[Reporter’s Notebook] The Current State of AI Seen at a Radio Exhibition

"There is a tennis lesson at 10 a.m., and it takes 20 minutes by car to get to the class location. Shall I call a taxi for you?"

Like 'J.A.R.V.I.S.', the AI assistant appearing in the movie 'Iron Man', when asked "What's my schedule today?" to the LG Electronics AI Hub, a real-time traffic situation appeared on the TV along with the answer. The washing machine and dryer, recognizing the tennis lesson, automatically switched to the 'functional clothing' mode when returning home after exercise.

From the 6th (local time), the largest European electronics exhibition 'IFA 2024' was held in Berlin, Germany. The AI technology unveiled here raised expectations that an era where AI learns individual usage patterns and situations, freely converses, and integrates control of all home appliances will open within this year. Although AI has been a recurring theme at IFA for several years, it seems there has never been a time when the changes AI will bring to daily life felt as clear as this year. Voices from the scene said that it is only a matter of time before a J.A.R.V.I.S. that does things unasked automatically appears in reality.

IFA, which started as a radio technology competition, has completely transformed into an AI technology competition after 100 years. IFA originated from the 'Berlin International Radio Exhibition' first held in 1924 by the German government to showcase innovative radio technology, which was then attracting attention as new media, to the world. Nowadays, with the boundary between traditional home appliances and IT devices broken down, it is effectively a comprehensive home appliance and IT exhibition, but the exhibition name IFA itself, which continues to this day, means 'Internationale' (International), 'Funk' (Radio), and 'Ausstellung' (Exhibition) in German. It was also at IFA in 1932 that the world's first car radio was introduced, the first color TV appeared in 1937, and the world was amazed by the emergence of portable TVs in 1957.

As the world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein said in his keynote speech at IFA in 1930, "The source of all technological achievements is sacred curiosity, the ridiculous drive of the contemplative researcher, and the constructive imagination of the technological inventor," it now seems that home appliance companies must focus on developing and securing core technologies through scientific imagination and research, moving beyond simple manufacturing.

Moreover, this IFA delivers a message that companies must take a step further: 'Innovation for all.' It means that we should not run toward technological advancement without any reflection or consideration, calling it the 'future food source.' It implies that we must frequently look back to ensure we are on the right path by considering socially vulnerable groups in digital blind spots and preventing legal and ethical issues such as privacy infringement.