LONDON, United Kingdom – August 20, 2024 – Samsung Electronics today announced that an expanded number of products in its Digital Appliances Business have been verified to level ‘Diamond’ under UL Solutions’ Marketing Claim Verification IoT Security Rating Program. Following the Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+^[1] ― which was the first product in the home appliances industry to earn the ‘Diamond’ level from UL Solutions ― and Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI,^[2] two products ranging in the UK were verified to the same level recently. The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo^[3] and the Air to Water Heat Pump^[4] acquired the Verification in June. In the UK, Samsung now possesses four ‘Diamond’ level verifications by UL Solutions for its home appliances.

“As AI becomes more advanced, security is naturally becoming more important in terms of protecting users’ privacy,” said Miyoung Yoo, EVP and Head of the Software Development Team, Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “The result shows that Samsung has proved its competitiveness in security based on Samsung Knox. We will continue to prioritise security so that consumers can enjoy the AI capabilities of our products in a safer environment.”

UL Solutions’ IoT Security Rating Program

UL Solutions is a leading global safety science company that evaluates hundreds of marketing claims each year. One of their services, the UL Solutions’ IoT Security Rating Program verifies the security capabilities of smart home products.

UL Solutions differentiates security capability performance using five levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Each level requires rigorous testing, and of them, the highest ‘Diamond’ level is only given after products pass tests evaluating the ability to detect malicious software modulation, prevent illegal access attempts, and anonymise user data. Especially, the products that achieve this highest ‘Diamond’ level differentiate themselves from level ‘Platinum’ products in their ability to detect unknown potential vulnerabilities, and operate programs for early detection of security vulnerabilities as well.

Products Newly Verified to Level ‘Diamond’

These additional certifications were obtained for the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and the Air to Water Heat Pump. They are distinctive by being able to be linked with other devices using SmartThings connectivity,^[5] and providing various AI or smart functions.

The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is an All-in-one washer and dryer that frees users from the hassle of transferring laundry after washing to the dryer. Featuring a 7-inch LCD display,^[6] users can get recommended cycles^[7] based on their preferences, as well as periodic and seasonal needs.^[8] It also shows all connected appliances^[9] within the home, allowing users to monitor and control them seamlessly.

The Air to Water Heat Pump has a slim fit design that goes harmoniously with the home environment. Its 7-inch LCD display^[10] supports various languages and help users monitor solar PV energy usage. Users can control their connected appliances through this display.

Thanks to Samsung Knox, which is applied to all Samsung home appliances, the data and the connection between devices can be thoroughly protected. Customers can utilise products’ AI features with confidence, having been assured of their strong security performance.

Meanwhile, visitors at IFA 2024 ― being held in Berlin from September 6 to 10 ― will be able to see Samsung’s home appliances that are proven for their security excellence. At the booth, Samsung will showcase the newly certified Air to Water Heat Pump as well as the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo.

[1] RF**DB99****, RF**DB95****, RF**DG9H****, available in North and Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia, India and Korea

[2] VR7M*97****, available in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Korea

[3] WD**DB89****, WD53DBA*00H*, available in North and Latin America and Korea

[4] AE***DN**P*, MIM-E03*N, available in Europe

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

[6] For AI Home available on Bespoke AI Laundry Combo: AI Opti Wash & Dry and Bixby accessible through the AI Home utilise AI-based algorithm. Our AI-based algorithms may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. You may need to use a separate device e.g. your laptop/desktop or mobile device, to create/log into a Samsung Account. If you choose not to log-in, you will not be able to enjoy any features available on AI Home, such as the services available on the SmartThings App and the phone call features.

[7] Messages with cycle suggestions are displayed on the control panel or a smartphone with the SmartThings App.

[8] Messages with cycle suggestions are displayed on the control panel or a smartphone with the SmartThings App.

[9] Appliances must be connected to the range via the SmartThings App and using the same Samsung account.

[10] Selected models only

London, UK – 29th October 2019 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., today announced, at the Samsung Developer Conference 2019 (SDC19), new ways its platforms will enable developers to introduce simpler, more powerful experiences to consumers around the world. Samsung shared its vision for the next era of mobile and connected living, offering inspiration to developers, enterprise leaders, and consumers through innovative experiences with the devices they rely on every day.

“We are fortunate to work with the world’s best developers and designers. Together, we have built an extensive and secure ecosystem of devices and services,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “We continue to make progress toward our vision to be the innovator of new mobile experiences that flow seamlessly and continuously wherever we go.”

Creating Opportunities for Developers through Open, Scalable AI and IoT Platforms

To help consumers discover new ways Bixby can work with them to get things done more quickly and easily, Samsung launched Bixby Marketplace earlier this year, creating a way for developers to introduce their Bixby capsules to millions of Bixby users. In the past six months, the size of the Bixby developer community has doubled. And starting in 2020, the Bixby Marketplace will expand gradually, enabling developers to offer their services across more Samsung devices.

To make it easier for developers to create new experiences on its AI platform and ensure consumers have more intuitive experience, Samsung announced enhanced capabilities in the Bixby Developer Studio at SDC19.

