Samsung Electronics announced the latest update to SmartThings, its global connected living platform now serving 470 million registered users and supporting more than 430 Works with SmartThings (WWST)-certified brands worldwide. The update is available now and introduces SmartThings Now at the top of the Home tab, refreshes the app’s Home tab experience, and expands local control capabilities — helping users access relevant information, take action more easily, and manage connected devices with greater reliability.

“This update marks another step in SmartThings’ ongoing efforts to move beyond a home experience where users search for and launch features,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team, AI Platform Center, Samsung Electronics. “By delivering relevant information and controls at the right time, SmartThings is pushing the boundaries of more intelligent home experiences and empowering users to manage their everyday lives more naturally.”

A Redesigned Home Tab Experience, Led by SmartThings Now

SmartThings Now appears as cards at the top of the Home tab, building on Home Insight to offer greater personalisation by combining relevant information with actions users can take right away. It suggests relevant information and actionable controls based on the user’s current situation, delivering a more intuitive and convenient experience.

If a Family Care member, such as an older parent, shows no device activity for an extended period, SmartThings Now surfaces a care card for the caregiver with options to check in or call. When the user arrives near a home location pre-registered in the SmartThings app, SmartThings Now suggests turning on the lights and air purifiers in advance. Once the user acts, it prompts them to create a routine so the same actions can run automatically in future. This is all part of an experience designed to naturally guide users to the next relevant step based on their choices and context, making it easier to discover and use the features they need.

SmartThings Now also supports personalised optimisation based on usage patterns. It analyses the past week’s activity to suggest updates to Home tab Favourites, including devices, services, and routines. For example, it may recommend removing an air conditioner card if usage drops as the cooler months approach. Users can also manage their routines through the Routine Insight card in SmartThings Now^[1] by navigating to a detailed view of their routine activity over the past week to review and delete routines they no longer need.

The updated Home tab reorganises key information into a more streamlined view, covering dashboards, device cards, and service cards, with each type displayed in a format optimised for easier browsing.^[2]

Service cards use a more space-efficient design to clearly display more services on a single screen and present information such as device status and numerical readings. Additionally, Live Wallpaper changes naturally throughout the day, adding a more dynamic visual touch to the experience.

The update also introduces a Floating Bar that places frequently used features at the bottom of the screen, bringing them within easy reach for one-handed use on larger smartphones and reflecting the latest One UI design direction.

Enhanced Local Control Helps Keep Devices Responsive 

SmartThings is now introducing local control technology that helps users continue to operate connected devices more reliably when there are changes to the home network environment or disruptions to external internet service.

When a mobile device and a SmartThings Hub are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the mobile device can communicate directly with the hub rather than routing controls through the cloud. Compared to cloud-based control, local control can improve response times by approximately 30%^[3]. This helps enable continued control of connected devices during temporary network fluctuations.^[4]

SmartThings automatically switches between local and cloud-based remote control based on whether the user’s mobile device is at home or away. The updated Offline Device Diagnostics page helps users restore devices that have gone offline by updating network information for all registered devices at once.

Samsung has also added support for Matter 1.6, the latest smart home connectivity standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), enhancing stability and Group Control performance. The update adds support for four new device categories:

• Energy Meters for real-time power monitoring
• Closures for specialised door and gate types
• Irrigation devices such as sprinkler systems
• Soil Sensors for measuring ground conditions.

_{^[1] Routine Insight is accessible through SmartThings Now and the Automations > Suggestions tab in the SmartThings app.}

_{^[2] The updated Home tab experience, including SmartThings Now, is available across SmartThings-supported devices such as mobile devices, Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators, Samsung appliances with 7-inch or 9-inch screens and Windows devices.}

_{^[3] Local control is available on Android and iOS devices with the SmartThings app installed, for SmartThings Station, SmartThings V2, V3 and V4 Hubs, and hub-enabled Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub.}

_{^[4] Based on tests conducted by Samsung under controlled conditions. Actual performance may vary depending on the user’s environment.}

• Samsung for Education supports schools across Southeast Asia and Oceania, bringing together Galaxy technology, secure device management, digital teaching and learning resources and educator certifications for better learning outcomes.
• By collaborating with education ministries and partners on initiatives such as AI-powered classrooms, upskilling and contests, Samsung helps educators build digital capabilities and equips students with the tools they need to be future-ready.
• Samsung’s suite of Galaxy devices, Samsung Knox, Interactive Displays, and air-conditioning solutions creates a holistic, secure and comfortable learning environment for educators and students.

