Since 2002, Samsung Electronics has been sharing its philosophy and vision for the year ahead – and beyond – through a total of 6 keynote addresses at CES. At CES 2022, the first CES event to be held offline in two years due to the pandemic, Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman and CEO at Samsung Electronics, is set to walk onto the stage and present his keynote address under the headline ‘Together for Tomorrow’ to present the direction for technological development going forward.

Ahead of Han’s keynote at CES 2022, Samsung Newsroom has compiled the key topics and technological trends presented at Samsung’s CES keynote addresses between 2011 and 2020 to provide an insight into the evolution of the phrase ‘future technology’ what really means.

1. 2011: Human Digitalism

The main topic at Samsung’s 2011 CES keynote was the convergence of digital technology and human beings. Humanism, a philosophy that originated in the culture and arts fields, had recently reached the technology industry and become the latest trend. Illustrating this development, Samsung’s keynote that year centred on the concept of human digitalism, and throughout the address, the company advocated for the “reinterpretation of technology”, an idea that sees the values that human beings fundamentally pursue combined with advanced technologies.

BK Yoon, back then President and Head of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, outlined four guiding principles to underly human digitalism. These are: interacting with the world in an easy and convenient manner anytime, anywhere; creating products that blend naturally and seamlessly into consumers’ lifestyles; providing enjoyment through new discoveries; and pursuing corporate social responsibility that prioritises the environment and pursuing a better tomorrow. The company also outlined its plan to apply this vision of human digitalism to all its technologies and products in order to bring about a new digital paradigm shift.

2. 2013: Mobilising Possibility

In 2013, it was the very centre of all electronic products – their components – that was gaining attention. Accordingly, in their CES keynote address, Samsung introduced its processor – the brain of their mobile devices – its energy-efficient memory solutions – which help reduce electricity usage – and YOUM, its next-generation flexible display line-up.

The keynote speech, delivered by Dr. Stephen Woo, back then President of System LSI Business of Device Solutions Division of Samsung Electronics, highlighted how society and consumers’ lives are set to benefit from the innovations generated when such advanced component technologies go beyond their boundaries and unite with various technological fields.

3. 2015: Unlocking the Infinite Possibilities of IoT

At its 2015 CES keynote address, Samsung presented its blueprint for what the era of IoT the company planned to realise will look like. Samsung’s blueprint envisioned a world in which all kinds of products would move forward together with digital technology. In addition, Samsung introduced its essential technologies for realising this IoT-powered world, including ultra-small, energy-efficient and intelligent sensors and semiconductor chips. BK Yoon, back then President and Head of CE division, emphasised the importance of open platforms in order to achieve a true realisation of this vision, and accordingly introduced the SmartThings platform, a hub for all kinds of smart devices and services.

4. 2016: IoT, In Sync with Real Life

In their 2016 keynote address, Samsung introduced stories of how IoT had become part of daily life to the audience. Samsung began the keynote by introducing the three key elements of IoT: performance, user environment and security. Dr. WP Hong, back then President of Samsung SDS and the Head of its Solution Business, introduced their innovative technologies, such as the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator which is a perfect example of IoT playing a role in the home environment. Samsung also affirmed its commitment to providing infinite value to its consumers by expanding its platform openness through cross-industry collaboration going forward.

5. 2020: Age of Experiences

At the beginning of a new decade, Samsung opened CES 2020 with a keynote address that heralded the beginning of a new age, the ‘Age of Experiences’ – the age in which personal preferences and experiences are foremost. The keynote speaker H.S. Kim, back then Samsung Consumer Electronics President and CEO, also shared the company’s vision for the electronics industry over the upcoming 10 years, which highlighted that, by merit of users that prioritise their experience and enjoyment of their products rather than just their ownership of them, personalised technologies able to satisfy each individual’s needs, smart homes and cities and robotic life companions are set to become more important. Samsung also emphasised in the keynote that it will become even more committed to expanding and advancing technologies by focusing on a better future for the users as the driving force and ultimate purpose behind their development.

And ‘Together for Tomorrow’ in 2022

At the upcoming CES 2022, Samsung is set to give its keynote address under the theme of the ‘Together for Tomorrow’, within which the idea that ‘technology should exist for humanity and the Earth’ is paramount.

Samsung is set to introduce its multifaceted efforts to contribute to making life on Earth more sustainable, and emphasise the need for everyone to participate in reducing climate change wherever they may be. The company will also be introducing its latest innovative technologies to help users enjoy even more enriched lifestyles based on optimised, customised service for each and every person, along with enhanced experiences of being connected to one another.