• New Bixby Templates makes it easy for developers to create capsules using pre-existing forms so that they don’t have to start from scratch.
• Enhanced Bixby Views enable developers to build capsules with a consistent design even beyond smartphones—to televisions, tablets, smart watches and refrigerators.
• Developers can now register their capsules under Natural Language Categories. When users ask Bixby for help related to a category—such as radio, news, or navigation—Bixby suggests a capsule that can help them get what they need more quickly and easily, even without having to call out exact name of the capsule.

More consumers than ever are seeing how seamlessly connected devices and services can make everyday life easier. Developers can scale their device and service offerings through Samsung’s IoT platform, SmartThings. Already, developers and partners have brought connected experiences to more than 45 million monthly active users and thousands of compatible devices, and the platform is expected to grow further with the Work as a SmartThings Hub (WASH) program, which allows partners like network operators to embed SmartThings Hub software into their devices.

To help developers build on and integrate existing devices with the SmartThings platform, Samsung announced new capabilities for developers:

• The new Rules API brings to life more automated smart home experiences to reflect individual daily routines across a broad range of SmartThings devices.
• Samsung is launching the SmartThings Device SDK Beta program in early 2020 to enable more third-party manufacturers to create SmartThings-compatible devices.

Samsung continues to invite developers to actively participate in its ecosystem and supports the developer community with several incentive programs—including the Best of Galaxy Store Award, the Samsung Mobile Design Competition, Bixby DevJam and the Samsung Mobile Security Reward program.

Inspiring Developers with New Experiences Across Devices

Samsung continued to refine the mobile experience to allow users to focus on what matters most to them. One UI 2 includes new features that declutter the user interface—making it easier for people to interact naturally, while also making it easier on their eyes. And now, to make both the developer and the user experiences consistent across devices, Samsung is expanding the use of One UI 2 beyond smartphones to tablets, wearables, and new form factors, including foldables.

In the UK, a Beta testing programme is available for customers through the Samsung Members app for S10e, S10 and S10+ owners on unlocked handsets.

With the launch of Galaxy Fold, Samsung designed a first-of-its kind mobile experience that is much more than a foldable device. Samsung, alongside hundreds of developers and partners, created an entire foldable ecosystem that continues grow and opens up new possibilities to the mobile experience. As promised at SDC last year, Samsung will continue to explore a range of new form factors in the foldable category. And at SDC19, Samsung invited developers and users alike to join the exploration of exciting new use cases and user experiences.

To deliver the best possible TV viewing experience, Samsung is also investing in 8K technologies. With AI ScaleNet, Samsung has made it possible to stream high-quality 8K videos on networks with lower bandwidth capabilities. Samsung has also announced new tools that make it easier for developers to bring new experiences across the nearly 100 million Smart TVs that are powered by Tizen.

• Wits automatically uploads a code edit to the TV, so developers can see their update almost immediately, significantly trimming development time.
• EasyST makes testing content playback much easier because developers don’t need to build their own test app to make sure their content is streaming as intended.
• TIFA (Tizen Identifier for Advertising) gives consumers the option to limit ad tracking or opt-out of targeted advertising
• Samsung is making Tizen TV OS available to third-party TV makers for the first time.

End-to-End Security Built in Every Solution and Experience

Emerging technologies, such as IoT, AI and 5G, are bringing new capabilities and opportunities to the developer landscape. For Samsung, it means providing the community with the tools and programs necessary to deliver secure and reliable solutions.

Secure Development Lifecycle delivers systematic reviews at every phase of the development, supply chain, and manufacturing process. To give both developers and users peace of mind, Samsung offers the Knox SDK, allowing partners and app developers to integrate advanced security solutions to their apps and services. In addition, Samsung has been working with German government agencies, especially BSI, and industry partners on developing a mobile-enabled eID for digital services to support customers and governments by developing a solid foundation for trusted identity services.

Samsung invites developers and partners on its journey to bring new and secure experiences to life. For more information about working with Samsung and the Samsung Developer Conference 2019, please visit sdc.developer.samsung.com. Further information can also be found on Twitter (@samsung_dev) and using the hashtag #SDC19.

About Samsung Developer Conference

SDC brings together thousands of developers and creators to explore today’s tech and visualize what’s possible in the future. The two-day conference will feature exciting keynote announcements, technical sessions and valuable networking time. Plus, Samsung product teams and technology partners will showcase the latest tech advances and tools.

* All services and programs mentioned above may vary by region.

With a goal of ensuring all Samsung products will be connected to the Internet of Things by 2020, this state-of-the-art connected home brings the business one step closer to showing its partners how secure, seamless and convenient connected living is for consumers, both inside and outside of the home. From automating daily routines to enabling connections between household appliances, Samsung is forging ahead to help consumers feel more secure as well as save time and money.

Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Living, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, commented: “Many of us have already had a glimpse into the potential of a connected home through devices like smart speakers, but we want to take this to a whole new level of smart. This genuine residential setting is a perfect place to showcase the best of Samsung and third-party brands coming together to highlight what is already possible today, as well as our future vision. This initiative chimes with our higher purpose of building communities which are enriched through technology powered experiences.”

