Samsung to unveil digital family care service for older adults in June

A Samsung Electronics employee introduces Family Care, a care service that allows users to remotely control their parents’ home appliances, at its Suwon headquarters in Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics will launch a family care service in June, an AI solution for older adults who are not familiar with digital devices and services and who need close family support, the company said Wednesday.

The service will use Samsung's Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart home platform SmartThings to let clients check whether their family members are using home appliances or whether there have been any changes in movement patterns.

The service connects users' older family members' TVs, refrigerators, water purifiers, induction cooktops, smartphones and other appliances with the SmartThings app to manage their daily routines based on AI technology, Samsung said.

For example, when an older parent takes medication, the water purifier will optimize the amount and temperature of water for the medication. The service also allows users to check inside the refrigerator through a camera to see what groceries need to be purchased. They can also turn induction cooktops off via their smartphones if a family member accidentally leaves one on.

"We will continue to introduce various AI products and solutions to further solidify Samsung's AI leadership in the market here," Lim Seong-taek executive vice president of Samsung, said.

Samsung said the Family Care service doesn't just manage one's parents' home appliances but can be customized for a variety of households.

Visitors listen to an explanation of Samsung Electronics’ enhanced SmartThings Family Care that allows users to manage appliances of family members who live far away at the company’s promotional booth during the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 9. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

According to Samsung, newlyweds use AI-related products the most, at 51 percent, followed by 46 percent of households with infants and toddlers and 34 percent of single-person households.

With AI features, a robot vacuum cleaner can clean the home when users are away from home, and the all-in-one washer-dryer cleans laundry that is placed in the machine before leaving for work and dries the load by the time the user returns home.

Parents can also receive a notification via SmartThings when their children return home from school, and single households can use the technology for security purposes while away from home via sensors installed in the home.

Since the beginning of this year, Samsung has introduced a variety of AI-powered home appliances, including the Bespoke AI Combo, an all-in-one washer-dryer with AI features, the Bespoke AI Steam robot vacuum cleaner and the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator, which intelligently manages food stored inside it.