Galaxy devices help create more connected learning experiences, giving students access to digital tools that support everyday learning

As technology continues to reshape the education landscape, schools are exploring new ways to use digital tools to support teaching and learning.

Beyond access to technology, there is increasing focus on how educators can leverage technology and digital learning resources to equip students with future-ready skills in the classroom.

Through Samsung for Education and local education initiatives across Southeast Asia and Oceania, Samsung brings together Galaxy technology, secure device management, digital learning resources, educator development and education partners to support schools at different stages of digital adoption.

Building Future-Ready Learning Environments

With a vision to democratise AI and digital access for all Malaysians, Samsung Electronics Malaysia has supported national initiatives, such as the Ministry of Education’s AI-Powered Classroom programme. Working closely with the Ministry, Samsung has been transforming traditional classrooms into fully integrated AI-powered learning environments to encourage deeper engagement, collaborative learning and digital literacy among students and teachers.

Samsung’s AI-Powered Classroom brings together Galaxy devices, Interactive Displays and digital learning tools to support teaching and learning

Classrooms are equipped with Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ devices for students, Samsung Interactive Displays for teachers and air-conditioning systems to create a comfortable learning environment. Teachers also receive AI training to support the effective use of these tools.

Pilot implementations in schools such as SMK Nilai Impian in Negeri Sembilan and SMKA Naim Lil Banat in Kelantan provide students and teachers with access to Ace-it, an AI-powered digital learning platform. With curriculum-aligned notes, interactive tools- and an AI assistant, the platform is designed to reduce teachers’ workload and enhance classroom engagement.

For students, having these tools makes it easier to access content, follow lessons and explore topics independently.

“Using the Galaxy Tab also makes it much easier to follow along in class, while reducing the need to carry heavy textbooks every day. With AI, we are able to explore answers on our own and better understand difficult concepts through personalised explanations that support the way we learn,” said Nurhani Sumayyah Binti Azmal, a Form 3 student at SMK Nilai Impian.

For teachers, digital technology provides new ways to bring abstract or complex concepts to life.

“One of the biggest challenges in teaching science is helping students truly visualise complex concepts and systems, something that traditional textbooks alone cannot always achieve. Through the AI-Powered Classroom and the Galaxy Tab, students are now able to experience lessons in a far more interactive and engaging way. What was once a purely –textbook-based experience has transformed into something immersive, dynamic and meaningful,” said Farah Faizura Binti Ahmad Rostam, a teacher at SMK Nilai Impian.

In July 2026, Samsung Electronics Malaysia and Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN), a local education foundation, formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance digital education in Malaysia. Planned initiatives include Samsung AI Classroom showcases, STEM and AI-focused engagements, and student innovation programmes that provide hands-on exposure to emerging technologies.

Samsung Electronics Malaysia and Yayasan Didik Negara formalised their collaboration to advance digital education initiatives in Malaysia

Strengthening Educators’ Capabilities Alongside Digital Learning

Schools are at different stages of digital adoption, and educators play an important role in determining how technology is used in the classroom. Samsung for Education supports schools through this progression, from establishing digital foundations to integrating technology more deeply into teaching and learning.

Samsung School provides resources and structured guidance to help schools build strong foundations for digital adoption. Schools that demonstrate sustained, meaningful use of technology are then recognised as Samsung Digital Lighthouse Schools, inspiring the wider school community.

Through Samsung Learning Hub, teachers can access online training, teaching resources and certifications designed to build digital competency and support effective technology use in the classroom.

“Our goal is to help schools in our region stay ready for the future ahead. We partner closely with them to find the best ways that technology can transform learning opportunities for students and support teachers in the classroom,” said Carl Nordenberg, Vice President and Regional Head of Mobile eXperience Business for Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania.