The beating heart of Samsung’s Connected Living Apartment is Samsung’s open ecosystem powered by the SmartThings app. Already compatible with the majority of the UK’s leading IoT brands such as Ikea, Yale, Ring, Bose, Arlo and Philips Hue, the SmartThings app simplifies interoperability between all devices by centralising control through one simple mobile interface, available on Android or iOS. Not only does this eliminate the need to use multiple apps across vendors, but SmartThings is secured by Samsung Knox, which boasts enterprise grade security – protecting personal data travelling between the home and the cloud.

Delivering value to consumer lives

From checking who’s at the door through the Samsung QLED TV, Family Hub fridge in the kitchen or smartphone for those on the move, SmartThings allows people to take control of their homes, and the devices within them wherever and whenever it suits them. From controlling locks and switching off hair straighteners to having the ability to schedule and control kitchen appliances and view the contents of a fridge; the Samsung Connected Living Apartment gives visitors a taste of meaningfully smart living under one roof.

Rajesh Shah, Managing Director, Tipi, commented: “At Tipi, we’re spearheading a rental revolution, rewriting the rules of what renting might be from the ground up. It’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Samsung’s Connected Living Apartment to our exciting new residential development at Wembley Park. We’re all about offering residents an all-inclusive rental package with lifestyle services that are fit for the future rental market. The Samsung Connected Living Apartment is a physical embodiment of the ultimate smart, connected home and we can’t think of a better location for this than Tipi’s new buzzing Wembley Park development.”

“Everything on show in the Samsung Connected Living Apartment is technology and functionality that is available today, not in a decade’s time; it’s why we’ve launched our showcase in a real-life residential setting,” added Teg.

The Samsung Connected Living Apartment is currently not open to the public and operates strictly on an invitation-only policy, solely for partners and media.

Partners of Samsung should contact their Samsung Account Director and for any further enquiries, please find contact details below.

London, UK – January 7, 2019 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced how the company’s investment and leadership in AI, IoT, and 5G technologies will serve as the building blocks for its vision for Connected Living. The company also unveiled its future AI-powered robotics platforms, which can be used to manage activities of daily living, such as helping an aging population independently manage their health routine.

“2019 is Samsung Electronics 50^th anniversary, and for the last five decades, we’ve been committed to bringing meaningful innovations to consumers everywhere,” said HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “In 2019, we’re taking things to the next level, and leveraging our industry leadership to make our vision of Connected Living a reality.”

Accelerating the Intelligence of Things with IoT, 5G, and AI  

 Driving Samsung’s Connected Living philosophy is the Intelligence of Things – IoT, 5G, and AI working together across devices, to create seamless experiences. At its CES press conference in Las Vegas today, the company explained how its work in these core technologies is enabling innovation throughout its product portfolio.

Since unifying the SmartThings app and introducing the SmartThings Cloud, the SmartThings ecosystem has grown significantly. The number of registered SmartThings users has grown 220 percent and app installs have increased 61 percent. The number of partners participating in this ecosystem has also grown by 44 percent. Today, consumers can enjoy SmartThings experiences with devices from top global brands like Amazon, Google, Bose, Sylvania, and Plume.

Samsung leveraged its telecommunications leadership to make major strides in bringing 5G connectivity to consumers. Samsung is the number one patent holder with ETSI^[1], having registered more than 2,000 5G essential patents as of November 2018. And it is the world’s first company to receive FCC approval on its commercial 5G equipment. The company powered the commercialization of home and mobile 5G networks with major U.S. carriers and all three mobile carriers in Korea, with additional trials running in Europe and Asia. Samsung is also committed to putting the power of 5G in consumers’ hands, with a 5G smartphone coming in the first half of 2019.

Samsung believes that AI is most useful when it helps to simplify a complex world. To that end, the company established seven Global AI Centers, and is adopting unique technologies into its products and services. And to ensure that Samsung works with the best and the brightest in the field, Samsung NEXT and the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center (SSIC) have invested in more than 20 AI-related startups over the last five years.

Bixby, Samsung’s Intelligence Platform, Expands

Bixby started as a smarter way to use your Galaxy phone. Today, it is evolving to become a scalable, open AI platform that will support more and more devices. The company announced that Bixby intelligence will be infused into its 2019 QLED and premium TVs, and smart appliances like refrigerators, washers, as well as air conditioners, mobile devices, AI speakers and more. What’s more, Bixby is expanding to a new Digital Cockpit and robotics platforms.

Uber, Ticketmaster and others are using Bixby to make their services more intelligent. Today, Samsung announced that iHeartRadio joined as a new partner. And, Bixby will continue to grow as more partners, such as Google, join the ecosystem.

Samsung also announced its core AI philosophy: Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency. As it works to advance AI technology, Samsung is committed to ensuring the algorithms it builds are inclusive, the protection of user information and privacy are top priorities, and it’s easy for consumers to understand what the company does with their data and how it is handled.

Next Level Experience of Samsung’s 2019 Portfolio

Samsung also introduced a lineup of new innovations, all of which streamline and simplify day-to-day tasks, and offer a more personalized and unique experience for each user, in a way that only Samsung can.

