"This Robot..." AI Introduced AI

The Biggest Highlight of CES2021 is 'AI'

LG Electronics Virtual Human Kim Rae-a

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] At the world’s largest IT and home appliance exhibition, ‘CES 2021,’ which opened on the 11th (local time), domestic and international companies unveiled advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous driving, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The core technology revealed by Korean companies like Samsung and LG at this event was AI. They showcased various products and technologies under the theme of a world transformed by AI.

Seunghyun Joon, President of Samsung Research, introduced numerous new products incorporating AI technology at the press conference on the opening day. On that day, President Seunghyun Joon unveiled the world’s first robot vacuum cleaner equipped with Intel’s AI solution, the ‘Samsung Jetbot AI,’ and the pet care service ‘SmartThings Pet’ utilizing Jetbot AI.

He also introduced the ‘Samsung Bot™ Handy,’ currently under development. Handy can recognize the location and shape of objects on its own to grasp or move them, and helps with various household chores such as setting the table before meals and cleaning dishes afterward. President Seunghyun Joon said, “Robots are the pinnacle of AI-based personalized services,” adding, “We will optimize the combination of hardware and software to make them companions in personal life.”

Seunghyun Jun, President of Samsung Research, is introducing Samsung's robot.

LG Electronics also revealed the virtual human ‘Keem Reah’ at its press conference on the same day. Keem Reah is a virtual human realized through LG Electronics’ AI technology, showing a three-dimensional and vivid appearance through deep learning.

Keem Reah appeared as a conference speaker to introduce the ‘LG CLOi Sterilizing Bot,’ which performs disinfection work in specific spaces such as hotels. Kwon Bongseok, President of LG Electronics, stated, “We will provide ways to ensure customers can enjoy better lives to the fullest by offering convenience and fun as well as protecting precious daily life safely.”

AI-integrated autonomous driving technology also made an appearance. Mobileye, an Israeli autonomous driving technology company and a subsidiary of Intel, announced plans to launch a robo-taxi service next year. Since it will take more time for autonomous driving technology to be installed in general consumers’ cars, they intend to further test and refine autonomous driving technology through the use of robo-taxis.

Bosch, the world’s number one automotive parts and solutions company, presented a vision to transform into a leading company in the AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) market by combining AI and IoT within its business areas. AIoT is a technology that develops and utilizes artificial intelligence tailored to the characteristics of individual objects.

Besides AI, various other technologies and products were introduced. LG Display unveiled a 77-inch OLED TV panel for the first time at CES 2021. This innovative product improved the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) elements that form OLEDs, increasing luminous efficiency by more than 20% compared to existing models. An LG Display official explained, “We converted the organic materials required for the organic light-emitting elements to high-efficiency substances and added one more emission layer within the element to realize clearer image quality.”

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics also previewed mini LED TVs at the CES pre-event, signaling future competition. Samsung’s mini LED TV, the ‘Neo QLED,’ implemented LED elements that are 1/40th the size of conventional backlight LEDs, allowing for more elements to be arranged and maximizing picture quality.

LG’s ‘LG QNED-Mini LED TV’ applied more than 10,000 mini LEDs, which are less than one-tenth the size of light sources used in conventional LCD TVs, in the backlight. It also applied ‘Quantum NanoCell Color Technology,’ a proprietary new technology that simultaneously utilizes nanocell and quantum dot-based technologies to achieve high image quality.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.