Samsung’s keynote address for at CES 2022 will be livestreamed online on the Samsung Electronics Newsroom website at 5th January 2022 at 4:30am CAT (4th January 6:30pm PST). Be sure to tune in to learn more about Samsung’s latest vision for how innovative technologies can change the world.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 21 August 2020 – Just as Samsung TVs have ranked number one globally for 14 consecutive years*, the company’s soundbars also hold the number one position in the global soundbar market. Samsung has held the number one spot in the global soundbar industry ever since international research firm Futuresource Consulting started officially recording in 2014. According to Futuresource, Samsung ranks number one in sales revenue, maintains 21.8 percent of the global market share, and accounted for 16.5 percent of the industry sales volume in 2019.

All Samsung soundbars and audio technology are tuned at the Samsung Audio Lab in Valencia, California, just outside of Los Angeles. Thanks to continuous efforts from the Samsung Audio Lab, the ‘Q series’, a part of its 2019 premium soundbar lineup, boasts high quality sound for which it garnered positive reviews from key tech media in the U.S. and Europe.

“It is rewarding to see that our competitiveness in the audio market over the last several years has culminated in this result,” said Nivash Ramsern, Head: Visual Display at Samsung South Africa. “We will ensure Samsung remains an industry leader in both the global TV and soundbar market for years to come.”

Samsung’s position as the soundbar market leader will be further strengthened through synergies with Samsung TVs. This technology received the CES 2020 Best of Innovation award, and is standardised across the entire range of Samsung’s soundbars (above Q60T) and some QLED models (above Q80T).

For more information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/za/.

* Source – Omdia, Jan-2020. Ranking in terms of shipments. Results are not an endorsement of Samsung. Any reliance on these results is at the third-party’s own risk.

At the 2019 Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge awards ceremony, hosted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Samsung received the Champion and Tier Awards, and at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Awards, Samsung was recognised as this year’s winner for promoting efficient resource use.

Samsung wins the EPA’s annual SMM Award. Jenni Chun (center-left), Head of Regulatory & Environmental Affairs, Samsung Electronics America, receives the Gold Tier Award. Kyungmo Yang (center-right), Manager of Galaxy Upcycling Program, Samsung Electronics, receives the Cutting Edge Champion Award.

A Winning Commitment to a Circular Economy

The SMM Electronics Challenge, hosted since 2014, is the EPA’s annual awards ceremony recognising participants for their commitment to sustainable materials management and the responsible recycling, honoring those companies who, in the US, voluntarily engage in recycling programs. Honours are awarded in two categories, the Champion Award for products, non-products and new technologies that are harnessed in environmentally conscious ways, and the Tier Award for recycling activities. This year, Samsung won awards in both categories, and on January 8, several leading Samsung figures attended the SMM Electronics Challenge awards ceremony in Las Vegas.

In the Champion Award category, Samsung received its third Cutting-Edge Award since the award’s creation in 2016, which recognises participants for pioneering ideas in electronics sustainability. The company was recognised for the Galaxy Upcycling project, a project dedicated to reusing end-of-life mobile phones for both environmental protection and societal gain.

The award-winning Galaxy Upcycling project transforms obsolete mobile phones no longer in use into internet-of-things (IoT) devices with the power to benefit underserved communities; since 2017, the project has, in partnership with Korean medical researchers, harnessed recycled smartphone devices for the development of portable eye examination equipment. In 2017, the project won the SMM Cutting-Edge Award for the first time, and last year supplied 90 portable ophthalmoscopes for use in Vietnam, benefitting the lives and vision of around 14,000 residents.

In the Tier Award category, Samsung has, for the sixth year in a row, been awarded Gold, an honour bestowed upon only those companies that send at least 96% of all used electronics to certified third-party recyclers. Samsung was recognised for collecting and recycling 60,000 tons of waste electronics in 2018, along with once again only making contracts with only those vendors certified by e-Stewards, a third-party certification management program for electronics recyclers. Furthermore, the company actively participates in eCycling, a voluntary e-waste collection program for companies organised by the CTA (Consumer Technology Association).

Innovating Sustainability

At this year’s CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, Samsung received a wide range of honors at the CES Innovation Awards, with products and services from display technologies to mobile devices awarded for standing out in the industry as leading, innovative solutions. Among these, Samsung’s The Serif Eco-Packaging design has been recognised for promoting the efficient use of resources.

The Eco-Packaging design allows consumers to upcycle the packaging of a product into small, versatile pieces of furniture. Once they have assembled their devices, consumers can repurpose the thick corrugated cardboard packaging into small tables or shelves, guided by manuals available by scanning a QR code on the box. This packaging is to be rolled out with Samsung’s TV line The Serif within the first half of 2020.