Entertainment:

Samsung unveiled its 98” QLED 8K – it’s largest yet – adding to its 2019 lineup that features 65”, 75”, 82”, and 85” models. Embedded with the Quantum Processor 8K chip, the 2019 8K line delivers the best in QLED picture quality, design, smart features in more sizes than ever in stunning 8K resolution. Whether a viewer is watching content through a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB or even mobile screen mirroring, Samsung’s proprietary AI-based technology can recognize and upscale any content, regardless of the native resolution, to near pristine 8K quality. This is Samsung’s smartest and most powerful TV yet.

In 2019, Samsung Smart TVs offer more ways to search for content and more compatibility with connected devices than ever before. With an improved AI algorithm that leverages a user’s subscription services, favorite content, and TV viewing habits, the Universal Guide makes it easier for users to find the perfect show for them to watch. Users also have more options than ever to quickly and easily find and control their favorite content with just their voice by using new Bixby and the AI Remote as well as even more ways to control their Samsung TVs through Amazon Echo and Google Home.

In a move to deliver more entertainment options, value and open platform functionality to Samsung Smart TV users, Samsung announced it will offer iTunes Movies and TV Shows and Apple AirPlay 2 support on 2019 Samsung Smart TV models beginning this spring. Support on 2018 Samsung Smart TVs will be made available via a firmware update. In an industry first, a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will debut only on Samsung Smart TVs in more than 100 countries. AirPlay 2 support will be available on Samsung Smart TVs in 190 countries worldwide.

Home:

Family Hub 2019 is more intuitive and intelligent than ever before. The new Family Board offers a completely redesigned screen experience, letting family members communicate and share memories in a creative space on the front of the fridge. Honored with a CES 2019 Innovation Award, Family Hub 2019 with the new Bixby lets users interact in natural language to get answers to complicated questions, search for recipes and even call an Uber. In addition, Bixby visually shows you information on the screen for a richer experience and displays an array of visual information. These new features will also be available via automatic update for most earlier Family Hub models.

Work:

Samsung revealed the new Samsung Space Monitor which leverages its sleek design and functionality to allow users to focus on what’s on the screen and not what’s around it. Its unique built-in space saving solution, a minimalist, fully-integrated clamp stand that grips to the desk, tilting back and forth to free up space for optimal user productivity. Beyond aesthetics, Samsung’s Space Monitor is a feature-rich, high-performance monitor. The 27-inch model offers QHD resolution for incredibly detailed, sharp images, while the 32-inch model presents content in 4K UHD.

Connected Driving:

Samsung also presented its latest development with HARMAN, showcasing its innovation in automotive technology. The Digital Cockpit 2019 offers an enhanced connected car experience focused on connectivity, personalization, and safety.

With the integration of Bixby’s connected car experience, drivers can remotely check how much gas they have before going on a long road trip or set the car temperature before heading out for the day. Using onboard cameras, the new Digital Cockpit recognizes specific drivers and passengers and sets up the car’s personal space accordingly – adjusting the display preferences, seat height, lighting, and queuing up favorite playlists. Passengers can even enjoy personalized screens on the rear seats and connect to In-vehicle Samsung DeX to get work done on-the-go. The Digital Cockpit 2019 also provides a safer driving experience with the mirror replacement vision system and camera-based safety solutions.

All of this is possible thanks to Cellular-V2X technology that incorporates Samsung’s expertise in mobile network solutions with automotive technologies. With Samsung’s C-V2X, cars will be able to receive and analyze information that will make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable.

Device Solutions:

In order to power tomorrow’s AI technologies, Samsung emphasized that today’s AI infrastructure must evolve to handle intelligence at the edge. For this reason, the company is working to launch a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that will shape the future of intelligent devices.

Samsung’s mobile memory and AI-enabled processors, including the recently-announced Exynos Auto line, will allow for fast and efficient on-device processing. At the same time, its advanced memory solutions will meet the rigorous demands of tomorrow’s datacenters and enterprises as they look to complete more complex AI tasks.

Robotics Platforms for the Future of AI

Samsung offered a peek into the future of Connected Living by demonstrating its latest developments in robotics platforms including the Samsung Bot Care, Samsung Bot Air, Samsung Bot Retail, and Samsung GEMS. Among the robotics platforms, Samsung gave a first public demonstration of Samsung Bot Care, which helps consumers manage their daily health routines. With its advances in AI and robotics, the company is harnessing its best assets to make a positive impact on society and shape a better world.

For more information including photos and videos, please visit news.samsung.com. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center and will be open from January 8-11, 2019.

[1] European Telecommunication Standards Institute

LONDON, UK – 30 August, 2018 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today held a press conference at IFA to outline its commitment to developing ground-breaking products and services that will shape the next era of connected living. Samsung showcased how breakthrough technologies that are powered by AI and IoT can bring greater convenience to people’s lives; eliminate complexity to enhance everyday experiences; and offer a level of security that gives peace of mind.

“Samsung is uniquely positioned to provide consumers with a full range of cutting-edge AI and IoT products and services based on our wide-ranging portfolio of TVs, displays, audio, home appliances and of course mobile devices,” said HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “We are striving to shape a new era of connected living, where our products and services seamlessly interact with one another to make our consumers’ lives richer, smarter and more entertaining.”

