“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 the right information and immediately actionable controls based on the user’s current situation, delivering an experience that is easier and more intuitive.

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 lights and air purifiers in advance. Once the user acts, it prompts them to create a routine so the same actions can run automatically going forward. 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 Favorites, including devices, services, and routines. For example, it may recommend removing an air conditioner card as usage drops heading into cooler months, or adding an AirDresser card as the user’s air dresser becomes more frequently used during the change of seasons. Users can manage their routines through the Routine Insight card in SmartThings Now¹, as well, 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 browsing².

Service cards use a more space-efficient design to clearly display more services on a single screen and present information like 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 within easier reach at the bottom of the screen, improving one-handed use on larger smartphones and reflecting the latest One UI design direction.

Enhanced Local Control Helps Keep Devices Responsive, Even When Offline

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 service³.

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%. This helps enable continued control of connected devices during temporary network fluctuations⁴.

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 new network information across 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, as well:

• 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. ︎

Following successful exhibitions in Washington D.C. and Chicago, it marks the European stop of the collection’s international tour. It is also the first major special presentation of Korean art at the British Museum in more than 40 years. The exhibition runs from Oct. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027, and is being held at the Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery.

“Korea,” spanning over two millennia, connect the history of Korean art in a unified narrative to reveal how Korea’s unique aesthetic values and artistic achievements have continued to be built upon and reinterpreted over many generations.

The exhibition, drawn from over 23,000 artworks from the National Bequest of the Lee Kun-Hee Collection in 2021, is organised by the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

At the gala, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee reflected on the Lee family’s multigenerational commitment to preserving Korea’s cultural heritage and sharing it with audiences around the world. Members of the family, including Hong Ra-Hee, Director Emerita of the Leeum Museum of Art, Lee Boo-jin, President & CEO of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T, also attended the event.

“For generations, my family has held a guiding principle that art and culture should be preserved and shared,” Executive Chairman Lee said. “I hope this exhibition offers a gateway into Korean culture, spanning two thousand years of creativity and heritage, and that it will let everyone see Korea a little differently — for its beauty, its depth and its resilience.”

At the reception held before the gala dinner, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal graced the opening of the exhibition.

Among the 240 guests were the Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey MP, Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan MP, former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Oliver Dowden, former Trade Minister Sir Greg Hands, former Culture Secretary Sir John Whittingdale, Trade Envoy to the Republic of Korea John Slinger, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Chair of the Republic of Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group Sir Ed Davey, and Dr. Ben Spencer, Vice Chair of the Republic of Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group.

George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, said, “We are thrilled here at the British Museum to be hosting this incredible exhibition. The Lee family’s contribution to our shared cultural heritage helps us understand and interpret the past, so that we may understand the future.”

Maurice Lévy, Chairman Emeritus of Publicis Groupe, said that the exhibition is “not simply about objects from witnesses of a great past of Korea. They are evidence of a culture that has always valued craftsmanship, imagination, discipline, and excellence. Sharing those treasures with the world speaks volume about the values and the generosity of the Lee family. They understood, generation after generation, that looking forward does not mean forgetting where you come from.”

Kanishka Narayan, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, said, “The UK and Korea work closely on technology and innovation, but there is so much more to our relationship. Korea’s art and culture are admired around the world, and this exhibition gives people in Britain a chance to explore its extraordinary artistic heritage. I’m grateful to Samsung for bringing this remarkable collection to London and sharing it with audiences here.”

Kim Heung-chong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.K., commented that “it is particularly meaningful for the British Museum to open this exhibition of artworks showcasing two thousand years of Korean history, at a time when K-culture is enjoying global recognition,” and thanked Executive Chairman Lee for making the exhibition possible.

Business leaders attending the gala included those from BT Group, Vodafone, Sainsbury’s, and Standard Chartered. From academia, representatives from the University of Oxford and Imperial College London were in attendance, while the cultural sector was represented by the British Museum, Tate Modern, the V&A, and Lisson Gallery, alongside contemporary artist Marc Quinn.

Samsung’s business partners from the semiconductor industry, including Christophe Fouquet, CEO of ASML, Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck, Andreas Pecher, CEO of ZEISS, and Patrick Vandenameele, CEO of imec, were among other notable attendees.