Also, ahead of this year’s CES, Samsung on January 4 hosted an e-waste collection event where attendees could dispose of their obsolete electronics, free of charge. Samsung has been hosting this e-waste recycling event annually since 2017.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 13 January 2020 – At CES 2020, Samsung joined BMW to showcase new approaches to creating the mobility experiences of the future with the world’s first commercialised 5G TCU (Telematics Control Unit).

BMW announced that 2021’s BMW iNEXT will be the first car in the world to be equipped with 5G technology from Samsung and HARMAN. The two companies have long served as a development partner to the BMW Group, and will continue helping automotive manufacturers develop vital innovations to serve the ever-changing needs of the rapidly evolving automotive market.

“As we enter the new decade of autonomous driving reality, we see great opportunities to experience many smart phone features that enable this new era of mobility as a service,” said Young Sohn, Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer for Samsung Electronics and Chairman of the Board for HARMAN. “One of the core enabling technologies is 5G. 5G’s low latency, massive density, device awareness, and super-fast download speeds enable new capabilities and experiences critical for autonomous driving systems of this decade. We look forward to our close partnership with BMW to bring Samsung’s 5G TCU technology delivered to its next generation of cars and provide the ultimate driving experience.”

“For nearly 30 years, Samsung and HARMAN have been key partners for the BMW Group,” said Klaus Frölich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “In 2021 we will launch the BMW iNEXT, the world’s first car with Samsung’s 5G technology, and we look forward to spreading this over the whole portfolio. Together, we can seamlessly connect the car to the world of our customers and beyond.”

Samsung and HARMAN showcased core automotive technologies including: ADAS, AI, semiconductors, memory, batteries, user interface, car audio, driver experiences, and 5G. The 5G-capable TCU brings together some of these key technologies and links external networks to onboard electronics systems and provides essential, real-time information to drivers in a range of road situations. Some of the key capabilities include downloading high-resolution HD maps in real-time and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) to deliver risk assessment and blind spot information to the driver. In addition, Samsung showcased its new conformal antenna technology, which can be integrated with the 5G-ready TCU, providing a replacement for the conventional external car shark-fin antenna, and supporting stable network connections.

“The Galaxy Note devices have met consumer wants and demands around the world. These devices represent our continuous effort to deliver industry leading innovations, from performance and power to intelligence and services,” said Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa. “The Galaxy Note10 Lite, which will be released in South Africa over the next few weeks, will introduce those distinct key premium features that make up a Galaxy Note experience.”

Galaxy Note10 Lite: Enhanced Productivity Anytime, Anywhere

Enjoy the premium Note experience and increase your productivity on the Galaxy Note10 Lite with the signature S Pen. Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) support means you can navigate a presentation, control your video content or take a picture, all with a simple click of the S Pen. Air Command will also give you quick and easy access to the signature S Pen features you need quickly and easily. The Samsung Notes app makes note taking faster and easier when on the go. And now, you can turn those handwritten notes into text for easy editing and sharing.

Galaxy Premium Features: 

The Galaxy Note10 Lite will give even more people access to key premium Galaxy features:

Uninterrupted Display: Galaxy Note10 Lite offer edge-to-edge Infinity-O displays. With a 6.7-inch screen size, the display provides an expansive and immersive experience, allowing you to fully enjoy and get lost in your favorite multimedia content.

Larger and Long-Lasting Battery: The Galaxy Note10 Lite is packed with a large 4,500mAh battery and super-fast charging capabilities, so you can stay connected longer and spend more time doing the things you love.

Services and Security: The Galaxy Note10 Lite comes with Samsung’s ecosystem of apps and services, including Bixby, Samsung Pay and Samsung Health. As you would expect, this device is also protected with defense-grade security platform Samsung Knox.

Galaxy Note10 Lite Specifications¹

Samsung One UI with Android 10 features:

In addition, the Samsung One UI with Android 10 features announced in December 2019 (ews.samsung.com/za/samsungs-one-ui-a-singular-smartphone-experience) will also be offered with the Galaxy Note10 Lite.

The Galaxy Note10 Lite will be available in Aura Glow and Aura Black. It is currently on display at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas. Pricing and additional information about the latest Galaxy devices will be available in the coming weeks in South Africa.

¹ 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.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 10 January 2020 – At CES 2020, Samsung unveiled Digital Cockpit 2020, which utilises 5G to link features inside and outside the vehicle and provide connected experiences for drivers and passengers alike.

