On January 11, Samsung built anticipation for their in-depth presentations at CES 2021 with a live-streamed press conference announcing the company’s new vision and some of their new innovations that are set to provide a ‘Better Normal for All’. The press conference opened with some powerful remarks from Sebastian Seung, President and Head of Samsung Research, who outlined how the company’s latest technologies have been informed by the changes brought about in recent times and developed to empower users to live more conveniently, intelligently and sustainably.

Read on to discover more about the biggest announcements from Samsung’s CES 2021 opening press conference.

Designing Products for a Better Normal for All

Seung kicked off the live-streamed press conference by noting the changes all have us have experienced since last year’s CES and the impact this has had not only on the way we live, but also on how we use technology in our daily lives.

“Among many things, your home has taken on a greater significance,” noted Seung, who went on to acknowledge the different and new methods people have been harnessing to stay connected while staying at home. “But what if that home, and those technologies in it, were actually built around you? At Samsung, we’re always finding ways to do just that,” he assured.

Personalizing Your Smart Experiences

In order to illustrate Samsung’s commitment to technology that creates a better normal for all, Seung introduced several of the company’s latest innovations designed to provide more intuitive experiences that not only match a user’s environment, but also their personality.

One such innovation is the Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator, the latest addition to Samsung’s customizable Bespoke refrigerator lineup and the first Bespoke product to launch in the U.S. market. “Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex comes with even more ways to customize your kitchen for both form and function,” highlighted Seung of the refrigerator’s innovative design that allows users to tailor the product to their own preferences.

The second innovation introduced by Seung was designed with the understanding that, following the way the concept of the living space has changed over the past year, users’ needs have also changed as they require personalized product experiences everywhere in their homes. “We think your TV should reflect these changes,” he noted, going on to highlight the Samsung Lifestyle TV lineup as an example of the company’s efforts to provide innovations that reflect the changing tastes and needs of consumers. Seung then went on to unveil the brand-new 110-inch MICRO LED, a breakthrough product packed with new features to let users customize their space and their experiences as they wish. 

Seung then highlighted that, along with cutting-edge technologies, today’s users require personalized smart services that can respond and adapt to their daily routines, and went on to unveil two new services developed to help users stay more connected across different aspects of life: SmartThings Cooking and the Samsung Health Smart Trainer, a feature that tracks and analyzes user posture in real time just as personal trainer would.

Bringing Next-Generation AI Directly into Your Home

Seung next spotlighted the role artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of playing in the home. “Today, AI is about being more personal and predictive. It’s about benefitting you every day by being a core part of the products and services you enjoy,” he highlighted.

AI is already at work in several of Samsung’s leading consumer electronics, from smart washers to Smart TVs, where Neo Quantum Processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities can optimize picture quality to 4K and 8K picture output regardless of the input quality. However, explained Seung, the transformational power of AI is set to further come to life in users’ homes.

He then introduced a special guest to the stage – the brand-new JetBot 90 AI+, a robot vacuum fitted with smart object recognition technology for intelligent ­cleaning. Seung went on to showcase that the JetBot 90 AI+ is fitted with LiDAR and 3D sensors for location mapping.

What Samsung’s Robot Assistants Can Do for You

Seung then reminded viewers that Samsung has introduced a range of intelligent, human-centered robots at previous year’s CES events, and that with innovations such as the JetBot 90 AI+, this year is no exception. “Samsung has been continuously improving our robotics, including many types of Samsung Bot,” he explained.

“You are at the center of all our innovations,” further affirmed Seung, who then went on to provide a glimpse into what this might mean for robotic solutions in the future by introducing Samsung Bot Care,1 a concept robot that recognizes a user’s behavior to be a better robotic assistant, and Samsung Bot Handy,2 another concept robot capable of serving as an extra hand in the home that flips the script on what a ‘home robot’ could look like.

For All Our Tomorrows

Sandeep Rana, Environmental Sustainability Specialist at Samsung Electronics, then took to the stage in order to affirm Samsung’s ongoing commitment towards building a sustainable and accessible future. “We need a holistic solution – and that’s our goal at Samsung,” noted Rana. Highlighting the potential that the next generation has to generate meaningful change in the world, Rana outlined the global support programs that Samsung has established over the past decade to nurture young people’s new ways of thinking, and the services that have been developed to provide everyone with access to technology.

