“ Home appliances need to evolve and expand in order to keep pace with the changing times. Moving beyond the conventional approach of easing the burden of household tasks, the focus now shifts to enhancing the quality of life by empowering connected appliances to operate more independently. The crucial elements for achieving this transformation are sensors and utilization of usage data .”
– Moohyung Lee, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Team, Digital Appliances (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics
In the rapidly advancing realm of technology, innovation serves as the cornerstone propelling brands towards the future. Samsung introduced “Core Tech” at IFA 2023, unveiling the company’s vision for home appliances and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Explore how Core Tech revolutionizes interactions with technology and transforms home appliances through this comprehensive three-part series.
For years, home appliances have played a pivotal role in alleviating the chores of daily life. With the advent of cutting-edge technologies, the industry has embarked on developing products that not only enhance convenience but also operate in alignment with user preferences.
Expanding on this notion, appliances that function autonomously within a connected ecosystem have emerged to meet the evolving expectations of consumers. Leading industry players showcased these advancements at the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest exhibition for consumer electronics and information technology, held annually in Las Vegas.
Samsung Electronics envisions its Core Tech principles as the driving force behind the evolution of home appliances for the future. In the concluding segment of this series, Samsung Newsroom engaged with Moohyung Lee, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Team, Digital Appliances (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics, to delve deeper into the philosophy and progress of Samsung’s home appliances.
▲ Moohyung Lee, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Team, Digital Appliances (DA) Business
“Core Tech serves as the cornerstone of Samsung’s home appliances. Through Core Tech, users are offered a glimpse into a future powered by distinctive, state-of-the-art innovations.”
Redefining Everyday Life Through Core Tech
Technological breakthroughs have fundamentally transformed domestic life, enhancing user convenience and reshaping lifestyle patterns. The introduction of the refrigerator elevated food preservation standards, significantly reducing illnesses caused by spoiled food. Concurrently, the widespread adoption of washing machines drastically cut down the time spent on laundry, enabling individuals to pursue opportunities beyond the confines of their homes.
▲ Representing the foundation of Samsung’s home appliances, the Core Tech principles are encapsulated by four core themes: Outstanding, AI-Powered, Flexible Use, and Durable & Sustainable.
With a legacy of over five decades in pioneering home appliance development, Samsung has redefined home experiences to lead the charge in market innovation. The company’s four Core Tech values — “Outstanding,” “AI-Powered,” “Flexible Use,” and “Durable & Sustainable” — steer its trajectory of development.
“We have been crafting Outstanding technologies to mitigate or eliminate user challenges,” remarked Lee. “Samsung appliances are reshaping the home experience by reducing inconvenience and enhancing usability.”
Samsung’s industry acumen has reshaped the landscape of home appliances, turning once-farfetched possibilities into tangible realities. Innovations like AI Ecobubble™ in washing machines optimize laundry performance for energy efficiency. Air conditioners featuring WindFree™ Cooling set a new standard for home cooling without the discomfort of direct cold air. Refrigerators and freezers equipped with Twin Cooling Plus™ ensure minimal temperature fluctuations through independently regulated compartments. The Clean Station™ integrated within the Bespoke Jet™ AI cordless vacuum automatically empties the dust bin post-cleaning.
▲ Samsung introduced the new Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™ and Bespoke Jet™ AI at CES 2024, applying the Core Tech philosophy to redefine home cleaning experiences.
Catering to Varied Lifestyles with Tailored Experiences
Designing space-efficient, high-performance, and energy-saving appliances has posed a common challenge for home appliance manufacturers. Samsung has transcended these constraints by developing appliances that offer adaptability to user needs and environments.
Samsung aims to craft product designs that facilitate personalization and embody the Flexible Use value of Core Tech. The Dual Cook Flex™ Oven allows simultaneous cooking of two dishes at varying temperatures. The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ enables users to wash and dry clothes using a single machine, while Bespoke refrigerators offer customizable exterior panels.
▲ The interior of the Dual Cook Flex™ Oven can be partitioned to cook food at different temperatures concurrently, with the door offering partial or full opening options.
▲ The Bespoke Laundry lineup allows stacking or side-by-side installation. The Bespoke AI Laundry Hub™ integrates washer and dryer functionalities into a sleek single-unit design. The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ provides an All-in-One laundry experience by facilitating washing and drying within a single machine.