Chairman Lee Expresses Gratitude to Korean War Veterans

During his remarks, Executive Chairman Lee took a special moment to honor the three Korean War veterans in attendance, including Mike Roe. He also thanked The Princess Royal, recognising her visit to Korea in July 2026 during which she honored the veterans. Reflecting on more than 140 years of ties between Korea and the U.K., he highlighted Samsung’s 80-year business relationship with the country and emphasised that the U.K. has served as the hub for its European operations for over five decades.

The London exhibition features 100 masterpieces, including 10 National Treasures and 13 Treasures of Korea, with more than twenty pieces being revealed for the first time internationally.

Among the newly presented works are the National Treasures “Bronze Artifacts from Bisan-dong, Daegu” and “Bronze Rattles,” as well as “Celadon Incense Burner with Girin-shaped Lid.” Among the modern and contemporary works, Nam June Paik’s “Brahms,” Lee Jungseop’s “Bound People,” and Park Rehyun’s “Woman” will also be shown for the first time.

The Lee family’s commitment to preserving and sharing Korea’s culture spans three generations. It began with Samsung founder Lee Byung-Chull, who built the foundation of the collection and believed that cultural heritage should be passed on to future generations.

His son, the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee carried this legacy forward, building and preserving the collection over decades. He viewed cultural heritage not simply as something to be owned, but as something to be protected and preserved. Director Emerita Hong Ra-Hee also played a crucial role in expanding and developing the collection to encompass both ancient and modern works.

The Lee Kun-Hee Collection, now a national cultural asset, is reaching audiences in major cities around the world from Washington D.C. to Chicago to London, enabling them to experience and appreciate the value and historical significance of Korean culture, thereby elevating Korea’s global standing.

The collection’s global tour began in November 2025 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington D.C., attracting about 80,000 visitors to become the museum’s largest special exhibition in the past 10 years. The collection then traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago, where it drew approximately 115,000 visitors, highlighting the strong interest in the rich history of Korean arts and culture.

Samsung remains committed to introducing Korean cultural heritage to the world while continuing to expand its global business network to support future growth and innovation.

A sharply defined subject against a softly blurred background creates a sense of depth long associated with professional camera lenses. Researchers have continued to explore ways to achieve this effect in smartphone video.

With the Galaxy Z series, Portrait Video recreates the distinctive depth and Bokeh¹ of a large-aperture lens.² To make this possible, Samsung Research analysed the optical characteristics of actual camera lenses and developed AI-powered video processing technology, while the MX Business optimised it for the device.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with YoungGeol Kim of the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research and Sang-uk Park, responsible for camera development at the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, about how Portrait Video evolved from a research concept into a Galaxy camera feature.

A New Level of Depth in Portrait Video

Q. What is Portrait Video? What has changed with the latest Galaxy Z series?

Park: Portrait Video keeps the main subject in focus while softly blurring the background, creating a cinematic look that makes the subject stand out.

On the Galaxy Z series, the degree of blur changes naturally based on the distance between the subject and background. Small background lights appear as soft, rounded Bokeh, much as they would through a large-aperture lens. This allows users to draw attention to the subject and capture videos with greater depth and atmosphere using just a smartphone, without the need for separate professional equipment.

Users can also shift the focus to a different subject or adjust the blur level after filming.

Q. What inspired the technology behind Portrait Video?

Kim: Photography has been my hobby for 25 years. That passion led me to camera technology research and development and sparked a lasting interest in the unique visual character of lenses.

As smartphone cameras advanced rapidly, photography benefited from a range of new features and improvements in image quality. Video evolved quickly as well, but I saw further potential in recreating the depth and background rendering of professional camera lenses. We proposed the idea during the research stage, just as the MX Business was exploring ways to help users create professional-looking videos more easily, paving the way for joint development.

Q. How did the teams collaborate to turn Portrait Video into a camera feature?

Kim: Existing solutions alone weren’t enough to achieve the natural lens rendering we wanted. At the time, Samsung Research’s technology was still in the research stage, so applying it to a product was not an easy decision. Even so, the MX Business recognised its potential and decided to commercialise it.

From there, full-scale testing and refinement began. We evaluated the technology on actual devices and exchanged feedback, turning it into a camera feature for users.