At the frontline of the future

Samsung is at the forefront of unlocking the power of AI and 5G for consumers, with multi-billion dollar investments announced in recent months, to ensure the continued integration of advancements across hardware, software and services. With the new AI research centers established across the world, including the recent addition at Cambridge in the UK, Samsung expects about 1,000 renowned AI researchers to be working in its facilities globally by 2020, designing and developing user-centric AI that continuously learns and enhances users’ lives in an ever-more intelligent, useful and personalised way.

Furthermore, a next generation network infrastructure is a pre-requisite for the next era of connected living: through its active role in establishing 5G industry standards, Samsung is spearheading the rollout of next-generation networks and later this year, anticipates the introduction of the world’s first 5G-powered gigabit home broadband service (5G Fixed Wireless Access) in the U.S.

The next frontier of picture quality with 8K resolution

Samsung continued to revolutionise the visual display industry at IFA 2018 with the introduction of the Q900R QLED 8K, complete with 8K AI Upscaling. Available in four ultra-large screen sizes (65”, 75”, 82” and 85”), Samsung QLED 8K TV will feature several 8K-ready enhancements, including Real 8K Resolution, Q HDR 8K and Quantum Processor 8K, all created to bring 8K-quality images to life.

Real 8K Resolution can produce 4,000 nit peak brightness – a standard met by most film studios. Q HDR 8K, powered by HDR10+ delivers perfect colour expression for realistic, life-like images, just as the creator originally intended. The Q900R’s 8K AI Upscaling, a proprietary technology developed with artificial intelligence, is designed to enhance both picture and sound quality – regardless of the original source quality or format – to premium 8K quality.

Samsung also announced The Wall, a cutting-edge Micro LED screen designed for enterprise and out-of-home viewing environments. Complete with self-emitting display technology and a modular design, The Wall is fully-customisable to give users the freedom to decide how to incorporate the display in their space.

In addition, Samsung introduced a new 49” model to The Frame line-up with the addition of easy discovery, giving users easy access to specially-curated works of art that can be displayed on the screen without having to sort through hundreds of options. In addition, The Frame’s Art Store continues to expand, with more than 850 works of art from some of the world’s most renowned art institutions, including the Berlin State Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tate.

Finally, sound quality continues to remain a top priority, with the introduction of the HW-N950 and HW-N850 premium soundbars from Samsung and Harman Kardon. Both soundbars support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to create an incredibly immersive sound environment.

Home appliances full of ideas

Globally, modern lives shift towards more dynamic technologies, expecting these to play multiple roles at home. In line with this trend, the kitchen becomes the centre of the home and appliances act as intelligent personal assistants. Ultimately, people want to transform their lives at home more than ever. Building on such continued momentum, Samsung has met the needs of evolving homes and consumers’ lifestyles with a full range of cutting-edge AI and IoT solutions.

With Family Hub refrigerator, users can enjoy a connected living experience to make kitchen life even more convenient and fulfilling. Using the large touchscreen as a control panel, Family Hub can easily control connected devices including third-party devices. With Bixby and Voice ID, users can instantly receive the tailored and personalised information they need, while Family Hub’s Meal Planner helps consumers plan meals by recommending the recipes that suit them best.

Dual Cook Flex has brought increased cooking efficiency to meet varying dietary requirements and preferences. With its flexible door and dual-cook function, users can cater to each family member’s needs efficiently. With the Cooking Guide, consumers can also receive recommendations on which oven to use based on the food ingredients and the type of cooking.

The revolutionary washing machine Quick Drive has dramatically transformed people’s lives for the better. Quick Drive can wash clothes in half the time without compromising on washing performance, freeing up consumers’ time. In addition, its AI-powered laundry care Q-rator system serves as a personalised and intelligent assistant, while Laundry Planner minimises time wasted on washing clothes by allowing users to start and stop laundry according to their schedules.

Next-generation mobile experiences

At IFA, Samsung presented its most powerful smartphone yet, the Galaxy Note9. Announced earlier this month in New York, the Galaxy Note9 is designed for those who demand the best of the best. The phone comes in two internal storage options – 128GB or 512GB – with the 512GB model supporting up to 1TB of storage via expandable memory^[1]. The Galaxy Note9’s 4,000mAh battery performance enables users to talk, text and play games without worrying about battery life, and its intelligent camera helps users to capture the perfect shot every time. The S Pen, a trademark of the Galaxy Note series, has been evolved into a Bluetooth remote control device, the S Pen now lets users take selfies and control presentation slides – even if the phone is 10 metres away.

Building on its premium professional credentials, the Galaxy Note9 is also integrated with Samsung DeX, delivering a PC-like experience. By simply connecting a single HDMI cable to a screen^[2], the phone can power a virtualised desktop or serve as a fully-functional second screen. Not only that, the Galaxy Note9 offers maximum productivity, but without compromising on security, with the most comprehensive configuration, deployment and management features on the market, courtesy of the Samsung Knox platform.

Also showcased at IFA is the new Galaxy Watch, which blends the look of a traditional watch with smart technology. Galaxy Watch’s improved battery life of up to 80+hours^[3] eliminates the need for daily charging. With the addition of LTE connectivity^[4], users of the Galaxy Watch can now also stay connected without being tethered to a smartphone. Reflecting the rise of consumer consciousness around well-being, the Galaxy Watch comes added with a new stress management tracker^[5], sleep tracker^[6] and breathing exercises to help users stay focused.

