Samsung, LG to showcase AI technologies at IFA 2024

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. are expected to unveil their latest artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and services in the home appliances sector at IFA 2024, Europe’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) trade show that will kick off on Friday.

According to multiple industry sources on Monday, IFA 2024, which will take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 6th to 10th, will feature over 2,000 companies from 139 countries. The number of visitors at the event is expected to hit 182,000.

The major theme of this year’s IFA is AI, with Samsung and LG, the two major giants in the home appliance industry, to introduce a large number of new products. The competition in AI Home with maximized connectivity is expected to be particularly fierce.

LG ThinQ ON

LG Electronics will unveil the industry’s first empathy-enabled home hub, LG ThinQ ON, equipped with generative AI. It will be a key device that keeps home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected around the clock.

While existing voice recognition speakers only followed set commands, the ThinQ ON will converse with users in everyday language and understand their needs to manage various devices optimally. LG Electronics plans to showcase various scenarios where the AI home is used from the time users wake up in the morning to when they go to bed at night.

If LG uses ThinQ ON as a hub, Samsung Electronics will connect various appliances with its AI TV. The TV’s built-in SmartThings hub will control smart devices such as appliances, lighting, and curtains.

Samsung Electronics announced the acquisition of SmartThings in 2014, around a month before that year’s IFA was due to start. A decade later, this platform has established a massive ecosystem with 350 million users.

Samsung will also unveil its premium food platform, Samsung Food Plus, which can be integrated with the company’s products such as appliances, mobile devices, and TVs. The platform recommends diets and manages ingredients based on user age, exercise information, and other factors. Other AI appliances such as the all-in-one washer-dryer, Bespoke AI Combo, the all-in-one robotic vacuum, Bespoke AI Steam, and the premium refrigerator, Bespoke AI Family Hub, will likewise be on display at the Samsung booth.

Eco-friendly and high-efficiency products, which are in high demand among European customers, will also be introduced at IFA. Energy prices have surged in the continent due to greenhouse gas reduction policies and energy supply uncertainties.

LG Electronics will present a range of high-efficiency appliances that exceed the top energy rating standards in Europe, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers.

The new LG drum washing machine is about 55 percent more efficient than the highest energy efficiency rating of A in Europe, with a simplified structure that dramatically reduces noise and energy consumption. The company’s new refrigerator boasts 25 percent higher efficiency than the highest ‘A’ rating, and its new dishwasher offers 20 percent greater efficiency.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies are expected to have their largest-ever IFA showing at the 2024 edition.