Park: To prepare the feature for real-world use, we had to shoot countless videos under a wide range of conditions and validate the results. Since the feature is centered on people, experts from both teams even served as models and filmed one another. We focused particularly on how naturally subjects were separated from their backgrounds and whether the blur and Bokeh looked right at different distances.

As we filmed each other, reviewed the results together and continued our discussions, what I remember most is how noticeably the results improved.

Large-Aperture Lens Rendering on Smartphones

Q. What is the key technology that takes Portrait Video to the next level?

Kim: The key is technology that recreates the distinctive look of large-aperture professional camera lenses in smartphone video. We used AI and optical analysis to make this possible.

Simply blurring an image is not enough to reproduce the depth and natural background rendering of a professional camera. Conventional blur softens an image by blending surrounding colors, but a large-aperture lens works differently. The degree of blur changes naturally based on the distance between the subject and background, while bright points of light spread into Bokeh that retain their shape and brightness. The shapes and textures of these out-of-focus areas are known as bokeh.

This requires accounting for both subject-to-background distance and how light spreads through an actual camera lens.

Recreating this effect on a smartphone required two elements. First, we analysed how light spreads through a real large-aperture lens and the resulting bokeh characteristics, then converted the results into data. We combined this with AI-estimated distance information for the scene, allowing the system to adjust the degree of blur and bokeh size based on the distance between the subject and background.

Q. What technical challenges did the teams face when creating blur and bokeh on smartphones?

Kim: The biggest challenge was naturally rendering complex boundaries between the subject and background, such as hair or eyeglass frames. On smartphones, AI-estimated distance information alone isn’t sufficient to accurately distinguish fine boundaries. Even a small error can blur strands of hair or leave parts of the background sharp, making the subject look unnaturally cut out.

To address this, we combined AI-estimated distance information with boundary information from the original footage, allowing for natural separation between the subject and background even around fine details such as hair.

Park: Maintaining consistent results across different shooting conditions — including weather, lighting, subject movement, and distance — was crucial. We repeatedly filmed under a wide range of conditions and reviewed the results, improving unnatural elements through software optimisation and additional AI training data. Building on Samsung Research’s technology, image quality experts from the MX Business also evaluated the results from a user perspective, further refining the feature.

Q. What did it take to make this complex video processing reliable and ready for use on the Galaxy Z series?

Kim: The biggest hurdle was reducing power consumption and heat generation without compromising quality. Video is a rapid sequence of images, so processing 4K video in real time requires significant computation.

That meant we had to prioritise. We preserved the processing essential to image quality while reducing computation in areas where users were unlikely to notice a difference.

As a result, we struck a balance between natural lens rendering and real-time processing, ensuring stable, efficient performance even during extended recording.

More Freedom in Video Creation

Q. What are some tips to help users get the most out of Portrait Video?

Kim: To make bokeh stand out, look for scenes with bright light sources against a relatively dark background. Sunlight sparkling through leaves, Christmas lights, or streetlights at night can spread softly into circular Bokeh, creating a more atmospheric look.

When filming a person, it’s best to avoid strong light from the front. Instead, position the light source behind or to the side of the subject. This can softly illuminate the subject’s hair and contours while making the background Bokeh more prominent. Reflected light or ambient sources like streetlights can help keep the face from getting too dark for a more balanced result.

Q. What reaction would you most like to hear from people who have tried Portrait Video?

Park: I’d like users, creators, and video professionals to be surprised by how easy it is to create cinematic video on a smartphone. I hope the natural blur, Bokeh, and post-capture editing features give them greater freedom to achieve the look and feel they want.

Kim: Ultimately, I hope people feel they no longer need to carry a separate professional camera. We will continue advancing the underlying technologies so they can create cinematic videos with just a smartphone.

Bringing the cinematic shallow depth of field and light rendering of professional camera lenses to smartphone video required extensive testing and collaboration to turn a research concept into a reliable product feature. Developed through the combined expertise of Samsung Research and the MX Business, Portrait Video expands the Galaxy video experience, giving users more ways to realise their creative vision.