Digital Cockpit 2020 is the third co-development between Samsung Electronics and HARMAN International, and combines Samsung’s telecommunications technologies, semiconductors and displays with HARMAN’s automotive expertise. The solution enables seamless two-way connections between the home, the office and all the other spaces that users may visit while providing personalised experiences and in-car infotainment. What’s more, smart features enabled through Bixby actively support the driver, further reinforcing safe driving.

Digital Cockpit 2020 incorporates eight displays inside the vehicle, as well as eight cameras. The solution utilises Samsung Exynos Auto V9 SoC (System on Chip), a semiconductor for vehicle electronics, and Android 10, which allow for several features to be run at the same time.

Tailored Infotainment Delivery

Once the driver logs in using either facial recognition or a smartphone fingerprint reader, the Center Information Display can be used to show the driver’s schedule and a range of other information.

The Digital Cockpit’s Front Display provides visual navigation information and is positioned to ensure that the driver keeps their eyes on the road. It is equipped with QLED Local Dimming¹technology and split-screen mode to allow passengers to make use of the display without distracting the driver.

The Dashboard Display, which is seamlessly incorporated into the vehicle’s interior design, is positioned under the Front Display and delivers visual notices and alerts.

When the driver activates Samsung’s Bixby voice recognition service, this display shows a Bixby animation that listens to the driver’s commands.

The Console Display is located under the Center Information Display. It can be set up to control various features and the functions of other displays, as well as the vehicle itself.

Passengers sitting in the back seats can connect their personal tablets to the Digital Cockpit and use them to control things like air conditioning, ambient lighting and vehicle speakers. They will also be able to enjoy multimedia content and other services provided by the system on their devices once they are connected.

When the driver or passengers connect their mobile devices to Samsung DeX² for vehicles, they will be able to read and work on documents from their PCs on the car’s Center Information Display. The display also has a feature that allows users to connect multiple mobile devices at the same time. Unlike the 2019 Digital Cockpit, the 2020 solution allows for these connections to be made wirelessly.

The Digital Cockpit 2020 also features multi-zone audio, which allows each passenger to listen to their own music via speakers embedded in the headrests of their seats.

Enhancing Safety According to Individual Needs

On the back of the vehicle, micro LEDs on the external tail lamps are used to form the 53.7-inch Tail Display. With V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communication technology and the Tail Display, the vehicle can share messages and communicate the driver’s status to parties outside the vehicle when required. For example, the display might show messages such as “roadworks ahead” and “pedestrians approaching”, among others.

Inside the vehicle, two 7-inch displays – one on the left and one on the right – serve as displays for the Camera Monitoring System, which replace the conventional side mirrors in the Digital Cockpit 2020. The system monitors possible risks on the rear lateral sides of the vehicle while the user is driving or parking. In addition, the driver can adjust the areas that the cameras monitor according to their preferences.

Meanwhile, the Cabin Talk feature allows the driver to conveniently talk to the passengers in the back seats without needing to turn their head.

Smarter “Bixby in the car” Actively Communicates with Drivers

Digital Cockpit 2020 operates based on the Android platform for cars. This allows Samsung’s integrated IoT platform SmartThings to work in tandem with the revamped “Bixby in the car” to enhance connectivity by allowing the vehicle to actively communicate with the driver. For example, when someone visits your house, Bixby in the car detects the visitor via SmartThings and notifies you of the visit. Not only that, but Bixby can also make suggestions regarding turning lights and home appliances on at your house while you’re on the way home.

What’s more, Bixby in the car also monitors the driver’s status via the Driver Monitoring System, and tailors its suggestions to the driver’s perceived needs. For example, when you are growing drowsy during a long-distance drive, the system may suggest turning on some music, or taking other precautions to combat drowsiness.

Smarter Bixby in the car establishes an environment that is carefully tailored to suit the driver’s needs and circumstances. What’s more, the system actively monitors the status of the vehicle (things such as engine oil levels), and Bixby alerts the driver when a visit to a maintenance shop is needed.

^{1 Samsung’s QLED Local Dimming technology allows for the brightness in the screen to be selectively adjusted according to what is being displayed at the time
2 Samsung DeX is a service that allows mobile devices to connect to and realise an environment similar to a PC anywhere, anytime}

Samsung Newsroom highlighted several of the company’s award-winning innovations when the winners were first announced in November of last year. While that article largely spotlighted winners from within the mobile category, here, we shift our focus to award-winning innovations from across Samsung’s wide-ranging product ecosystem.

Read on to learn more about this year’s honorees in the display, home appliance and memory categories.

