting-edge vision AI technology that can be applied across a broad range of use cases.”

▲ Seonghwan Kim from the MX Business and Wonwoo Lee from Samsung Research

Gallery Search and Auto Trim are prime examples of how Galaxy AI enhances everyday life. As developers continue to advance the company’s image and video analytics technology, Samsung Electronics will deliver an expanding range of new experiences that make it easier and more intuitive for users to find and capture life’s key moments.

Audio Eraser, introduced in the Galaxy S25 series, was designed to address such situations by reducing unwanted background noise and enhancing desired sounds to help users create more immersive videos.¹ Galaxy AI features like Audio Eraser — developed with a deep understanding of user needs — was made possible thanks to the proactive efforts of Samsung Research and the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with audio technology experts from the AI Solution Team at Samsung Research to learn more about the development of this innovative feature.

▲ (From left) Kyoungbo Min, Hejung Yang, Hosang Sung and Jiwon Kim from the AI Solution Team at Samsung Research

Source Detection: The Future of Next-Generation Audio Technology

Audio Eraser enables users to adjust sounds within a video by removing unwanted noise and enhancing the audio they want to highlight. The feature quickly scans a video to detect and separate sounds by type, and can be used not only on clips recorded by the user but also on videos that have been shared or received.

Just as Object Eraser improved image editing and usability with its debut in the Galaxy S21 series, Audio Eraser was developed to deliver a more advanced and seamless multimedia experience across both audio and video.

▲ Audio Eraser allows users to adjust sounds by type within a video.

Developing Sound Source Detection and Separation Models

Audio Eraser recognizes six types of sound — voices, music, wind, nature sounds, crowd noise and ambient noise. Using sound source detection technology, the feature quickly identifies what sounds are present and where they occur in a video. Then, through sound source separation technology, it isolates and classifies each sound into distinct categories.

To build AI models capable of detecting and isolating these audio types, the research team began by collecting a robust set of training data. They simulated a wide range of real-world video recording scenarios to generate diverse audio datasets — and even went into the field to capture everyday sounds firsthand.

“Wind was particularly challenging to work with,” said Hejung Yang from the AI Solution Team at Samsung Research. “Besides refining our wind simulation technology, we enhanced our dataset by recording actual wind sounds outdoors whenever strong winds occurred — even after work or on weekends.”

In addition, the team devoted extensive time to improving the performance of the sound source separation model by carefully reviewing countless video clips multiple times.

“Each developer compared and analyzed more than 1,000 audio samples every week under a variety of conditions,” said Jiwon Kim. “Through continuous experimentation, we worked to identify the most effective sound source separation model to ensure consistent, high-quality results.”

▲ Samsung researchers work on developing audio technology for Audio Eraser.

Delivering a New User-Centric Listening Experience

As Audio Eraser runs on-device, it offers an enhanced user experience with real-time editing and improved privacy protection. Samsung’s long-standing expertise in developing competitive on-device AI capabilities across various features played a key role in Audio Eraser’s success.

“We focused on developing AI models and algorithms capable of fast, on-device processing,” said Hosang Sung. “A great deal of effort went into creating an optimized AI solution that runs smoothly with low power consumption.”

Supported by a strong AI research infrastructure, Samsung Research continues to strengthen its capabilities in advanced audio technologies.

“We are committed to developing next-generation solutions that elevate the usability of mobile devices,” said Hoonyoung Cho, Vice President and Head of the AI Solution Team at Samsung Research. “Through sound control and audio enhancement technologies, we aim to deliver a truly selective and personalized listening experience.”

Integrated Collaboration With Product Development Teams

Turning advanced research into a consumer-ready solution brought a new set of challenges. For instance, when editing video and audio simultaneously, playback needed to remain smooth and uninterrupted. Additionally, processing videos longer than an hour required specialized technology capable of completing the task within the same timeframe.

To address these challenges, Samsung Research and the MX Business worked together — from proposing user-centric ideas to repeatedly testing software optimization techniques and evaluating audio quality. Together, they explored multiple approaches to determine the most effective solution.