In Indonesia, Samsung for Education supports ImajiNation 2026, Indonesia’s first nationwide Visual Coding Championship launched by Kemendikdasmen (Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education) and Assemblr EDU. The programme targets more than 11,000 participants across 2,000 schools, with Samsung providing technology expertise through weekly enablement sessions ahead of the Grand Final in October.

Using Galaxy devices, participants explore how technology can support ideation, collaboration, digital creation, and project presentation

Samsung for Education was also launched in the Philippines earlier this year to support the country’s growing push toward digital learning, bringing Galaxy devices, Samsung Knox, Samsung Learning Hub and education resources to schools as they adopt and integrate digital tools.

Supporting the Wider School Environment

Within the classroom, Galaxy tablets support digital learning, collaboration and access to learning resources. Samsung display solutions, such as the EDLA-certified[1] WAF Interactive Display, provide seamless access to services such as Google Classroom and Google Drive, further enriching the educational experience.

The display also enables educators to use Samsung AI Assistant[2] to create content such as summaries and quizzes that support student focus and engagement. Features such as Live Transcript convert spoken instructions into text on screen in real time, making lessons easier to follow.

Samsung Interactive Displays combine advanced hardware and AI-powered features[3] to create smarter learning environments that are more engaging and collaborative.

Samsung Knox also provides security and device management for connected devices, helping schools manage their digital learning environments securely.

Samsung Interactive Displays brings content to life, supporting more interactive teaching and classroom participation

Beyond learning devices, Samsung’s portfolio can support other parts of the school environment. SMART Signage and LED signage can be used to share information and updates across campus, while Samsung air-conditioning solutions can help manage classroom comfort and environmental conditions.

Through Samsung for Education and its partnerships across the region, Samsung is working to support schools on their digital transformation journey – helping educators build digital capabilities and helping students adapt to the changing needs of the future.

Schools and education partners in Singapore can learn more about Samsung for Education by visiting www.samsung.com/sg/business/samsung-for-education/.

[1] Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement, a programme Google introduced at the end of 2022 to help solutions providers offer devices with built-in Google Mobile Services.

[2] Supported on compatible Android-based Samsung Interactive Displays only. Feature availability may vary by model and region.

[3] Samsung AI Assistant may provide inaccurate information. Samsung cannot guarantee the accuracy or reliability of its responses. Your inputs and data are not used for model training.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, the highly-anticipated youth innovation competition, is back for its 10th edition in Singapore! As the world looks to navigate the uncertainties ahead, Solve for Tomorrow provides a platform for young changemakers to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to shape a better tomorrow for all. By inspiring youths in Singapore to rise up to the challenge and address key societal issues via innovation and technology, the competition encourages them to turn their creativity, ingenuity and passion into tangible solutions that can drive meaningful change in their communities.

“At Samsung, we believe that youths hold the key to shaping a better tomorrow for all. When given the right platform and opportunity to utilise their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as their knowledge in STEM and artificial intelligence, they have the potential to devise groundbreaking innovations that can make a positive impact on our society and the world,” said Jeffrey Hahn, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

He added: “Solve for Tomorrow 2026 aims to be the catalyst that inspires meaningful change and positive action among our youths. This year, we are calling for youths in Singapore to join us in igniting the change for a better future. As they come together to dream big and turn ideas into action, we believe that they will find their place in our society and be equipped to make the change that they want to see in their future.”

Bella Teo, a member of Team BuddyBot, the Grand Prize winner of the Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition, shares her experience: “Participating in the Solve for Tomorrow competition has truly expanded our horizons. The trip to Samsung’s innovation facilities in South Korea was an eye-opening experience that taught us how innovation that combines vision, fundamental values and the desire to solve real-world problems can create long-lasting impact. Seeing Samsung’s remarkable innovation journey, as well as the passion and inventiveness of other teams, spurs us on to continue our innovation journey. I am confident that we can achieve so much more if we set our minds to it, especially with the right support, mentorship and partners.”

Solve for Tomorrow 2026 will provide the opportunity for youths to develop interdisciplinary skills like critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, as well as to expand their Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) and AI knowledge, elevating their potential while preparing them for the workforce.

