INNOVATIONS &
INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES What about robotics? Hoteliers are definitely looking at robotics. There have been a few initiatives already. One of the main barriers to adoption has been investment, so it’s going to take some time before robots become mainstream, but it’s definitely going to happen. New generation Samsung display technologies were unveiled at CES. How will these roll-out into the hospitality sector? The high-end hotels are very keen to bring new, spectacular screens to their rooms and public areas. We are working on this, and again, Hitec will be the launch-pad for our new generation products. I can say that QLED is coming into this space this year during Hitec. MicroLED created a splash in Vegas. How is this panning out to hotels? It’s a fantastic product. We have had inquiries from some of the top hospitality companies. MicroLED is still a very new technology and it comes with a high price tag. We are seeing hoteliers and casinos very keen to have an LED wall in their larger suites. We are rolling-out fine pitch (1.2mm) - 130-inch LED displays to some selected properties, and MicroLED will become very interesting in the next couple of years. From the sound of things, Samsung is really “pushing” into the AI sphere… Very much so. Samsung has opened specialised R&D centres around the world to strengthen our AI capabilities and explore the potential of user-centric AI. By securing global AI experts, Samsung Research plans to expand its number of advanced AI researchers to a total of about 1,000 globally by 2020. We currently have centres operating near Seoul, along with Cambridge, Moscow, Silicon Valley, Toronto, Montreal and New York SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS EXPANDS AI RESEARCH PRESENCE IN NORTH AMERICA, OPENING ANOTHER AI CENTRE IN MONTREAL In October 2018, Samsung Electronics announced that it was establishing another artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Montreal, the second biggest city in Canada and home to one of the world’s fastest growing AI communities. The announcement complemented earlier news of multiple AI centres launched in North America and continued Samsung’s efforts in AI that include the development of Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby. The centre was the fourth Samsung AI Centre to be established in North America following the centres launched in Silicon Valley, New York and Toronto. “By leveraging the power of AI in Samsung’s products and services, we must focus on creating new values, never seen nor experienced before,” said Seunghwan Cho. “To do this, seven Global AI Centres, including the Montreal AI Centre, will play a pivotal role.” During the event, Samsung presented its future vision for AI as it aims to develop a highly personalized multi-device platform that empowers people to accomplish more in their lives. By providing multiple touchpoints where a user can interact with AI, not only through voice, Samsung’s multi-modal interaction platform (voice, vision, screen, touch) will make experiences more relevant and personal in the future. “One key element that will move AI to being more widely adopted is multi-device systems—i.e., a variety of AI-enabled devices that communicate seamlessly with each other,” said Dr. Heck. “Samsung is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this regard. It’s not just how each device uses AI, it’s how they use it together” SMARTreport Commercial Content
Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #41 2019 Winter Edition 37 37 CONNECTED LIVING 2.0 Understanding primary trends in consumer electronics is key to staying in touch with hotel guests Keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in people’s lives today – with a vision to the future – is essential when it comes to providing services to travellers around the world. As indicated in our interview with Samsung’s Nicolas Mercier, understanding consumer concepts is increasingly important. We thus bring you just a couple of the key highlights from CES Las Vegas. At the show, Samsung Electronics announced how the company’s investment and leadership in AI, IoT, and 5G technologies would serve as the “building blocks for its vision for Connected Living”. ACCELERATING THE INTELLIGENCE OF THINGS WITH IOT, 5G, AND AI Driving Samsung’s Connected Living philosophy is the Intelligence of Things – IoT, 5G, and AI working together across devices, to create seamless experiences. The company explained how its work in these core technologies is enabling innovation throughout its product portfolio. Samsung believes that AI is most useful when it helps to simplify a complex world. To that end, the company established seven Global AI Centres, and is adopting unique technologies into its products and services. BIXBY, SAMSUNG’S INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM, EXPANDS Uber, Ticketmaster and others are using Bixby to make their services more intelligent. At CES, Samsung Bixby would continue to grow as more partners such as Google join the ecosystem. NEXT LEVEL EXPERIENCE OF SAMSUNG’S 2019 PORTFOLIO Samsung also introduced a line-up of new innovations, all of which streamline and simplify day-to-day tasks, and offer a more personalised and unique experience for each user. Samsung unveiled its 98” QLED 8K – its largest yet – adding to its 2019 line-up. Whether a viewer is watching content through a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB or even mobile screen mirroring, Samsung’s proprietary AI-based technology can recognise and upscale any content, regardless of the native resolution, to near pristine 8K quality. It is Samsung’s smartest and most powerful TV yet. In 2019, Samsung Smart TVs offer more ways to search for content and more compatibility with connected devices than ever before. With an improved AI algorithm that leverages a user’s subscription services, favourite content, and TV viewing habits, the Universal Guide makes it easier for users to find just the right programme. Users also have more options to quickly and easily find and control their content with just their voice by using new Bixby and the AI Remote. Samsung also announced their new 2019 lifestyle TVs, The Frame and The Serif TV. The 2019 Frame and Serif TV combines award-winning and innovative design that fits any home décor with excellent Samsung CES 2019 stand QLED picture quality and smart features to provide consumers with the best possible TV functionality. “The traditional TV was only focused on technical features, such as picture quality and performance, but now TVs are also a lifestyle platform that blends in consumers’ daily life,” said Jongsuk Choo, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “This year’s models of The Frame and SERIF TV are enhanced lifestyle TVs that deliver a TV experience like nothing before” SMARTreport Commercial Content