The cross-functional collaboration had already proven successful in the development of the Galaxy Buds3 series (Buds3, Buds3 Pro). As the needs for listening in noisy environments grows — for everything from music and media experiences to listening to clearer phone calls — Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has become an increasingly essential feature in wireless earbuds. Samsung raised the bar by developing its own Adaptive ANC technology. The Galaxy Buds3 series adapts to the fitting conditions of different users and changes in fit caused by prolonged wear to deliver optimized ANC performance.

Since earbuds are worn directly in the ear, close coordination between hardware and software teams was essential to finalize product specifications and fine-tune the ANC technology.

“We developed multiple algorithms in advance to accommodate different hardware conditions,” said Kyoungbo Min. “Through extensive simulations, we prepared a solution that could be quickly adapted to any chipset or device. The development process involved iterative revisions and improvements, but the close collaboration between advanced research and product teams helped accelerate commercialization.”

Sound source separation is a core area of next-generation audio technology, and Samsung continues to advance its foundational innovations in this field. With Audio Eraser making full use of sound source separation, the company is preparing to expand into a range of new applications. The ongoing evolution of Galaxy AI is expected to deliver even more practical and intuitive features for consumers.

¹ Results may vary per video depending on how sounds present in the video. Samsung Account login required. Certain types of sound can be detected such as voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. The actual sound detection may vary depending on audio source and the condition of the video. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

The highlight of this update is the integration of SmartThings with Samsung Health, designed to improve users’ sleep environments while enabling more personalized automation experiences. The update also expands Calm Onboarding to support a wider range of devices and adds compatibility with the Matter 1.4 standard.

“SmartThings’ latest update represents our ongoing efforts to make the smart home more intuitive, connected and personalized,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of smart home innovation by empowering users though enhanced personalization and automation, including sleep wellness.”

Samsung Newsroom outlines some of the key changes below.

▲ (Left) A sleep environment summary card displayed in Galaxy Now Briefing, (Right) a detailed sleep environment report

▲ (Left) The automation routine setup screen with Samsung TV Plus actions, (Right) a broadcasting feature using SmartThings linked speakers

* The UI in the above image may differ from the actual app screen or may be subject to change.

Smarter Sleep Environments With Samsung Health Integration

Sleep environment reports¹ from Samsung Health on Galaxy devices help users create optimal conditions for rest by providing detailed insights into key factors — such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels and light intensity — through connected devices and sensors. These reports summarize the previous night’s sleep conditions and offer personalized suggestions for improvement.

When paired with a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, the latest update enables SmartThings to automatically adjust the environment based on the user’s actual sleep and wake times.² For example, routines can be set to turn off lights and the TV at bedtime or to open curtains and play music in the morning.

Greater Flexibility With SmartThings Routines

With the latest update, SmartThings now supports automation routines based on recurring schedules — weekly, monthly or annual — offering added flexibility for a variety of scenarios. For instance, users can automatically change the color of smart lights to celebrate special occasions like family birthdays.

In addition, SmartThings routines now integrate with Samsung TV Plus on 2025 Samsung TV models. This allows users to include entertainment preferences in their smart home routines — whether it’s setting the TV to turn on the news in the morning or switching to a favorite channel at a preset time to ensure they don’t miss a show.

Broadcasting via SmartThings-Connected Speakers

A new broadcasting feature allows users to send voice messages across SmartThings-connected speakers, making in-home communication more convenient. For example, if a parent is away and sends a voice message through the SmartThings app — “I’ll be home soon, but have a snack from the fridge if you’re hungry” — it will automatically play on the designated home speaker. With real-time message delivery, families can stay connected no matter where they are.

Expanding Calm Onboarding to More Devices

Samsung has offered the Calm Onboarding³ feature since late 2023, streamlining setup for Samsung home appliances purchased through Samsung.com or official Samsung stores by linking the entire product journey — from order and delivery to connection with the SmartThings app.

In the latest SmartThings update, Samsung is expanding Calm Onboarding beyond its own products to include compatible third-party smart home devices for a more seamless and intuitive connectivity experience. Users who purchase SmartThings-compatible smart home devices directly from Samsung.com will now receive purchase and delivery updates within the SmartThings app. Additionally, users will receive step-by-step onboarding instructions to simplify product setup. The rollout will begin in Korea, with plans to expand to other countries.⁴

Matter 1.4 Support

SmartThings continues to advance the IoT landscape by expanding its support for Matter 1.4. The latest version of the standard includes a wide range of energy management devices — such as water heater, heat pump, solar power device, battery storage device, mounted on/off control switch and mounted dimmable load control device. These newly supported device categories build on existing popular device types like lights, thermostats, switches, air conditioners, air purifiers, fans, door locks and more.