The Samsung Electronics Booth will be open at Level 2, City Cube Berlin from Friday, Aug. 31 to Wednesday, Sep. 5.

[1] Applies to 512GB model. Up to 512GB additional storage with external MicroSD card (sold separately).   External Memory may be used to store media (photos, video, and music files) but not applications

[2] HDMI cable and monitor sold separately

[3] Battery life varies by device and usage: Galaxy Watch 46mm (<80 hours typical usage; <168 hours low usage) and Galaxy Watch 42mm (<45 hours typical usage; <120 hours low usage). The actual time of battery life may vary depending on the network connection, component, setting, signal strength, noise and many other elements. Based on light usage

[4] 4G Galaxy Watch required. 4G version is subject to e-SIM connectivity –  e-SIM sold separately. Bluetooth-only Galaxy Watch requires a bluetooth connection to a smartphone to access same features. EE will be the first UK network to support the 4G Samsung Galaxy Watch when it launches later this year. Pricing and availability will be announced in due course

[5] Measured value is not appropriate for medical use

[6] Measured value is not appropriate for medical use

The Language Understanding Lab led by Dr. Kim recently grabbed global attention after placing top ranks at global machine reading comprehension competitions held by Microsoft and the University of Washington, respectively. Samsung Newsroom visited the Samsung Research AI center in Seocho-gu, Korea to interview Dr. Kim about AI performance in the machine reading comprehension competitions and a future evolution plan for AI algorithms.

Jihie Kim, Head of the Language Understanding Lab at Samsung Research

Q. Please tell us about the MS MARCO and TriviaQA competitions held by Microsoft and the University of Washington, respectively, where your team ranked first place.

Kim: There have been many global machine reading competitions recently where AI presents solutions to a problem. MS MARCO and TriviaQA are among the top five global competitions in machine reading comprehension. AI algorithms are tested on whether they can understand and analyze questions to offer answers. Those tests are designed by referring to internet users’ queries and search results.

Q. What do you think was the critical factor in excelling at the AI competitions which require such high levels of technical expertise?

Kim: The ConZNet algorithm developed by the Language Understanding Lab at Samsung Reseach is upgrading its intelligence by considering real user environments. The algorithm takes natural language into account such as how people deliver queries and answers online. We were able to win those competitions because the MS MARCO and TriviaQA competitions are about AI capabilities in real user environments. In truth, our algorithm was a bit behind other competitors in tests requiring a simple answer to a question after analyzing a short paragraph. But because such technologies have low relevance to real environments using AI technologies, we are focusing on the other tests such as MS MARCO in proceeding with continuous R&D.

Q. Do you apply the winning algorithms to customer services in real life?

Kim: An Open Lab event was held recently to introduce the labs at Samsung Research to other departments in Samsung Electronics. At the event, we had in-depth discussions with engineers in our home appliances and smartphone departments about AI algorithms. Departments dealing with customer services also showed high interest in what we do because AI-based customer services including chatbots are emerging as a hot topic. We hope that our technologies developed at Samsung Research will be naturally adopted to Samsung Electronics products and services.

Dr. Kim and the developers of the Language Understanding Lab at Samsung Research are participating in an ideation meeting.

Q. What is your future evolution plan for advancing AI technologies in language understanding?

Kim: ConZNet is an acronym for “Context Zoom-in Network.” The name implies that understanding the context of what people say is critical. We need to advance AI technologies to help them understand and analyze short sentences. AI algorithms also need to have capabilities to analyze real-time news reports rather than existing data to give answers to customer queries. We are also developing technologies where an AI algorithm can answer, “there are no proper answers to your query,” as well as search for right answers. The so-called “rejection problem” is an AI technology with a high level of technical difficulties.

Q. Please tell us your ultimate goal in developing AI technologies.

Kim: The strengths of Samsung in the AI industry are that we can build a knowledge system about connections between machines and applications, and customer demands in the internet of things (IoT) environment comprised of personal devices, based on Samsung Electronics’ diverse product lineup. This will help us to achieve the goal of realizing a user-oriented AI system by collaborating with global partners in the industry. Samsung Electronics recently began to launch global AI Centers and we will lead the effort of working with AI experts at the new centers abroad.

What is the SmartThings App?

Available in March, the new SmartThings app places controls for a wide ecosystem of compatible smart devices in one simple and consistent interface, making it easy to manage every facet of your connected lifestyle, whether it be at home, at the office or on the go.

The SmartThings app was designed to remove the complicated steps that are often required to complete everyday tasks and chores, and does so by fostering seamless interactions between a household’s IoT technologies. The new app unites the previous SmartThings app with existing Samsung IoT applications, including Samsung Connect, Smart Home and Smart View, to allow for consistent experiences across SmartThings-compatible devices.

The list of compatible devices is ever-growing, and, as announced at CES 2018 earlier this year, includes Samsung’s latest Family Hub refrigerators and Smart TVs.