Next, Rana provided a run-down of the ways in which Samsung is developing products and technologies so that the next generation can enjoy a green planet. “To start, we’ve put sustainability at the heart of some of our most popular products.” From the interchangeable modular design of their Bespoke refrigerators and the energy efficiency of their AI-powered washing machines to the company’s memory-saving solutions, Samsung is constantly exploring how technology can break down barriers for a better future, noted Rana.

Furthermore, initiatives such as Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program are a “recognition of our need to take responsibility and be in harmony with nature,” affirmed Rana, who then highlighted the company’s eco-packaging innovations that won the Innovation Award at last year’s CES and announced that Samsung plans to use eco-packaging in all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and most of the 2021 Neo QLED line.

Rana concluded her presentation by introducing Galaxy Upcycling at Home, a new program that lets users decide how they want to repurpose their own Galaxy devices into convenient home devices. “This is a vision of a better, more inclusive and sustainable future,” noted Rana, “and we’re working toward it every day.”

Looking Ahead to a Bright Future

Following Rana’s presentation, Seung then returned to the stage to provide final thoughts before closing out the press conference. “What we’ve shared today is how, after a year of abrupt change, Samsung can help us all work toward a better, brighter future through next-generation technologies,” he affirmed.

Finally, Seung promised that the company would be showcasing even more products that enable us all to achieve a better world for generations to come at the company’s Unpacked event later in the week. “Together, we believe we can build a better normal for all,” he concluded.

2020 was a year like no other, one that quickly and unexpectedly shook up our lives and reimagined our normal. We gained perspective on the things that really matter, like our health and our loved ones, and the experiences we truly value.

And to adapt to our new way of living, we embraced technology at warp speed – using it to connect with others and find new joy in our everyday, right from the comfort of our homes. We used it to continue moving forward – in education, work, and even celebrating major life moments virtually at a time when it felt like everything else stood still.

Last year, Samsung kicked off the new decade at CES and shared our vision to enable experiences that make new technologies increasingly meaningful in our lives. We talked about a world where our living spaces would become workout studios and meeting spaces, and kitchens would become hyper-personalized to your unique needs. Little did we know then that those experiences would become so important, so quickly.

So, while we may not be meeting in-person in Las Vegas this year, this may be the most exciting CES yet as we embark on the next stage of this journey where we focus on experiences that improve your life and the world we live in. Together, we can create a Better Normal for All.

This Better Normal for All is centered around the idea that with the right technology, we’re ready for a better, brighter future. I cannot wait to welcome you to Samsung’s CES press conference to unveil what the Better Normal will look like, beginning with technology personalized for you, AI to improve your home life, and expanding through innovation that makes a real difference to our society and our world. Here is a sneak peek at what I will be announcing:

A Better, More Personalized Experience

Our vision for a Better Normal for All begins and ends with you. We’ve all spent more time at home, expecting more out of our living spaces and for many, this has been increasingly challenging. That’s why we’re introducing smarter technologies that enrich your life through seamless personalized experiences, from helping you master your yoga technique and achieve your home fitness goals, to navigating a new diet with tailored recipes and intuitive connected kitchen appliances.

AI Empowering a Better Home

Ultimately, the Better Normal will not look the same for you or me – it will revolve around everyone’s unique needs and habits. We must create technologies that adapt to our ways of life and add value to everything we do, that make new experiences more accessible and exciting. Just imagine how much easier it would be if you had a trusted partner around the house, an extension of yourself that could help set the table or put groceries away, recognizing and handling objects with care and precision. Well imagine no more, because at CES, we’re going to show you how our cutting-edge research is working to  bring an extra pair of hands to your home. We’re advancing our AI-infused technologies to enable you to do more than ever, and we cannot wait to show you how robotics will support us on the journey to a Better Normal.

Technology Shaping a Brighter Future

And throughout this journey, we must acknowledge our responsibility to serve not just our users, but our planet, and our society. While technology can reshape the way people communicate and experience the world today, it is also the enabler of a brighter future. As we overcome one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime, we must stand together to ensure that our Better Normal also benefits the generations to come.

At CES, Samsung will share more about its sustainability vision.

As a global leader in technology, breaking down barriers to a better future will continue to be pivotal to our mission as we put people, society and the planet at the center of everything we do.

We are at the beginning of a very unique opportunity to not just overcome the past year’s adversity, but to create a Better Normal for All, and I’m so excited to share more about how Samsung is making this a reality. I hope you’ll join me for the Samsung virtual CES press conference on Monday, January 11th.