1. The shape and texture of blur in out-of-focus areas, often seen when small points of light appear as circular highlights. ︎
2. A lens with an aperture that can open wide to let in more light, making it well suited for keeping the subject sharp while softly blurring the background and rendering bokeh highlights. ︎

Since the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold8 series, one feature has been generating buzz among K-pop fans as a must-have — My FanCam. Users simply select a person in a video, and My FanCam automatically tracks their movements throughout.

The feature makes it easy to put someone in the spotlight, from a favourite artist in concert footage to family and friends in everyday moments.

Behind this experience is Samsung Research’s AI technology for reliably tracking people in video, integrated into a mobile feature through close collaboration with the MX Business. Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hwangpil Park of the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research as well as Sunghwan Kim and Sherry Hong of the Multimedia Development Group at the MX Business about My FanCam.

A User-Centered Approach

Q. What inspired My FanCam?

Hong: We started by asking how we could make it easier for users to create videos focused on the people they want to see. As shooting, editing, and sharing content on smartphones have become commonplace, fan cams of favourite artists have gained popularity on social media. In response to this trend, we envisioned My FanCam — a feature that lets anyone create a video centered on a person of their choice with just a few taps — and worked with Samsung Research to bring the idea to life

The Technology Behind Reliable Tracking

Q. What technology enables My FanCam to continuously track someone in a video?

Park: The key to My FanCam’s ability to follow a selected person even in complex scenes is an AI model that precisely recognises individuals. The model identifies and remembers each person’s location and visual characteristics, allowing it to recognise the same person throughout the video and continue tracking them.

Q. What was the main focus for the user experience?

Kim: We focused on reducing wait times while editing. Users may want to switch between people in group videos, but reanalysing the video each time would mean waiting again. We designed My FanCam to analyse multiple people at once, letting users switch between subjects and instantly see the results once the initial analysis is complete.

We also simplified the editing process. Users can easily adjust the aspect ratio to fit the scene and create a video that suits their needs.

Q. How did the two teams collaborate to turn the technology into a Galaxy feature?

Hong: It was crucial not only to identify the issues, but also to find a solution for the said issues; validating that the results were key to our process. The more the concept was solidified, the more full-fledged the development process became. In order to keep up with the development progress, weekly meetings turned into daily meetings and in those daily meetings, we made sure to track progress every morning.

Testing a large range of scenarios is important before rolling out new features. To help the development team test with a wide range of scenarios, multiple team members helped with the process. Some brought in old videos from the college days, such as dance club videos. Others would bring a phone and film new footage, such as climbing hobbies.

Park: Technology that worked well in a research environment sometimes performed differently with real-world footage due to variables such as fast movement and people overlapping in the frame. When the MX Business shared these cases, Samsung Research analysed the causes and refined the AI model and tracking methods. We then validated the changes in the product environment, repeating the process to improve the feature.

Q. What was the biggest challenge in bringing My FanCam to mobile devices?

Kim: The key challenge was processing AI workloads entirely on-device without a separate server. Longer videos require more computation, so we had to consider processing speed, power consumption, and heat generation. Samsung Research optimised the AI model to achieve the required results with less computation, while the MX Business streamlined the entire process — from video decoding to data transfer and analysis — reducing computational load with minimal impact on performance.

Park: We also had to account for situations that can make it difficult to select a person in videos. At school performances or sports days, for example, the person users want to focus on may not appear until midway through the video or may be obscured by others. We therefore designed My FanCam so users can find a moment when their subject is clearly visible and select them at any point in the video.

From Favourite Artists to Everyday Moments

Q. Any tips for getting the most out of My FanCam?

Kim: When filming, I recommend using a high-resolution setting and framing the shot a little wider to leave space around the person. When selecting a subject, choose a frame where they don’t overlap too much with others and their face, upper body, or full body is clearly visible.

My FanCam also works with existing footage, such as videos of past concerts, trips, or children’s activities. Because users don’t need to follow a particular person while filming, they can focus more on the moment itself.

For example, users can set up a tripod to film a workout, then use My FanCam to create a video centered on themselves without someone else behind the camera.

Q. How do you hope users will use My FanCam?

Park: Since My FanCam works with videos not shot on a Galaxy device, I hope people will try it with a wide range of footage. It can offer a fresh perspective on old videos, helping users revisit meaningful moments by focusing on someone special.