By integrating AI-powered routines, broadening device compatibility and adopting the latest Matter standard, SmartThings reinforces its ongoing commitment to innovation — making the connected home more intelligent, energy-efficient and seamless for users and their families.

¹ The Sleep environment report feature is available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones running One UI 7.0 or later and Samsung Health version 6.29 or later. Availability may expand in the future. For more information on compatible devices that can measure sleep environments, refer to the Sleep condition report under the “How to Use” section in the SmartThings app.
² Setting routines based on sleep conditions may not be supported in certain countries. This feature is available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones with One UI 7.0 or Samsung Health version 6.29 or later, with plans for future expansion. A connected device capable of detecting sleep and wakefulness — such as Galaxy Watch4/5/6/7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Fit3 and Galaxy Ring — is required. For more information, refer to the “Accessories” section in the sleep tab of the Samsung Health app.
³ As of April 2025, the Calm Onboarding feature for Samsung products is available in 14 countries including Korea, the United States, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Further expansion is planned throughout the year.
⁴ This support is planned for countries where the IoT Marketplace, which sells SmartThings compatible smart home devices on Samsung.com, is available. It will be first applied in Korea and gradually expanded to other countries.

Amid ongoing global discussions on future communication standards, Samsung and KT have begun research into eXtreme multiple-input multiple-output¹ (X-MIMO) — an ultra-high-density antenna technology designed to enhance 6G coverage and increase data transmission speeds.

The World Radiocommunication Conference² 2023 (WRC-23), hosted by the International Telecommunication Union³ (ITU), identified the 7 GHz band (7.125–8.4 GHz) as a candidate frequency for 6G. The global mobile communications industry considers this band as a key option due to its favorable frequency characteristics and spectrum availability. However, because the 7 GHz band operates at a higher frequency than the 3.5 GHz C-band used in 5G, it experiences greater signal path loss. Mitigating this loss is critical to achieving communication coverage comparable to that of 5G.

To address this challenge, the companies will research beamforming technology, which transmits focused signals in specific directions, and multi-spatial transmission technology, which uses multiple beams to deliver data to several users simultaneously. In X-MIMO systems operating in the 7 GHz band, more antennas will be used compared to 5G — requiring system architectures capable of efficiently managing ultra-high-density antennas.

Both companies plan to explore the convergence of telecommunications and AI to deliver an improved user experience, particularly in edge coverage areas. For example, AI can be used to predict and proactively respond to potential communication disruptions such as video streaming interruptions.

“We are committed to developing innovative 6G technologies that enhance both the operational efficiency of the 7GHz band and the overall user experience,” said Angelo Jeongho Park, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC), Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics. “Our collaboration with KT will serve as a key foundation for advancing next-generation communications through reasonable, cost-effective investments.”

“Through this joint research with Samsung Electronics, we expect to secure next-generation network technologies that differentiate the quality of the user experience,” said, Jong-Sik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Network Laboratory at KT. “We will further strengthen our efforts in developing core 6G technologies to lead future mobile communication innovations.”

¹ Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology improves communication performance by utilizing multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver.
² The World Radio Communication Conference (WRC) is an intergovernmental event organized by the ITU to coordinate global frequency usage.
³ The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies with 193 Member States and more than 1,000 companies, universities, research institutes and international and regional organizations.

▲ Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has secured a leadership position at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest telecommunications standard development organization.

During the plenary meeting held in Incheon on March 12, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research, Samsung Electronics, was elected as Chair of 3GPP Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN),¹ which is responsible for standardizing all aspects of wireless technology, such as the physical layer, protocol aspects and radio resource control.

“I believe that my election as chair is further recognition of Samsung’s leadership in mobile communication technology,” said Dr. Kim. “6G standardization involves more than just solving technical issues; it is a collaborative effort requiring participation from all companies and organizations in the mobile communication sector. I will make every effort to successfully lead 3GPP’s TSG RAN and advance the standardization of 6G.”