Samsung’s CES® 2020 Innovation Award-winning display and soundbar technologies include QLED 8K TVs’ new Q-Symphony sound feature and the lifestyle TV “The Sero” (both of which snagged Best of Innovation honors), as well as the Q950TS QLED 8K TV, and the company’s latest gaming monitors, the Odyssey G9 and G7.

• Q-Symphony – Samsung’s revolutionary Q-Symphony feature harnesses the power of 2020 QLED 8K TVs and the HQ-Q800T soundbar – combining the former’s built-in speakers with the latter’s impressive audio capabilities – to deliver a truly immersive and powerful sound experience.

• The Sero – Samsung’s versatile lifestyle TV, The Sero, not only provides users with a conventional horizontal TV-viewing experience, but can also be flipped 90 degrees to allow them to enjoy content created in vertical formats.

• Q950TS – Samsung’s 85-inch Q950TS QLED 8K TV is packed with enhancements, including a groundbreaking design and next-level picture, screen and audio technologies. Standout features include the TV’s new Infinity Screen and true-to-life 8K resolution, as well as its innovative AI Quantum Processor 8K and Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) technology.

• G9 – A CES® 2020 Innovation Awards honoree in the Computer Peripherals and Accessories category, the Odyssey G9 features Samsung’s all-new Infinity Core Lighting on its rear. The eye-catching lighting adds a futuristic glow to the gaming monitor’s already-striking white exterior, further setting it apart from other devices on the market.

• G7 – An honoree in the Gaming category, the 32- or 27-inch Odyssey G7 offers users a gaming experience unlike any they’ve seen before, thanks to a first-of-its-kind combination of a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, QHD (Quad High Definition) and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Winning entries in the Home Appliance category include the latest version of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, as well as the company’s new Cube Refrigerator Series.

• Family Hub – The latest edition of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator features personalised, AI-driven enhancements that help users get the most out of their kitchen. These enhancements enable families to plan meals, share video content and manage their smart home – all from their kitchen.

• 4D-Flex BESPOKE – Samsung’s 4D-Flex BESPOKE refrigerator establishes a completely new category of customised home appliances. From materials to colors and even fridge and freezer functions, users can customise a wide range of the refrigerator’s features to make this innovative product their own.

• Cube Refrigerator Series – Available in a versatile range of colors, including Wine, Beer and Beauty, Samsung’s Cube Refrigerator Series features three new compact models whose stackable design and innovative low-noise cooling technology make them suitable for any room – from the kitchen to the bedroom.

• Portable Slim Double Induction – Samsung’s Portable Slim Double Induction is an innovative cooking solution designed for those who live in smaller households. It features two versatile induction burners that themselves feature nine different power levels to suit any culinary need – not just in the kitchen, but in other rooms as well.

• Samsung Shoe Care System – The Samsung Shoe Care System is a trailblazing innovation in home shoe care that offers users an all-in-one shoe care solution, enabling them to deodorise, dehumidify and dry shoes with a single convenient device.

• WA8500V Front Load Washer – Samsung’s latest front load washer not only offers users a laundry experience that is both personalised and powerful – thanks to its large capacity and wide range of wash cycle options, including Super Speed – it also offers advanced Wi-Fi connectivity and smart voice controls for ultimate usability.

Samsung’s memory solutions were also honored with a number of awards. This year’s winners include the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch, an external storage drive featuring significantly enhanced speed and security; the Samsung SSD 980 PRO, a consumer SSD solution that’s optimised for high-end PCs; and the PM1733 30.72TB PCle Gen4 NVMe SSD, the industry’s fastest and largest capacity storage drive, developed for next-generation datacenters and enterprise server systems.

Many of the innovative products covered in this article are currently on display at this year’s CES, alongside a wide range of products from across Samsung’s mobile ecosystem. These include the category-defining Galaxy Fold – recognised for its innovative materials and technologies – and the Galaxy Note10/Note10+ – the latest power devices in Samsung’s Note series, designed to help users do more of what they love. The Galaxy Note10+ 5G received its CES® 2020 Best of Innovation award based on the sheer power it offers users with its best-in-class specs, features and network speeds. Similarly, as Samsung’s first 5G flagship phone, the Galaxy S10 5G has been recognised for offering users fast network connectivity, advanced features and high performance. Furthermore, the Galaxy A50 has been acknowledged for bringing users advanced hardware and premium features at a lower price point.

Samsung kicked off the first CES of a brand-new decade by announcing the beginning of a new era of technology. Over the course of a riveting keynote – led by HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics – the company introduced a wide range of innovations designed specifically for this new era. With these technologies, the speakers explained, Samsung hopes to enhance our daily lives, homes and cities with more seamless and meaningful experiences – and in doing so, help create a better world for us all.