Hong: Some may think that being a fan is only about liking an idol or celebrity. But to me, it simply means caring deeply about someone or something — whether that’s an artist, family member, friend, or even yourself. I’d like to see people use My FanCam to capture the people and moments that matter to them.

What began as an idea focused on user convenience has evolved into My FanCam, a new video experience combining AI, mobile optimisation, and close teamwork. From concerts to everyday life, My FanCam makes it easier to capture and edit videos of moments worth remembering.

In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore how the large-aperture camera lens emulation technology brings the expressive qualities of professional lenses to mobile devices and the collaboration behind its development.

1. My FanCam automatically tracks a selected subject and reframes footage into a preferred aspect ratio, turning dynamic scenes into social-ready videos with less manual editing. ︎

The five teams were declared winners from a group of ten European finalists during the competition, in Milan, in October 2025.

The students were invited to experience Samsung’s innovation ecosystem first hand while immersing themselves in Korean culture.

During the three-day trip in June, the students visited Samsung Innovation Museum at the Samsung Digital City in Suwon, and the Samsung R&D Campus in Umyeon, where they had a mentorship session with Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer of Samsung Electronics, discussing ways to further develop and refine their ground-breaking ideas.

The winning teams showcased innovative solutions addressing critical societal challenges, such as:

• CuraStep, UK: A smart IoT biometric shoe designed to empower diabetic patients and individuals with foot ulcers, preventing complications and promoting active lifestyles.
• SkillNETIC, Germany: An AI-powered platform revolutionising physical education by focusing on individual progress and self-development rather than grades.
• Liova, France: An eco-designed power bank utilising components recovered from old electronic devices, championing a circular economy and sustainable energy solutions.
• Valery, Hungary: A comprehensive educational platform addressing gaps in female hormonal health education, empowering individuals with knowledge on conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
• VisionNex, Czech Republic: Affordable smart glasses leveraging AI to translate visual scenes into spoken descriptions, enhancing the daily lives of visually impaired individuals.

Beyond their visits to Samsung’s innovation hubs, the students explored Seoul’s iconic landmarks, gaining a deeper understanding of Korean culture, cuisine, design, and technology.

Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung’s global problem-solving platform that supports young people in developing innovative STEM-based solutions to address local and global challenges.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is more than a competition; it’s a platform to inspire young minds to tackle real-world challenges with creativity and innovation,” said Jihyun Yoon, Global CSR Part Leader, Samsung Electronics.

“We are thrilled to have hosted these exceptional students in Korea, where they experienced first-hand the spirit of innovation that drives Samsung’s mission.”

Raye Ryong Woon and Sarah Xie from UK’s Team CuraStep said of the experience: “This has truly been an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We feel so privileged to come to Korea and Samsung Digital City to witness how innovation is turned into products, and how as part of it, students like us, are encouraged to also use technology to solve real world problems. Our favourite part of the trip has to be the opportunity to learn from Samsung mentors, listen to inspiring stories and the delicious Korean food!”

Annalyz Fraser, Senior CSR & Sustainability Manager Europe Office, also commented on the trip: “At Samsung, we are committed to fostering global innovation and inspiring the next generation of leaders. We are thrilled to host for the first time ever, students and managers from Europe, who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to tech-for-good initiatives. This visit is an opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge technology, share insights into our corporate culture, and highlight the importance of innovation in driving positive societal change. We hope this experience will not only inspire them but also strengthen the global collaboration in creating a better future for all.”

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow, visit: https://csr.samsung.com/en/program/samsung-solve-for-tomorrow.

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 panelists 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 behaviors and connected innovative partner services.”

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

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

Visualised artwork of ‘Sipjangsaengdo’ (Ten Symbols of Longevity), symbolising health and longevity.

Held under the theme “Open Invitation to a Healthier Tomorrow,” Samsung’s exhibition demonstrates how connecting devices, services and partnerships can support proactive health management inside and outside the home. Samsung’s connected care vision is realised through Samsung Health, the company’s integrated health platform, which delivers personalised wellness experiences across five key health areas: sleep, activity, nutrition, mental health and vital signs.

A visual representation of the icons for Samsung Health’s five key areas: sleep, activity, nutrition, mindfulness, and vital signs.