Ignite the Change Together for a Better Future

Samsung has identified four key themes for this year’s competition, to encourage submissions that can shape a better future for Singapore in 2026. Participants can develop their ideas around these themes:

	1. Environmental Sustainability   Climate change is one of the most critical challenges of our time, and each person has a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future. Whether it’s conserving energy, reducing resource consumption, or improving recycling efforts, your actions can make a real difference. This is your moment to innovate, take action, and help build a better future for your nation and the world.
	2. Sport, Health and Technology   Health is the foundation for a fulfilling and productive life—and innovation can make it more accessible for everyone. In a fast-changing world, sport and technology play a powerful role in supporting physical, mental and emotional well-being. By making it easier to stay active, reduce stress and build healthier lifestyles, your ideas can drive lasting impact for those around you.
	3. Inclusivity and Social Harmony   Our society is constantly evolving, and everyone has a role in shaping a more inclusive and harmonious future. From creating solutions that remove existing barriers for people with disabilities, to fostering social inclusion for disadvantaged communities, you have the opportunity to make an impact by building a Singapore where everyone feels at home.
	4. Trust, Security and Privacy   As AI reshapes our world, it presents powerful opportunities as well as new responsibilities. Building trust in the AI era requires a strong commitment to security, fundamental respect for privacy, and the skills to optimise the technology safely. By empowering society with these foundations, we can unlock innovation while shaping a secure and inclusive digital future for all.

Call for Entries Now Open, Ends 18 September 2026

From now till 18 September 2026, students can submit their entries for the competition by forming groups of two to four and submitting their innovative ideas or solutions on the Solve for Tomorrow 2026 website.

• Eligibility: Full-time students aged 12 to 18 years old, enrolled in a secondary or international school in Singapore, including:
  • Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 students if they are enrolled in the following schools:
    • Government schools (including autonomous schools)
    • Government-aided schools (including autonomous schools)
    • Independent schools
    • Specialised independent schools (SIS)
    • Specialised schools
    • Special education (SPED) schools
  • Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 students if they are enrolled in IP (Integrated Programme) secondary schools with 6-year IP programmes.
• • Students studying in equivalent levels in International Schools in Singapore

The top three teams will receive the following prizes:

• First Prize Winning Team
  • S$10,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$7,000 cash prize
• Second Prize
  • S$6,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$4,000 cash prize
• Third Prize
  • S$3,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$2,000 cash prize

For more information visit the Solve for Tomorrow 2026 website or reach out to the organising team at samsungsolvefortomorrow@infom.asia.

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

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

Building an Open Health Ecosystem

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

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

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

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

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

Accelerating Innovation Through Partnerships

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

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

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

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

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

Empowering Open Collaborations and Ensuring Robust Security

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

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

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

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

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

“Design sits at the intersection of business, technology and humanity,” said Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer and President of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “Our role is to understand people deeply and translate their needs, dreams and emotions into meaningful experiences. We will continue to push innovation forward with the ambition of enriching people’s lives in ways that truly matter.”

The Edison Awards, founded in 1987 by the American Marketing Association and named after inventor Thomas Edison, celebrate excellence in product and service development, marketing and human-centred design. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts, scientists and academics based on strict innovation criteria. This year, awards were given in a total of 14 categories, with tiers for winning projects broken down into gold, silver and bronze.

Gold Award-Winning Innovations

• Smart Modular House: With AI-based architectural solutions, homes respond, adapt and flexibly adjust to the lives of their users. By integrating advanced AI technology, it connects the environment, appliances and users, enabling efficient management of indoor environments, device statuses, energy usage and more — resulting in a new, more easily accessible residential experience.

• Vision AI Companion (VAC): A revolutionary TV experience that redefines how users interact with content. With a generative AI-based button, users can interact with content in new ways, such as asking about plotlines or characters, searching for related information or controlling playback with voice commands. By eliminating the need for complex menus and remotes, VAC helps users enjoy a seamless and more intuitive TV viewing experience.

