CES 2018 Samsung to unveil AI QLED TV
By Lee Min-hyung
LAS VEGAS — Samsung Electronics said Sunday that it will unveil the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) powered 8K quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) TV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 which opens today (KST).
The high-end 85-inch TV comes with the company’s AI-driven image and sound recovery technology. Samsung said it has collected and analyzed millions of video databases to self-convert low quality content to higher quality by recovering visual and audio effects in areas such as blurriness, brightness and background sound.
The company plans to launch additional lineups by using the technology for 8K QLED TVs of more than 65 inches, with the AI TVs available for sale in the latter half of the year, according to Samsung.
“We have developed the TV to resolve customers’ growing complaints over the lack of quality content compatible with 8K TVs,” said Han Jong-hee, president of Samsung Electronics’ visual display unit. “We are pleased to enhance their viewing experiences by using AI technology.”
The new TV features fully-automated recovery in sound and audio. For example, when users play low-quality sports content, the AI technology recovers contrast ranges and enhances the cheering sounds of a stadium. For a concert video, the TV strengthens low-pitched sound, offering a rich audio experience for users, the company said.
At the four-day tech fair, the company also plans to launch a series of state-of-the-art home appliances with the focus on AI.
TVs have so far taken center stage at the CES as a representative home appliance, with electronics giants including Samsung and LG focusing on boasting their up-to-date imaging and sound technologies.
But to grab an upper hand in the emerging and trending AI sector, the two tech titans as well as other IT giants across the globe are expected to showcase their hardware devices equipped with the big data-driven capabilities.
Samsung is also expected to unveil a more concrete AI and internet of things (IoT) vision at the upcoming tradeshow, in its bid to realize its goal of connecting all Samsung devices with the Bixby voice assistant.
“The IoT has been one of the key themes of the IT industry, as electronic devices — such as smartphones, TVs, refrigerators and even automobiles — can be connected as one via IoT,” said Kim Hyun-suk, president of the company’s consumer electronics division.
“Samsung Electronics is going to share its intelligent IoT systems at the CES 2018, which will play a critical part in realizing our connected technology ecosystem,” he added.