“Samsung delivers unique connected care solutions that encompass the Samsung ecosystem of smartphones, wearables, home appliances and TVs, as well as our open partnerships,” said Stephanie Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Brand Center at Samsung Electronics. “We continue to work to provide various health solutions through open partnerships to firmly establish ourselves as a reliable AI-powered everyday health companion.”

The exhibition booth is organised into three zones:

• Media Façade: A video interpretation of the exhibition theme “Open Invitation to a Healthier Tomorrow,” beautifully integrated with Samsung Health’s five core wellness areas.
• Samsung’s Connected Care Ecosystem: A comprehensive look at the connected care solutions and core services.
• Open Care Lab: A space highlighting partner collaboration and startup incubation that also includes an interactive zone.

Samsung’s Connected Care Ecosystem Zone serves as the main area of the exhibition and demonstrates how Galaxy smartphones, Galaxy Watches and the Samsung Health app seamlessly connect to enable proactive wellness management. The zone also offers a glimpse into the future of daily health management, powered by Samsung Health’s latest features — including tracking via Heart Health Score and Vitals, alongside enhanced workout metrics such as Daily Cardio Load, introduced in the new 7.0 update.^[1]

In this zone, Samsung is presenting its future digital healthcare blueprint, which aims to bridge wellness and clinical care by integrating Samsung’s technology with Xealth, the U.S. digital health platform the company acquired last year.

Xealth provides a platform that enables medical professionals to comprehensively assess patient conditions, prescribe and recommend digital healthcare solutions and monitor health in real time. By connecting Galaxy smartphones and wearables with the Xealth platform, Samsung plans to develop a solution that empowers both clinical teams and patients to actively manage health together, even outside of a hospital setting.

The company is also showcasing its Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub, which enables smart diet management. AI Food Manager^[2] tracks expiration dates and sends timely alerts before ingredients reach the use-by date set by the user. Additionally, the FoodNote^[3] widget analyses ingredient data stored and used over the past week, providing personalised insights into the user’s most frequently consumed food items.

Samsung is also introducing a pet care solution that helps users monitor potential health issues at home. Through a collaboration with the pet health management solution Lifet, users can take a photo with their mobile device, which AI then analyses for signs associated with issues such as certain dental problems, patellar luxation and cataracts.^[4]

Seamlessly connected through Samsung’s smart home platform, SmartThings, the solutions presented in the Connected Care Ecosystem Zone safeguard personal data with Knox, Samsung’s proprietary security solution.

The booth’s Open Care Lab features a range of partner solutions, including the AI Beauty Screen developed in collaboration with Amorepacific, a leading Korea-based beauty company; Visual Meditation, a service exclusive to Samsung TVs developed in collaboration with CUZ; and an AI-based skin and scalp analysis solution by Becon, which was founded through Samsung’s in-house venture project, C-Lab.

Visitors can book an appointment for a personalized K-beauty experience using the AI Beauty Screen to assess their skin condition and receive a tailored lip makeup application. Attendees can also experience the Visual Meditation service on a Samsung TV.

On June 19, a panel discussion will feature prominent speakers, including Hon Pak, Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics; David Lee, Head of Samsung Next; Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth; Alina Su, Co-founder and CEO of Generation Lab; and Michael Dubrovsky, Co-founder and CEO of SiPhox Health.

Speaking to a global audience, the panel will discuss how Samsung’s open innovation approach and collaborative partner ecosystem can help bring its connected care vision to life.

Visualised artwork of ‘Sipjangsaengdo’ (Ten Symbols of Longevity), symbolising health and longevity.

[1] Some features may be rolled out via future software updates, and availability varies by market, device model and other variables.

[2] A Wi-Fi connection and 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. User may need to manually check and adjust the list to ensure its accuracy.

[3] Users may need to manually check and adjust the food item list to ensure its accuracy.

[4] SmartThings app and Pet Care service must be installed. Supported features and availability of services may vary depending on the country, region, device model, and software version, and may be subject to change without prior notice. AI health analysis feature is provided through the Lifet solution by Elevenliter, and it does not replace professional veterinary diagnosis.

‘Sun, Moon and Five Peaks’ six-panel folding screen; ink and colour painting, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 1800s. Photo © National Museum of Korea.