Follow along as we walk you through the biggest moments from Samsung’s unforgettable event.

Welcome to the “Age of Experience”

Addressing the tech world and consumers around the globe from the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Kim kicked off the keynote by heralding the beginning of a new age.

The Age of Experience, Kim began, is one that will “delight … redefine … and bring us closer together.” He went on to describe how consumers are increasingly prioritizing experiences over products, and “looking to buy convenience, peace of mind and enjoyment.” The Age of Experience is a product of this shift – an age in which increasingly innovative products foster seamless experiences and memorable moments. “At the center is us,” said Kim. “People. The way we interact with our world is what drives this evolution.”

“This is Samsung’s mission,” Kim continued, “to create unforgettable moments that make your lives better and make a difference for humanity.”

Introducing New Robotic Life Companions

To illustrate how Samsung is working to deliver on that mission, Kim spotlighted innovations that demonstrate “the next level of personalized interaction.”

One of the most exciting products of Samsung’s human-centric approach to innovation, he explained, involves vision to create robots that act as personal life companions. “Intelligent robots that live by your side and react to your needs every day,” Kim explained. “Robots that know you, support you, and take care of you, so you can focus on what really matters.”

Say Hello to Ballie

Next, Kim invited a very special guest to the stage – the initial embodiment of Samsung’s ‘robotic companion’ vision, Ballie. After the introduction, Kim treated the crowd to a demonstration of what the clever little guy can do, which includes everything from helping users exercise and manage their smart devices, to recording and storing special moments.

Offering More Personalized Care with Samsung Health

Afterward, Kim yielded the stage to Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist of Samsung Research, Sebastian Seung, who introduced enhancements to Samsung Health that leverage AI to offer users more personalized care. After outlining the enhancements, which he described as “the next evolution of the wellness experience,” Seung took a moment to meditate and work on his yoga posture using the Samsung Health app on his Galaxy Watch.

Next, Seung discussed Samsung’s efforts to revolutionize digital healthcare by partnering with industry leaders like Kaiser Permanente. To offer the audience more details on the partnership, Seung welcomed the Chief Innovation Officer of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Dr. Tadashi Ted Funahashi, who introduced one of the most exciting products of the collaboration: HeartWise, a convenient, home-based cardiac rehab program created to help patients recovering from heart surgery.

Trek the Himalayas From Home: AR Fitness with GEMS

Turning the crowd’s attention to innovations that will transform living spaces in the Age of Experience – blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital realms, and reshaping the home into “a living organism” – Federico Casalegno, Senior Vice President and Chief Design Innovation Officer of the Samsung Design Innovation Center, and Designer Chandni Dheer treated the audience to the first demonstration of Samsung’s GEMS technology. Short for ‘Gait Enhancing & Motivating System,’ GEMS pairs with AR glasses and a Galaxy smartwatch to create completely customized fitness experiences – transforming your home into your own personal workout studio.

Step Into the Smart Home of the Future

Within the smart home, the kitchen’s transformation will be especially dramatic. “Your kitchen appliances will be your cooking partners – like a personal chef, a nutritionist, and a shopping assistant, all in one,” Casalegno explained. The Family Hub refrigerator will be able to order ingredients online as it prepares “intelligent food playlists” for you, while Samsung’s new, self-contained growing station “puts garden-fresh produce on your table every night,” and Bot Chef provides an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.

Casalegno went on to describe how the living room of the new smart home is set to become “an actual community where we interact with people around the world.” Expansive, 5G-enabled displays in this next-level living room will become “windows to the world,” connecting loved ones as if they were in the same room. Users will be able to play games so realistically that it will feel like they’re “all together on the field,” while watching the game’s YouTube channel and video chatting with other players at the same time, all on a single, large display.

“The potential to bring outside experiences into the home is literally endless,” Casalegno concluded, “and we are just beginning.”

A Peek at the Safer, More Convenient City of the Future

Next, Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, laid out an inspiring vision for cities in the Age of Experience. In a smart city, she explained, smart buildings will “anticipate and adjust to your needs,” and will be designed with sustainability in mind, too, “doing much more while producing lower emissions.” Becher also outlined how Samsung is partnering with leading global real estate developers like Greystar to develop smart buildings, and highlighted an example in Seoul where residents can “call an elevator, turn out the lights, manage their package deliveries, or even find their parking spot with a simple swipe or voice command.”

