CES 2026 AI boom to drive surge in displays: Samsung Display CEO

Samsung Display CEO Yi Chung speaks during an interview on the sidelines of CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Wednesday. Courtesy of Samsung Display

LAS VEGAS — As artificial intelligence reshapes the global electronics industry, some predict a future in which screens will fade in importance, replaced by voice- and sensor-based interfaces.

Samsung Display, however, takes a different view.

“As edge AI devices expand, the number of displays will increase significantly,” its CEO Yi Chung said during an interview with reporters on Wednesday (local time), arguing that screens will remain central to user experience even in an AI-driven world.

Edge AI refers to running artificial intelligence algorithms directly on devices, rather than sending data to a central server or cloud for processing.

Speaking on the sidelines of CES 2026, Yi said that while some devices aim to minimize the role of displays, an opposing trend is emerging as AI expands beyond smartphones into wearables, vehicles and robots.

“There is a trend toward reducing displays, but at the same time, displays are being emphasized even more,” Yi said. “Without displays, devices become very inconvenient to use.”

Yi stressed that AI will not eliminate screens but multiply them. As intelligence shifts from the cloud to the edge, more devices will require visual interfaces — not only high-end displays but also simple, low-cost screens used to convey basic information.

“Some research institutions project that the number of displays could rise by as much as tenfold,” Yi said.

He emphasized that growth will not depend on a single breakthrough device but on the spread of multiple form factors, each with its own display requirements.

“We do not know what the future device will be,” Yi said. “But we have to be fully prepared for wherever displays are needed.”

Samsung Display’s broad lineup of concept products showcased at the world’s largest technology trade show — including automotive digital cockpits, smart glasses and wearable displays — reflects that strategy.

“We are not a device maker,” Yi said. “That’s why we don’t know which device will define the future. We have to prepare for all possibilities.”

Yi added that visual interfaces will remain essential even as voice-based AI advances, particularly in robotics.

“A robot alone looks strange,” he said. “It needs to shine, show information and express its status.”

Samsung Display showcases its AI OLED Bot at a media event in Las Vegas, Monday (local time). Courtesy of Samsung Display

Future displays, he said, must evolve naturally from familiar objects rather than force users to adopt uncomfortable new form factors.

“If something is inconvenient, people will not use it,” Yi said. “What matters is how things we already have and use can change naturally.”

Meanwhile, Chinese companies at this year’s CES showcased a wide range of display technologies, intensifying competition for leading Korean display makers. Yi acknowledged that Chinese firms are rapidly strengthening their capabilities, investing aggressively in OLED as well as next-generation technologies such as micro displays and OLED-on-silicon.

“China is working very hard,” Yi said. “But in OLED, the gap is still very large.”

Yi noted that in areas where display technologies have become more mature, differences can appear less visible at first glance. However, he stressed that technology companies continue to develop new solutions to maintain and widen their competitive edge.

“In areas where technology has become saturated, things may look similar,” he said. “That is why technology companies continuously develop new technologies to maintain and widen the gap.”

Yi pointed to Samsung Display’s 8.6-generation OLED technology, which adopts an all-oxide approach for large IT-sized panels.

“This kind of technology still has a gap,” he said, adding that while it is difficult to know how deeply Chinese rivals are developing internally, “based on what is visible, there is a technological difference.”