“We are continuously exploring and developing new features that resonate with diverse lifestyles,” shared Lee. “Samsung home appliances exemplify the Flexible Use value by delivering tailored experiences that cater to individual needs and preferences.”
While durability is a hallmark of home appliances, there is a valid concern that products or features may become obsolete and fail to adapt to evolving user lifestyles. To counter this challenge, Samsung has been proactive in creating appliances that not only endure the test of time but also evolve alongside users’ dynamic lifestyles.
▲ Lee elaborated on how Core Tech steers the evolution of Samsung’s home appliances.
“In our development process, we must account for both current and future user needs,” he emphasized. “To achieve this, we have channeled our efforts into embodying the Durable aspect of Core Tech — ensuring product longevity while enhancing both hardware and software components over time.”
As a testament to longevity, Samsung leverages cutting-edge technologies and industry standards to extend the lifespan of its home appliances. The company offers warranties for critical machine components such as digital inverter motors or compressors to uphold product integrity. Moreover, Samsung’s Bespoke range features interchangeable external panels to ensure that the product aesthetics remain timeless.
Through enhanced product-to-product connectivity, SmartThings — Samsung’s integrated home ecosystem — empowers users to conduct diagnostics on their appliances, address issues, and update their devices with the latest software.
Furthermore, the Sustainable facet of Core Tech underscores Samsung’s commitment to aiding users in reducing their environmental footprint and executing household tasks in an eco-conscious manner. The Less Microfiber™ Cycle and Filter, developed in collaboration with outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, curbs the release of microplastics during the laundry process.
▲ The Less Microfiber™ Filter, a collaboration with Patagonia, minimizes microplastic emissions during laundry cycles. Bespoke washing machines support the Less Microfiber™ Cycle through software updates.
The Role of AI in Home Appliances
As showcased at CES 2024, the era of AI-infused home appliances has arrived. In alignment with this trend, the final tenet of Samsung’s Core Tech philosophy is AI-Powered innovation — offering heightened user convenience by minimizing manual intervention.
Samsung unveiled an array of AI-equipped appliances at CES 2024. The Bespoke 4-Door Flex™ Refrigerator with AI Family Hub™ integrates AI Vision Inside, a groundbreaking feature that autonomously monitors and catalogs food items. The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ determines optimal wash and dry cycles based on factors like load weight, fabric type, and soil level. The Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™ robotic vacuum cleaner boasts enhanced navigation capabilities for autonomous household cleaning.
▲ (From left) The Bespoke 4-Door Flex™ Refrigerator with AI Family Hub™, Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™, and Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™ showcased at CES 2024.
“Samsung’s home appliances are designed to reduce user involvement. We leverage AI technology to create appliances that operate intelligently, almost anticipating user needs,” noted Lee. “These advancements eliminate the necessity for manual operation and adjustment, as Samsung appliances can autonomously regulate air conditioning settings, oven temperatures, cooking durations, and more.”
▲ Lee outlined Samsung’s forward-looking approach to AI-driven home appliances.
Sensors and data form the bedrock of Samsung’s AI-driven home appliances. By continuously gathering insights through sensors and harnessing AI to learn user behaviors, Samsung appliances can perform as desired without manual intervention.
These sensors empower home appliances to execute specific tasks for users — such as tracking food removal from the refrigerator, gauging soil levels and weight during laundry cycles, and identifying objects during cleaning routines. Samsung is expanding the integration of sensors in appliances through advanced technologies like LiDAR and 3D sensors.
“Although these sensors may not be visible, they play a pivotal role in gathering signals and data to fortify the AI algorithms of home appliances,” highlighted Lee. “For instance, the refrigerator captures approximately 300 signals, while the washing machine collects around 200 signals. We aim to augment this number to enhance the AI capabilities embedded in our appliances.”
Sensors, data analytics, and enhanced connectivity are poised to redefine the scope of AI-driven appliances within households. Driven by the pursuit of unparalleled user convenience, Samsung remains committed to developing AI-powered home appliances that simplify and elevate users’ daily routines.
“The Core Tech values underpin Samsung’s Bespoke appliances,” Lee affirmed. “Looking ahead, we will persist in our quest for innovation that prioritizes a personalized user experience.”