Silver Award-Winning Innovations

• Spatial Signage: A breakthrough glasses-free 3D display delivering an immersive experience powered by Samsung’s patented 3D Plate technology. With a slim profile of just 52mm^[1], this innovative solution seamlessly integrates into commercial environments such as retail stores, exhibitions and entertainment venues, redefining how audiences engage with digital signage. Its cutting-edge optics and precision engineering push the boundaries of immersive technology, delivering a high-quality visual experience that captivates viewers and pioneers new standards for next-generation displays.

• Bespoke AI Laundry Combo: This innovative all-in-one combo combines washing and drying functions into a single, compact unit. The combo can finish the entire laundry process — from load detection to dry cycle — ensuring efficient and operation. It features Smart Screen, a 7-inch touchscreen that provides a more intuitive interface, and its AI Wash & Dry cycle adjusts its performance for each load according to various fabric types and soil levels, leading to optimal results^[2].

_{^[1] The 52mm profile applies to the 85-inch model only; thickness varies by display size.}

_{^[2] AI Wash & Dry+’s detection and sensing capabilities are based on our deep learning models trained using predefined set of data and may yield inaccurate or incorrect results. New datasets may be introduced to our learning models from time to time to enhance its accuracy.}

An Open Laboratory for Design Exploration

Conceived as an open laboratory, the exhibition welcomes visitors to Samsung’s design approach, offering a space of exploration, experimentation and discovery. Rather than a finished statement, the exhibition reflects a moment within an ongoing journey, offering an early glimpse into how Samsung is shaping new ways of living through design.

Each of the 12 immersive zones presents a distinct exploration of how design can shape everyday life. The zones are organised around the key experience dimensions of Human Centricity and Expressive Design, which serve as the first touchpoint in showcasing Samsung Design’s vision.

Within these zones, a series of creative explorations illustrates ideas, possibilities and future directions. Through this approach, Samsung Design is making its vision tangible, inviting visitors to engage with design as an evolving, human-centred practice.

Human-Centricity and Expressive Design

Samsung Design is expanding its approach beyond user experience, with a greater focus on how people live and experience everyday life.

“Design should reflect the diversity of humanity — embracing different lifestyles, values and ways people live,” said Mauro Porcini, President and Chief Design Officer (CDO) of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “It is not only about creating products, but about shaping experiences that feel relevant, personal and meaningful in everyday life. Through Samsung Design Open Lab, we are sharing how this thinking is shaping our approach to design and future living.”

At the core of Samsung’s vision is a human-centred approach to AI – captured through the formula AI x (EI+HI)-where its true value lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is guided by human intention, empathy and imagination.

While the exhibition explores new directions in design, it reflects a philosophy that has guided Samsung for over 30 years – placing people at the centre of innovation. The ideas presented extend that foundation, translating it into new and evolving ways of living.

Design Is an Act of Love, With 12 Immersive Zones

More than 120 products across 36 categories are being showcased at the exhibition’s 12 zones, spanning both design concepts and products currently available in the market.

Highlights from the exhibition include:

• The Welcome Show: A coordinated display experience introducing Samsung’s vision for AI as a unified system that brings together personal and shared AI across devices and environments.

• Unfold Your Story: An exploration of Galaxy’s foldable design across a spectrum of colour, form and experience, capturing diverse lifestyles and new ways to live, create and connect.

• Wearable & Culinary Intelligence: Design explorations that respond to diverse lifestyles, ranging from personal devices such as wearables to connected kitchen and living environments.

• Transparent Symphony & All That Music: Immersive audio-visual zones featuring transparent speakers and screens with Music Studio 5 and 7 and a range of concept designs, where diverse elements come together in harmony and music translates analogue emotion into a cohesive digital experience.

• Two Expressions of the Same Technology: Two distinct design expressions of a 130-inch Micro RGB display, built on the same breakthrough technology, demonstrating how performance and individuality can coexist.

• Artful Living: A vision of living where screens become expressive mediums of personality, culture and emotion, bringing artwork and content to life in more immersive ways through S95H OLED TV with new forms of AI-enabled storytelling.

• The Goodbye Show: Returning from the Welcome Show, the shared AI companion concludes the exhibition through natural, AI-driven interactions and a sensory performance of music, light, and human touch – fostering emotional connection and a sense of presence in everyday life.