The Perfect Pair

Together, the SmartThings app and the Galaxy S9 offer users all the tools they need to keep their household running smoothly, and streamline how they connect and share with one another to enjoy content.

The app transforms the Galaxy S9 into a universal control for a wide range of devices, allowing users to use their smartphone to, for instance, see who’s at the front door through their connected doorbell, check what’s in their Family Hub fridge when planning for dinner, and receive real-time notifications when their laundry is finished or the floors need to be vacuumed*.

The Galaxy S9’s camera was designed to revolutionize how we capture the millions of unforgettable moments that occur in our everyday lives. When paired with SmartThings, the camera presents users with a fun and dynamic way to enhance how they share those moments, allowing them to easily send incredible photos and videos captured with their Galaxy S9 directly to their or others’ Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub fridges, or other compatible displays by connecting the devices to their Samsung account.

Speaking of Samsung’s Smart TVs, thanks to their SmartThings integration, setting up the displays couldn’t be simpler. The app allows you to effortlessly transfer login information, as well as your favorite apps, directly from your Galaxy S9 to your new TV. So you can start enjoying a more streamlined and personalized content-viewing experience as soon as you turn it on.

From streamlining daily tasks to helping families share special moments, the Galaxy S9 and SmartThings make it easy for households to simplify how they manage their smart devices, and their connected lives**.

^*Subject to connected devices’ compatibility and specifications

^**The SmartThings app will be available to download on all compatible devices in the coming months

^***All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

In a few years time, users may not have to figure out how to operate different devices individually or make a choice between services. Instead, the new world of connected devices and services based on artificial intelligence (AI) will be able to recommend and perform, on their own, integrated and seamless functions for users in and across environments from the home to office to car.

For example, in the home, when a user wakes up in the morning on a rainy day, the home lights will gradually brighten, while music fit for a rainy day is selected and played in the background. A cup of coffee will be prepared as soon as the user says “coffee” while stepping into the kitchen and the refrigerator will also recommend meal ideas for the day, asking the user whether he or she would like to buy ingredients online.

In the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, Samsung Electronics is uniquely positioned to bring this world of connected AI services to life, based on the almost half a billion connected devices the company sells every year. In fact, given the typical lifecycle of a device, there are more than a billion Samsung devices actively used around the world at any given time.

Samsung’s device portfolio also is the industry’s broadest, and includes mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, office devices such as PCs, signages and Samsung Flip, devices for the home such as Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub and FlexWash and FlexDry*, and much more.

At this year’s CES, Samsung highlighted its latest innovations in its vision to drive the Internet of Things (IoT) supported by AI. Samsung Smart TVs now integrated with Bixby, are able to play music and shows personalized for users, as well as show who is at the front door or what is inside the refrigerator. The Family Hub refrigerator, also integrated with AI, recognizes the voices of different family members and provides each of them with a personalized daily schedule.

Moving forward, Samsung will continue to remain focused on holistically integrating AI into a connected setting, such as the home or the office, in contrast to other players primarily pursuing implementation of AI on a few devices and services. In the following months, Samsung will integrate not only Samsung devices, but also IoT devices and sensors developed by external partners into the SmartThings eco-system, allowing a single SmartThings app to control everything. Furthermore, Samsung also plans to integrate AI into all its connected devices by 2020.

In the coming years, many IoT devices with AI support will generate a vast array of usage patterns and scenarios. How AI-enabled devices learn and analyze complex usage patterns and provide consumers with the most optimized options will be critical to the success of AI technology for the near future. In other words, the success of AI will boil down to how well the devices understand the users.

Therefore, Samsung’s perspective on AI is to build an eco-system that is user-centric rather than device-centric. To pursue that goal, we will start by building an AI platform under a common architecture that will not only scale quickly, but also provide the deepest understanding of usage context and behaviours, making AI more relevant and useful.

For the past decades, Samsung successfully introduced products and innovations by researching the lifestyle and behaviour of global consumers. Paying respect to our heritage of user-centric product development, Samsung will begin an exciting journey open to boundless possibilities in new user experiences by integrating AI into the open IoT ecosystem it is currently developing. This journey will certainly be fascinating for us here at Samsung, but even more so for consumers, as Samsung takes major steps forward to bring consumers’ hopes and expectations to life.

*US only

During today’s press conference, Samsung demonstrated its unique ability to make seamlessly connected consumer experiences across Samsung devices at home, at the office and on-the-go. Samsung has been working to make all Samsung products IoT ready by 2020. In addition, the company announced today its plan to advance IoT adoption via an open, consistent and intelligent platform.

“At Samsung, we believe IoT should be as easy as flipping a switch. With the new products and services announced today, we’re making IoT easier and more seamless,” said Hyunsuk (HS) Kim, President, Head of Samsung’s Consumer Electronics Division and Samsung Research. “We’re committed to accelerating IoT adoption for everyone and making all Samsung connected devices intelligent by 2020. These advancements will help consumers realize the benefits of a seamless and simple connected life.”