Afterward, Becher explained how the in-vehicle experience is transforming in terms of both convenience and safety. To illustrate this point, she described a driver getting stuck in traffic and their vehicle communicating with their other devices to adjust to the delay. She also discussed how these intelligent vehicles can sense “beyond the driver’s line of sight” to detect danger and minimize collisions, and how the city of the future will allow us to connect in “entirely new and valuable ways, as the digital world merges with physical space in extended reality experiences.”

Data Security: One Thing Samsung Will Never Compromise On

Before closing out the keynote, Kim took a moment to reaffirm Samsung’s commitment to a critically important issue both now and going forward: data security. “As an industry leader,” he began, “our commitment to data security will never waver.” Describing data security as fundamental in the Age of Experience, Kim reiterated Samsung’s pledge to safeguard users’ privacy by securely managing their data from the moment they provide it until its disposal.

Most importantly, he emphasized, the company is committed to “giving you control over your information. To that end, Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you, [and] we will stand by this promise no matter what.”

Creating a Better Place for All

Kim followed up that pledge by reaffirming another commitment that has guided Samsung’s innovation for years – a commitment to using technology to do good. “We have always believed that the benefits of technology must be available to all,” said Kim, describing innovations like Relúmĭno, which was created to help the visually impaired see more clearly, GEMS, which helps the elderly and disabled move more comfortably, and IGNIS firefighters save lives and stay safe while doing so, as products of this commitment.

Kim also underscored a key pillar of Samsung’s CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus. Building on the success of the many educational programs that the company has run over the last decade, the Samsung Innovation Campus offers young people training on the latest AI, IoT and cloud technologies.

Describing the campus as “core to our CSR vision,” Kim proudly revealed that the program has reached 20,000 students in 13 countries since its launch in 2019, and will double in size this year. By equipping future generations with the skills they’ll need to meet tomorrow’s demands, Samsung hopes to empower young people to achieve more and create a better world.

The Age of Experience will transform how we care for ourselves and our family, how we can customise our homes to meet our individual needs, and how we can build safer, more sustainable intelligent cities. By showcasing its latest advances in intelligent robotics, AI, 5G and edge computing, Samsung offered a glimpse into the not-so-distant future in which these technologies will come together to offer richer, more adaptive experiences for consumers.

“In the Age of Experience, we need to re-think the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles,” said H.S. Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “What makes Samsung’s approach unique is the fact that we have a very clear philosophy built around human-centered innovation. We build and create to solve problems and enhance people’s lives.”

The Next Level of Personal Care

At the core of Samsung’s human-centered vision is personalised care, enhancing the health and well-being of consumers by satisfying their individual needs. During his opening remarks, H.S. Kim unveiled Samsung’s vision of robots as ‘life companions,’ and introduced Ballie, a small, rolling robot that understands you, supports you, and reacts to your needs to be actively helpful around the house.

Sebastian Seung, Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist at Samsung Electronics elaborated on Ballie, explaining that its On-Device AI capabilities enable it to be a fitness assistant and a mobile interface that seeks solutions for people’s changing needs. It does all this while maintaining stringent data protection and privacy standards.

“We believe AI is the future of personalised care,” stated Dr. Seung. “We see on-device AI as central to truly personalised experiences. On-device AI puts you in control of your information and protects your privacy, while still delivering the power of personalisation.”

Samsung is also showcasing advanced and personalised health solutions. For example, the company has collaborated with Kaiser Permanente to develop a home-based, virtual cardiac rehabilitation solution that pairs a Samsung smartwatch with a smartphone via Bluetooth. Samsung’s HeartWise application sends reminders to the patient to exercise, collects activity data, and continuously displays the patient’s heart rate during workouts. This data is automatically uploaded via the smartphone to the patient’s chart so that clinicians, case managers and physical therapists can track the patient’s progress and engage with them accordingly.

The program enables users to partake in cardiac rehabilitation at home without taking time out of their everyday lives to travel to a hospital or medical clinic. The positive results of the home-based cardiac rehabilitation program were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst last year. Going forward, Samsung will continue to develop human-centric healthcare solutions that cater to the unique needs of the individuals who rely on them.

A Home Tailored to You

Samsung also offered a peek into the future home. Federico Casalegno, Chief Design Innovation Officer of Samsung Design Innovation Center, stated that the home will offer unique, immersive experiences with cutting-edge innovations like AI, sensors and data analysis: “As a living organism, the intelligent home will be a deeply personal space, tailoring experiences for each of us, according to our personal needs.”

Dr. Casalegno highlighted how spatial boundaries of the physical and digital worlds are dissolving, transforming living spaces into bespoke experience-spaces, like an art gallery, yoga studio or other forms of imaginable space. Such blurring of the two realms, according to Dr. Casalegno, is what will transform the home in the next decade.

