Lee Jae-yong Reviews AI Home Appliance Roadmap: "How Far Ahead Are We?" Piercing Questions

First Visit to Suwon Home Appliance Division This Year
Meeting After Lunch with Key Executives Including Han Jong-hee
Continuous Questions During Technology Explanation
Efforts to Solidify 'AI Appliances = Samsung' Formula
Sequential Site Visits... Overseas Inspection Expected During Chuseok

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong reportedly visited the Home Appliances Division to review the future competitiveness of the company's artificial intelligence (AI) appliances.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is returning to Korea on the afternoon of the 13th through the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, after a two-week business trip to the United States. During his trip, Chairman Lee held a private meeting at the home of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and met consecutively with CEOs of major big tech companies in the fields of IT, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors to explore ways to strengthen cooperation. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

According to business circles on the 10th, Lee visited Suwon Digital City the previous afternoon, had lunch with key executives including Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman and Head of the Device Experience (DX) Division and Home Appliances Division, and then spent about an hour and a half inspecting core components and future technologies of home appliances.

This was Lee's first visit to the Home Appliances Division this year. On the day, he toured the AI-based product and technology exhibition space and reviewed the development roadmap for core technologies of strategic products. While listening to explanations about each technology, he reportedly asked questions such as "Is this our proprietary technology?", "How far ahead are we?", and "What is the momentum behind developing this technology?"

He showed particular interest in the progress and future application plans of the product standardization project underway to enhance manufacturing competitiveness. He was also briefed on the status of competitors by sector and major companies by region, and reviewed strategies related to AI appliances.

The attendees agreed to strive to secure "super-gap global leadership" through innovation in user experience and early acquisition of future technologies. Samsung Electronics is making this year the inaugural year of AI appliances and is focusing on solidifying the formula "AI Appliances = Samsung."

At the 100th anniversary of Europe's largest home appliance exhibition, the "Berlin International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) 2024," Samsung participated under the theme "AI for Everyone," showcasing services based on SmartThings and various AI appliances.

In May, at the "AI Seoul Summit," Chairman Lee delivered a video speech stating, "AI is fundamentally changing not only industrial innovation and economic growth but also the way we live, work, and communicate with the world," and pledged to "join the international community's efforts to create safe, innovative, and inclusive AI."

Earlier, in March, Lee visited the Video Display (VD) Division and watched a demonstration of the yellow ball-shaped AI companion robot "Bolly." He then requested, "Please consider ways to link it with Galaxy wearable products," and added, "I hope it includes functions for elderly people living alone."

Samsung Electronics plans to embed screens in all future home appliances and focus on transforming the customer usage experience paradigm into AI-based intelligent appliances.

At a press conference for "IFA 2024" on the 7th (local time), Vice Chairman Han said, "We have reached a situation where data is exchanged among AI-connected devices, enabling hyper-personalization," and added, "We will encompass connected experiences across all products including mobile, TV, and home appliances." He also emphasized the importance of security. When asked about the directives Chairman Lee gives to the DX Division, Han conveyed, "He demands differentiated products, products that consumers recognize and appreciate."

Meanwhile, Chairman Lee is expected to accelerate on-site management by sequentially visiting other business sites soon. During the Chuseok holiday, as in previous years, he is likely to visit overseas business sites to inspect local operations and encourage employees who are away from their families.