This press release was originally published on the British Museum’s website.

A new exhibition at the British Museum will explore over two millennia of Korean art and culture, offering a fresh perspective on the peninsula’s rich creative history. Drawing on exceptional works from the collection of the late Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee, this will be the first major exhibition on Korea’s art and history at the British Museum in over 40 years.

Spanning from 300 BC to the present day, Korea reveals how the country’s artists and craftspeople have continually demonstrated creativity, resilience, and superb technical skill, while absorbing outside influences to create a distinctive and enduring cultural identity.

At a time when Korean culture has an unprecedented global presence, often described as the Korean Wave, or hallyu, this exhibition offers important context for understanding its deeper historical roots. Since the 1990s, the Korean Wave has driven the global popularity of South Korea’s cultural economy, exporting music, film, television and wider pop culture worldwide. By placing Korea’s rich artistic heritage in a broader historical perspective, the exhibition reveals continuities and connections that extend far beyond the present moment.

The exhibition will trace Korea’s artistic and cultural history chronologically, bringing together seminal works, many designated National Treasures, on loan from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, alongside works from the British Museum. The objects on display are drawn from the recent donation of over 23,000 objects from Lee Kun-Hee’s collection to Korea’s national museums. This extraordinary gift has made possible a landmark exhibition that not only illuminates Korea’s artistic heritage but also reflects the longstanding dedication of one of its most important collectors.

The exhibition presents historic national treasures alongside modern and contemporary works, creating a dynamic conversation across time. From the technical mastery of Goryeo celadon, renowned for their luminous blue-green glaze and intricate inlay, to the restrained elegance of Joseon porcelain shaped by Confucian ideals, historic objects are recontextualised through their relationship with contemporary society. This approach reveals how artists across centuries have continually revisited and reinterpreted the past, sustaining a living tradition while pushing creative boundaries.

Among the highlights are bronze ritual implements dating to 300 –100 BC, and a 13th-century gourd-shaped celadon ewer, an exquisite example of Korea’s refinement in ceramic technology, alongside rare Buddhist paintings that embody both spiritual devotion and artistic sophistication. A masterpiece of landscape painting, Jeong Seon’s Clearing after the Rain on Mount Inwang evokes the restless spirit of Seoul’s Mount Inwang through rain-darkened ridgelines and drifting layers of mist. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who favoured idealised imaginary landscapes, Jeong Seon transformed Korean landscape painting by depicting a distinctly recognisable local landmark with emotional depth. The selection also includes a work by Nam June Paik, the visionary artist widely regarded as a pioneer of video art.

A new Museum acquisition by internationally acclaimed Do Ho Suh features as another key highlight, connecting themes of identity, migration and memory. Presented alongside historic objects, it underscores the exhibition’s central theme: the enduring dialogue between Korea’s past and present, and the ways in which cultural identity is continually redefined.

Korea is a story of progression and change, of adaptation and innovation. It offers a compelling insight into how creativity, technical skill, and cultural dynamism have defined Korean art and culture across time.

Sang-ah Kim, Curator of Korean collections, said: “By diving deep into the circumstances under which objects were made, this exhibition offers insight into makers and patrons across the centuries. A sutra inscribed by a deposed queen, an ink landscape of a mountain in Seoul, a painting of quasi-nude figures ambling through an imagined paradise, and sketches inscribed on cigarette foil: these images not only illuminate Korea’s history but also carry personal messages that resonate across time and cultures.”

Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum, said: “Over two thousand years, Korean art has developed through constant exchange, adaptation and reinvention. This exhibition brings together extraordinary works from across that long history, allowing visitors to see how ideas and forms have been reimagined across generations, and how a distinctive cultural identity has been continuously shaped in dialogue with the wider world to this very day.”

Dr You Hong-June, Director of National Museum of Korea, said: “The Lee Kun-Hee Collection’s international tour has achieved remarkable success in Washington DC and Chicago. Now at the British Museum, the exhibition presents a fresh narrative of Korea through a compelling selection featuring more National Treasures than the previous two venues. In the heart of London, visitors can discover the very roots of K-culture, which is enjoying worldwide popularity. I look forward to welcoming many K-culture fans from across the UK and Europe.”