Since its establishment in 1998, 3GPP has led the development of global mobile communication technology standards with participation from major telecommunications companies and organizations worldwide, including Samsung, Apple, Qualcomm, Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia.

In May 2021, Dr. Kim was elected Chair of 3GPP Radio Access Network Working Group 1 (RAN WG1), which is the largest working group within 3GPP and responsible for developing physical layer specifications for 3GPP radio access technologies. Over the past four years, Dr. Kim has successfully led the standardization of 5G physical layer technology, significantly contributing to the emergence of the 5G network industry.

Through Dr. Kim’s expanded role as Chair of 3GPP TSG RAN starting in May, Samsung will be able to contribute to the standardization of 6G, the next generation of mobile communication technology.

Dr. Kim’s appointment to the chair position of the Technical Specification Group is viewed as a recognition of Samsung’s contributions and technological leadership in the mobile communication industry.

The company currently holds two chair positions in RAN WG1 and SA WG2, as well as four vice-chair positions in RAN WG2, SA WG4, SA WG6 and CT WG3. With Dr. Kim’s election as Chair of 3GPP TSG RAN, Samsung Electronics will maintain the industry’s highest number of chair positions within 3GPP, even after the RAN WG1 chair term expires, solidifying its pivotal role among over 800 member companies.

The advancement of mobile communication systems is now at a turning point. It must not only enhance transmission speeds but also drive 6G standardization with a focus on new values. 3GPP plans to launch research on 6G in the second half of this year.

6G aims to achieve future-oriented and sustainable advancements in mobile communication technology, including improving the energy efficiency of networks, enhancing network quality using AI and introducing security technologies to prevent attacks originating from quantum computers. At this critical milestone, Dr. Kim’s election as chair by the support from international mobile communication standards experts holds great significance.

Meanwhile, Samsung recently published a 6G White Paper titled, “AI-Native & Sustainable Communication” that outlines the latest trends and future of next-generation mobile communication technologies. It also highlights Samsung’s leadership in 6G research and other key technologies.

With its leadership in next-generation communication technology and Dr. Younsun Kim’s role as Chair of 3GPP, Samsung is expected to lead the standardization of 6G technology and make significant contributions to the advancement of the mobile communication industry overall.

¹ The 3GPP comprises three Technical Specification Groups (TSGs): Radio Access Network (RAN), Service and System Aspects (SA), and Core Network and Terminals (CT). Each TSG consists of 4–6 Working Groups (WGs), for a total of 15 working groups.

As 6G standardization gains momentum with AI technology expanding across industries, the two companies aim to enhance overall network performance by applying AI to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies. MIMO systems increase transmission speed and expand coverage by utilizing multiple antennas to transmit and receive signals. In contrast to traditional MIMO systems that transfer data in a single-cell network, distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) systems deploy multiple cells to offer advantages such as improved performance in coverage boundary areas and the network overall.

Through this collaboration, the companies will research AI-driven solutions to optimize the design and operation of D-MIMO systems — enabling higher transmission speeds at the user level and increased network-wide capacity.

▲ D-MIMO systems

“The joint research with KDDI Research will play an integral role in innovating wireless telecommunications through the convergence of telecommunications and AI technologies,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, CTO of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research. “We will lead the next-generation communication research that brings improvements to user experience.”

“I anticipate that our research collaboration will highlight the critical role of AI and D-MIMO in developing a user-centric network that delivers exceptional wireless quality across the target area, ultimately creating new value in 6G,” said Hajime Nakamura, President and CEO of KDDI Research, Inc.

Industry alliances, including the AI-RAN Alliance¹ and the Next G Alliance (NGA),² are pivotal to driving Samsung’s research on integrating AI into communication technologies. In November 2024, Samsung hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit to encourage greater collaboration in the industry. Beyond these partnerships and initiatives, the company released a 6G white paper last month outlining its vision for AI-native and sustainable communication technologies.

¹ Collaborative consortium of industry leaders and academic institutions committed to integrating AI into radio access networks (RAN) and propelling the industry toward 6G
² Initiative launched by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) to advance North American leadership in wireless technology over the next decade through private-sector-led efforts