[Digital Today reporter Daegeon Seok] Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics unveiled their visions for AI in everyday life at CES 2026. Samsung stressed the role of AI companions in entertainment, home and care. LG showcased its Affectionate Intelligence that harmonises spaces and products around customers.

Samsung on Jan. 4 held “The First Look” press conference ahead of the opening of CES 2026 in Las Vegas. About 1,500 media and partners from around the world attended at a dedicated exhibition hall at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas.

The exhibition theme is “Your Companion to AI Living.” Samsung introduced visions for entertainment, home and care companions that provide enjoyment, convenience and care in customers’ daily lives.

Roh Tae-moon, head of Samsung Electronics’ DX division, said the company would apply AI across its entire product lineup and services so customers can enjoy truly meaningful AI experiences. He said Samsung would become an AI companion in customers’ daily lives and lead the popularisation of AI experiences.

Samsung set out 4 execution strategies: expanding customer choice through open collaboration; an effective combination of on-device and cloud AI; strengthening AI interfaces such as SmartThings, One UI and Now Brief; and enhancing security and AI trust based on Samsung Knox.

Samsung demonstrated its TV-only AI platform, Vision AI Companion. The platform interacts with users to improve usability. Samsung’s 2026 TV lineup will also apply HDR10+ ADVANCED, a next-generation High Dynamic Range standard.

◆Samsung Electronics defines AI as a companion, shows innovation in entertainment, home and care

Eclipsa Audio, jointly developed with Google, will be applied to provide a 3D sound experience. Q-Symphony, a feature in which sound devices connected to Samsung TVs implement sound together, was expanded across all audio brands of Harman.

Samsung also unveiled the world’s first 130-inch Micro RGB TV. It applies RGB color LEDs smaller than 100 micrometers as a backlight. Samsung will introduce Micro RGB TVs in various sizes in 2026, including 55-, 65-, 75-, 85- and 100-inch models. It also unveiled a new OLED TV with a zero-gap wall mount that allows it to sit flush against the wall.

Samsung also introduced its Home Companion vision. Kim Cheol-gi, vice president and head of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliances business, said the company would realise the vision through differentiated competitiveness, including an “overwhelming” connected ecosystem for Samsung AI appliances, form factors optimised for interaction such as screens, cameras and voice, and reliability that customers can trust and use for a long time.

Its SmartThings smart home platform has built an ecosystem with more than 430,000,000 users and about 4,700 types of connected devices. Samsung’s 2026 Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator will be the first home appliance to include Google’s AI model Gemini.

It supports features including “What’s for Today?”, which recommends recipes based on refrigerator ingredients; “Video to Recipe,” which converts cooking videos into recipes; and “FoodNote,” which provides reports by analysing ingredient use.

Samsung also set out its Care Companion vision. Samsung Health identifies potential signs of chronic disease based on data such as sleep, nutrition and physical activity collected through connected devices. If abnormalities are detected, Samsung plans to link with the Xealth platform so users can receive consultations from doctors.

◆LG Electronics implements customer-tailored spaces with Affectionate Intelligence

LG Electronics also unveiled Affectionate Intelligence. Its exhibition theme is “Innovation in tune with you.” The exhibition hall covers 2,044 square metres.

At the entrance, LG installed a giant object by hanging 38 wireless wallpaper TVs, the LG OLED evo AI W6, from the ceiling. The 9-mm-thick wireless OLED TVs are staged to appear floating in the air. When viewed from a certain position, the 38 screens are coordinated into a single piece of media art.

LG implemented a “Zero Labor Home” with its home robot LG CLOiD and AI appliances. LG CLOiD takes milk from the refrigerator and puts croissants into an oven in line with meal plans. It takes laundry from a basket, puts it into a washing machine, and folds and organises towels after washing is complete.

LG AI refrigerators learn usage patterns and adjust cooling temperatures when needed. The LG AI WashTower equipped with an “AI DD motor” analyses laundry weight, humidity and fabric type to adjust washing and drying intensity. All appliances are connected to the AI home hub ThinQ ON.

LG introduced AI-based in-vehicle solutions. It set up 3 experience zones for the driver’s seat, passenger seat and rear seats. AI analyses the driver’s gaze and switches to autonomous driving mode if gaze deviation continues for more than a certain period.

LG also introduced its 2026 TV lineup. The LG OLED evo AI W6 sits flush against the wall with its 9-mm-thick design. The LG Gallery+ service offers more than 4,500 items of content, including artworks from the National Gallery, London, and game illustrations.