Simon Sung, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe, said: “Samsung is delighted to partner with the British Museum on this exhibition. Korean culture has never been more relevant than it is today, and this exhibition offers a powerful connection to the roots of Korea’s cultural heritage. It brings together a selection of the expansive artworks donated to Korea by the family of Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, reflecting their enduring commitment to preserving and sharing Korea’s rich cultural legacy with the world.”

Korea will run from 01 October 2026 – 31 January 2027 in The Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery at the British Museum. For more information and ticket access, please visit the Korea exhibition webpage: https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/korea

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

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

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

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

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

Attendees will also get a glimpse of health capabilities expected to roll out across Samsung’s connected ecosystem of mobile phones, wearables and services.

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

Together with its partners, Samsung will arrive at VivaTech 2026 with a shared aspiration: Inspiring a Healthier Tomorrow.

The visit marked the latest milestone for Generation17, an initiative established in 2020 between Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to equip young changemakers with the technology, mentorship, and networking opportunities to amplify their stories and solutions.

Generation17 members gather at Samsung Digital City.

Galaxy Tech Driving Real-World Impact

At Samsung Digital City in Suwon, conversations highlighted how tools such as the Samsung Global Goals app and AI can turn innovative ideas into scalable, real-world impact. Held alongside personal mentoring sessions, these discussions deepened participants’ understanding of Samsung’s sustainability commitments, expanded their networks and reinforced their pride in the Generation17 community.

The weeklong program featured a dynamic mix of interactive sessions on topics including Galaxy for the Planet, Samsung’s brand philosophy and the future of AI. Throughout the sessions, the Young Leaders engaged directly with senior leadership on how technology can shape a more sustainable future.

The Young Leaders also participated in a Samsung Global Goals app workshop. This was designed as a collaborative, workshop-style session to explore how the Samsung Global Goals app can better support awareness, engagement, and impact, while allowing members to contribute ideas for its future development.

Generation17 members collaborating at the Samsung Global Goals app workshop.

These experiences fostered meaningful connections across the broader Samsung ecosystem and reinforced the collective impact and potential of the Generation17 community.

“I see technology as a tool. Its possibilities are endless,” said Generation17 member Efe Johnson. “It can help amplify impact, connection, and accessibility. I’ve already seen its importance in my work so far, and as I transition more fully into advocacy, I know technology will continue playing a major role in storytelling, community building, education, and reaching people across borders.”

Fellow Generation17 member José Francisco Ochoa added, “The tour gave me a deeper understanding of Samsung’s vision for innovation, sustainability, and social impact. It allowed me to see not only what Samsung creates, but also the values, people, culture, and long-term thinking behind the company.”

Hands-On Collaboration With the UNDP

In partnership with the UNDP, the Young Leaders also had the opportunity to join local innovators, entrepreneurs and students for a youth engagement session and mini-innovation sprint. The hands-on session focused on finding tech-enabled solutions to challenges related to digital inclusion, sustainability and equity.

Throughout the exercise, the Generation17 members shared perspectives on how cross-sector partnerships can help amplify youth-led innovation and drive meaningful change.

“It’s imperative to understand multiple perspectives since it makes it harder to then play the blame game,” said Generation17 member Soumya Dabriwal. “Samsung and UNDP coming together is one of the most unique cross sectoral partnerships that I have come across and it gives me a lot of hope and inspiration.”

The Generation17 team at the mini-innovation sprint co-hosted by UNDP.

Cultural Immersion and Reflection

The Young Leaders wrapped up the week in Seoul, enjoying a range of cultural experiences including a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace where they tried on traditional Korean clothing.

Marking the one-year anniversary of the fifth cohort of the Young Leaders, the trip provided opportunities for new connections, shared learning and conversations on the future of the Generation17 community.

“Representing Generation17 in a global setting like this means a lot to me because I am not only representing myself and my own work, but also the impact created within my community and the challenges that many young people face,” explained Generation17 member Rahaf Abu Mayyaleh.

“It is an opportunity to share our stories, ideas and solutions on a global platform while expanding the reach and influence of the work we are doing. It also gives me the chance to inspire others, connect with different experiences and perspectives, and show how youth led initiatives can create meaningful change toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Learn more about Generation17 here: https://www.undp.org/generation17