For more news, photos and videos, please visit Samsung Newsroom and Samsung Design during Milan Design Week 2026.

Samsung Electronics announced an update to its global smart home platform SmartThings to provide improved experiences that help users better care for their families and themselves in everyday life. With the latest update, SmartThings has strengthened its Family Care service so users can better support parents they live apart from. It also integrates additional key SmartThings features into Now Brief, the personalised briefing service available on Galaxy mobile devices, to further enhance the convenience and comfort of the customer’s daily life.

“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 Centre, 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 Call^[1] 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]

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 analyses 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.

_{^[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.}

Founded in 1953 as Die Gute Industrieform e.V., the iF Design Awards evaluates a comprehensive range of factors, including differentiation and impact, across a total of nine disciplines: Product Design, Packaging Design, Communication Design, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, Service Design, Architecture, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI).

“Today, design goes far beyond products or user interfaces. It shapes meaningful experiences that resonate with People.” said Mauro Porcini, President and Chief Design Officer of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, “Human-centred design will remain at the heart of our efforts -deepening immersion and advancing responsible innovation.”

Two Gold Awards Recognise Designs That Enriches People’s Lives

Music Studio 5, at first glance is a classic rectangular speaker, but a closer look reveals its unique details such as the finely perforated grille that conceals the high performing audio units. Dynamic front lighting helps the user easily identify key functions and the time-less design integrates seamlessly into any space while capturing the elegance of an objet d’art. Yet the shape is novel and pure, signalling an expressive presence in the room. Music Studio 5 is also prepared to connect to a Samsung TV through the novel Q-Symphony wireless interface resulting in a true cinema-like experience at home.

Advanced Design Concepts for Appliance Accessories – named as ‘Samsung Home Appliances Accessories’ designated three colours for accessories – such as filters for vacuum cleaner and air purifiers – depending on their maintenance requirements and disposal methods. Through this design improvement, users can more easily recognise the needs of their accessories, especially if they have changed or been updated.

77 Awards Ranging from TVs to Home Appliances to Smartphones

Other products and services that were recognised for design excellence include One UI 7, user interface that brings AI-driven enhancement with a bold new design for greater personalisation and control to the user experience; Home Insight’, a smart home feature that analyses appliance status and user patterns to recommend optimal, personalised solutions.

Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. held the final session in its CES 2026 Tech Forum series, “The Human Side of Tech: Designing a Future Worth Living”, at Samsung’s The First Look space at The Wynn Las Vegas. The panel, moderated by Debbie Millman, host of Design Matters featured Samsung Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini and industry-leading designers Karim Rashid and Fabio Novembre.

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 panellists 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 panellists 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 continuing to diminish.

The Human Side of Tech

The discussion highlighted technology’s role in making intention, care and humanity visible in everyday life. Panellists noted that technology should help people recognise 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.

Panellist Karim Rashid added to this sentiment. “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. Panellists 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.

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, 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 humanise it, guide it, and shape it.”

Through these insights, the session reinforced the belief that technology can serve people’s lives in increasingly new and meaningful ways.

Expressive Design Drives More Meaningful Experiences

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

“Happiness is the aim of design,” said 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 centre of the stage.”

Panellists 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.

 

 

Samsung Electronics today hosted a panel of global experts for “In Tech We Trust? Rethinking Security & Privacy in the AI Age” as part of its Tech Forum series at CES 2026. Held at The Wynn in Las Vegas, the session convened global experts in technology, research and ethics to explore how trust has emerged as one of the most critical factors shaping how people adopt and engage with AI as it becomes more seamlessly interwoven into daily life.

Making Invisible Intelligence Feel Trustworthy

As AI increasingly anticipates needs, curates routines and operates autonomously across devices, panellists Allie K. Miller, Chief Executive Officer (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 Open AI; and Shin Baik, AI Platform Centre (APC) Group Head at Samsung Electronics, emphasised that trust must be earned not through promises, but through consistent, understandable behaviour.

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 personalised 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 personalised 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 intelligences 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 emphasised 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 of AI 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 prioritise security, transparency and meaningful user choice from the start.