Ahead of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) Division, TM Roh shares why the future of AI isn't about replacing people understanding them instead.
History has shown that the technologies that reshape society aren't necessarily the most powerful, they're the ones that become part of everyday life. Electricity transformed homes with the flick of a switch, the internet found its footing through the browser, and smartphones changed how we live through the ecosystems built around them. According to TM Roh, AI is following a similar path.
"AI doesn't need to outthink you. It needs to understand you," he asserts. Noting that the conversation has shifted beyond intelligence alone. As AI becomes more capable, the real question is how it reaches people, and whether it can do so in a way that feels intuitive, personal and trustworthy. "AI no longer merely answers, it is entering an agentic age, taking action on our behalf while the person carries the final decision. But to act for someone, it must first know them."
That belief sits at the centre of Samsung's vision. Rather than treating AI as a standalone feature, the company sees it as something that should work seamlessly across the devices people already rely on every day; from smartphones and tablets to smartwatches, TVs and connected home appliances. "The best AI experiences will come from the devices that know the user best," he enlightens.
When it comes to health and wellbeing, that philosophy becomes even more tangible. Wearables are increasingly capable of tracking everything from sleep to heart rate, creating opportunities for AI to offer more personalised insights over time. "AI is also essential in health," he says.
Further noting that how we sleep, recover and look after ourselves...daily choices add up.
"A device close to us, like a watch, tracks these signals ensuring a better day." Ultimately, he believes the future won't be defined by which company builds the smartest AI.
"The question that opens the next era is not who has the smartest AI, but who understands people best, and turns that understanding into experiences they can trust," he concludes.
Join the conversation on 22 July as Samsung unveils the next chapter of Galaxy innovation at Galaxy Unpacked, streaming live from London on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom and Samsung's YouTube channel.