Hyunsuk (HS) Kim, President, Head of Samsung’s Consumer Electronics Division and Samsung Research

Intelligence of Things for Everyone 

Samsung’s IoT philosophy is built on open innovation making it accessible to more people and when infused with intelligence, can personalize their experience. Today’s fragmented and complex IoT ecosystem is a barrier to adoption. For IoT to be approachable and accessible it requires scale and open innovation. Thanks to a robust portfolio of products including TVs, appliances and smartphones, and Samsung’s leadership to deliver 5G connectivity, Samsung is well-positioned to deliver an open IoT ecosystem via SmartThings.

Samsung is working with partners such as the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) to set common industry standards. OCF is the largest IoT standardization body in the world and Samsung’s ARTIK chip, air conditioner and Family Hub refrigerator have already been certified by the association for interoperability criteria needed for IoT.

Tim Baxter, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America

In spring 2018, Samsung will unite its IoT applications, including Samsung Connect, Smart Home, Smart View and more into the SmartThings app to connect and control any SmartThings-enabled device directly from their phone, TV, or car from a single application. Additionally, Samsung announced plans to connect HARMAN Ignite to the SmartThings Cloud, moving the IoT experience beyond the smart home to the car. As a result, consumers will be able to manage their connected home from the car and vice versa.

An integral part of Samsung’s vision is to connect devices and make them intelligent. With Bixby, Samsung is bringing its personalized intelligence service to more devices. In 2018, select Samsung Smart TVs and new Family Hub refrigerators will have voice control via Bixby to make everyday tasks easier. With devices and services working together and infused with intelligence, in-home activities become easier.

Yoon Lee (left), Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, and Joe Stinziano (right), Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics America

Because increased connectivity requires improved security, Samsung announced that it has incorporated its trusted Samsung Knox technology into its connected devices, including Smart TVs and Smart Signages, additional mobile products and Smart appliances. Knox technology includes a hardware security system and firmware updates to help ensure devices are protected.

Building the Connected Future

Samsung highlighted its ongoing commitment to investing in breakthrough technologies. In 2017, Samsung spent more than $14 billion on R&D. The company also increased investments through Samsung NEXT – a key initiative to accelerate its transformation into an integrated hardware and software company.

Alanna Cotton, Vice President of Samsung Electronics America

Samsung also created a new AI Center as part of its newly consolidated Samsung Research unit. The AI Center, which includes four labs in Toronto, Montreal, Cambridge (UK) and Russia in 2018, will be coupled with Samsung’s ongoing work in Korea and Silicon Valley and the company’s M&A activities to drive its AI ambitions forward.

Seamless Device Experiences

New products and services announced at CES 2018 highlight exactly how Samsung is making progress to create seamless IoT experiences.

• Home: Starting this year, Samsung Smart TVs will create a connected fabric between devices to provide effortless log-in for users from the moment the TV is unboxed. The new Family Hub refrigerators offer a wide range of smart features like syncing food storage with meal preparation, and keeping family members better connected and organized. Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub refrigerators features Bixby, giving TVs greater access to applications, the ability to easily search movies by genre and actors, and display personal photos while Family Hub refrigerators will be able to recognize individual voices of family members and give personalized information such as news, weather and calendar updates. Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub refrigerators will also operate on a single connected cloud platform, the SmartThings Cloud, serving as a smart dashboard to monitor and control connected devices.
• Office: Samsung is redefining the concept of the traditional office with flexible solutions that fit the needs of the modern mobile workforce. The Samsung Notebook 9 Pen brings power, portability and performance to the notebook PC for those whose jobs don’t end when they leave the office. The 55-inch Samsung Flip interactive digital flip chart, simplifies office collaboration by connecting seamlessly with group members’ smartphones and notebooks for faster content and idea sharing. Up to four different participants can introduce content or annotate directly on screen at the same time using either their fingers or an embedded pen.
• Mobility: Samsung is helping to lead the transition to 5G networks that will usher in a new set of connected experiences. Samsung is partnering with wireless carriers and broadband providers to conduct the first customer trials of 5G connectivity with up to 100 times faster speeds than the 4G LTE available on phones today. With 5G connectivity, Samsung demonstrated its vision for more comfortable driving. The Samsung Digital Cockpit shows how cars will become seamlessly connected with other ‘things’ as part of IoT. The new dashboard design, along with Bixby, allows drivers to easily control the in-car experience and connected devices at home through voice, touch, gesture and context-based triggers. Passengers can also enjoy ultra-fast streaming movies on the go. The industry-first 5G-capable Telematics Control Unit (TCU) can download and upload data faster and enables vehicle-to-everything communications, laying the groundwork for better autonomous driving.

For more information about Samsung at CES, please visit https://news.samsung.com/uk

At CES 2018, Samsung Electronics will share its vision and strategy for an intelligent and seamless Internet of Things (IoT) experience for all consumers, showcased by the latest innovations Samsung has made to start bringing this experience to reality, now.

Samsung’s press conference at this year’s CES will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018 from 22:00 to 22:45 (GMT) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, Level 2, Ballrooms G+H. The press conference is open to all credentialed media with a CES badge.

For all others interested, Samsung will also be streaming the press conference live on the following channels:

• Samsung Newsroom official website (http://www.news.samsung.com/uk/ces-2018)
• Samsung Newsroom Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SamsungElectronics)
• Samsung Newsroom YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/SamsungNewsroom)