100 Years of IFA: Samsung’s AI Holds the Key to the Future

Internationale Funkausstellung Berline (IFA) — Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show held annually in Berlin, Germany — is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. Launched in 1924 as a radio exhibition, IFA has transformed over a century into a stunning display of cutting-edge technology that shares a special bond with Samsung Electronics.

Home appliances and electronics have followed this evolution. What were once large, bulky machines have since become highly advanced, integrated devices and essential companions in daily life.

▲ Exterior view of the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds during IFA 2022

In the midst of this change, Samsung has positioned itself to lead the next 100 years of innovation by seamlessly connecting mobile devices, TVs and home appliances through SmartThings[1] — while offering enhanced control over devices through upgrades in Bixby[2], the company’s voice assistant which can now better understand complex commands based on natural language.

IFA 2024 kicks off on September 6 under the slogan “Innovation for All.” Before its grand opening, Samsung Newsroom looked back at IFA’s century-long journey of innovation and Samsung’s legacy of technological breakthroughs.

From Radio Exhibition to Innovation Hub for AI Devices

In its early days, IFA served as a platform for the German government to showcase emerging radio technology in the 1920s. Albert Einstein even delivered the opening speech in 1930.

▲ Albert Einstein during his opening speech for IFA in 1930 (photo credit: IFA website)

This marked the beginning of a series of breakthroughs including the introduction of the world’s first car radio in 1932 and the color TV in 1937. World War II halted IFA for several years in the 1940s, but technological progress continued. In 1971, the show was renamed Internationale Funkausstellung to become the IFA consumers know today.

The evolution of home appliances has been equally remarkable. Refrigerators and washing machines are no longer simple mechanical devices designed to reduce household labor. Innovations in compressors and motors — along with advancements in electronic components, smart features and connectivity — have turned these devices into sophisticated, high-tech tools for modern living.

Samsung first started exhibiting at IFA in 1991, showcasing monitors, PCs and more at a modest 43-square-meter booth during the trade show’s expansion beyond radio and television to include digital media devices. Twelve years later in 2003, the company upgraded its booth to a significantly larger 3,600-square-meter one in the prime location of Hall 20. Since 2014, Samsung has exclusively occupied CityCube Berlin and is ready to impress visitors once again with its 6,000-square-meter booth this year.

Growing With IFA and Leading the AI Era With a Connected Ecosystem

Samsung’s presence at IFA has continually increased as the company introduced groundbreaking technologies across home appliances, TVs and mobile devices. In 2006, the tech giant showcased the Bordeaux TV, which established Samsung as the global TV market leader. In 2011, the company introduced the smart TV and the Galaxy Note — the latter of which heralded the “phablet era” by blurring the line between smartphones and tablets.

Samsung unveiled the world’s first curved UHD TV and Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, at IFA 2013. Three years later in 2016, the launch of the Family Hub refrigerator with a large touchscreen marked the transition of home appliances into advanced Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

▲ Samsung Electronics’ SmartThings booth at IFA 2023

In 2014, Samsung had recognized the potential for connected experiences to revolutionize consumers’ lives and acquired SmartThings just a month before IFA 2014. Today, SmartThings has since grown over a decade into a massive, global ecosystem of more than 340 partners and 350 million users[3].

At IFA 2018, Samsung highlighted AI as a key focus, signaling that “connected living” would become a major trend in the electronics industry. The company proceeded to introduce 15 AI-powered appliances at IFA 2023, ushering in the AI era of home appliances. Last year, Samsung also introduced Samsung Food — an AI-powered food and recipe platform that connects home appliances, TVs and mobile devices to deliver a personalized cooking experience tailored to each household and individual.

▲ Samsung Food was unveiled at IFA 2023.

Samsung’s journey with IFA is now headed toward innovations in device control through more advanced voice commands. Basic machines designed to store food and wash clothes 100 years ago are now evolving into intelligent companions that communicate with users verbally and handle complex household tasks with ease[4].

This transformation will be showcased at Samsung’s booth in CityCube Berlin at Messe Berlin during IFA 2024 from September 6-10.

[1] Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

[2] Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes certain accents/dialects of English (US, UK, Indian), Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Spain, Latin America) and Portuguese (Brazil). 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.

[3] As of August 31, 2024.

[4] This function may produce inaccurate results, and will be updated periodically to improve accuracy.