He led the first-ever immersive demonstration involving Samsung’s GEMS (Gait Enhancing & Motivating System) technology. The demonstration showed how consumers can use AR glasses to work out with a virtual personal trainer, climb a mountain or walk underwater, from the comfort of their living room, while GEMS aggregated and analysed results to give personalised action recommendations.

Samsung also showed how a room can be transformed with a screen like its MicroLED display, a convergence of software, AI, IoT and hardware. “A screen is not a product – it’s your window to the world, allowing you to instantly connect to your loved ones and friends as if they are in the same room,” said Dr. Casalegno, emphasising that smart rooms can provide boundless experiences. “People can see and experience almost everything in the world and even the unknown world through the screen.”

Samsung also discussed the evolution of the modern culinary journey where appliances become cooking partners – a personal chef, nutritionist, and shopping assistant rolled into one. Intelligent and innovative technology can customise the entire food experience for consumers—from thoughtful recipe suggestions and meal planning tailored to personal preferences and what’s on-hand, to seamless grocery shopping, delivery and cooking. The company also highlighted a growing station for garden produce at home, and Bot Chef, a robotic food preparation assistant.

Safer and More Sustainable Urban Life in Smart Cities

Pointing to increasing global urbanisation, Samsung outlined its smart cities vision, where intelligent systems enabled by smart devices, platforms and data,will make city life much safer and easier. Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, said, “We have the tools and the knowledge to create intelligent systems that make living in the city more engaging, safe, and efficient – so that our children, and their children after that can love living in their cities as much as so many of us do today.” She added, “Smart cities that utilise AI, IoT and 5G will transform how we interact with the surrounding environment in ways that maximise convenience and enjoyment”.

With IoT technology expanding its reach beyond the home to all types of buildings, Samsung’s core vision lies in saving energy, cutting down emissions and helping to achieve sustainability as populations grow. Smart buildings will also make life more connected and convenient. For example, smart building residents will be able to call elevators, turn lights off, manage deliveries or check for parking spots with a simple swipe or voice command. Intelligent appliances installed in smart buildings will request repairs and address problems before residents even notice the issue.

In realising the goal of creating a smart city with smart buildings, Samsung emphasised the importance of open collaboration. The company is working towards building partnerships with builders and property managers like Greystar Real Estate Partners, a leading U.S.-based global real estate developer, with which it will devise smart building solutions. “With smart buildings, the residents’ experience will get smarter, more efficient, more effective, so they utilise less energy,” said Bob Faith, Chairman and CEO of Greystar. “Samsung has the ability to bring all the technologies together and that convergence of the technologies in one place is really critical.”

Samsung also demonstrated how the combination of 5G, edge computing and AI will transform the urban transportation experience. Becher shared the company’s vision to lead the new era of vehicles, with 5G technology enabling Vehicle-to-Everything communication, which will seamlessly connect cars to the rest of the city.

Becher added that smart cities combined with 5G will be able to provide experiences unimaginable a few years ago to communities. She noted, “Faster and easier digital connection with each other will strengthen our sense of community and create entirely new forms of interaction.”

Building A Better Place for All

Concluding his 2020 CES keynote address, H.S. Kim stressed that the company is focused on using technology to create a better place for all. He highlighted three key areas of importance for the company going forward: security and privacy, technology for good, and citisenship. Kim made clear that as an industry leader, the company’s commitment to data security and personal privacy will not waver, and that the protection of security and privacy will be a top priority as technology advances. He stated that the most important thing is putting people in control over their information, “Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you.”

He further emphasised that Samsung Knox, the company’s defense-grade security platform, will continue to expand to protect a growing array of Samsung’s devices—from mobile and TVs to home appliances and more. “We will further ensure transparent data management and transfer by advancing our data protection efforts with on-device AI, edge computing, and blockchain technology.”

Samsung also showcased how it is innovating for good, with technologies like Relúmĭno, which can help the visually-impaired see; IGNIS, a tool that helps firefighters make their jobs safer; and GEMS that helps the elderly and disabled to move.

Samsung also underscored a key pillar of its CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus program in 2020. Leveraging the success of the many educational programs from the last decade, Samsung Innovation Campus provides the next generation with training on the latest AI, IoT, and cloud technologies. Samsung said the campus has educated more than 20,000 students from 13 countries since its launch in 2019 and will double in size this year.

By providing education for future generations, Samsung is furthering its philosophy that technology’s purpose is to solve social problems and empower people to achieve more to make a better world.

For more information about the details disclosed at CES 2020, 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 7 10:00 a,m. till January 10 4:00 p.m, 2020.