Combination of Google Platform and Samsung Devices
Harman acquired by Samsung Electronics will develop a next-generation AI speaker with Google to launch it next year. Google, a global artificial intelligence giant, will expand its cooperation with Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, before the widespread use of Samsung's artificial intelligence assistant Bixby. There is growing concern that the artificial intelligence device market will be led by a combination of Google platforms and Samsung devices like the smartphone market, which means Samsung’s dependence on Google as shown in smartphones.
According to the information technology (IT) industry and financial investment industry on September 11, Harman was working with Google to develop a next-generation artificial intelligence speaker with a display. The two companies made some progress in the development of the speaker so the speaker will be launched in the market next year.
Their first AI speaker was already released. The two companies launched their first AI speaker at the IFA 2018, a home electronics show in Germany which ran from August 31 to September 5 (local time). The device set to be released next year is an artificial intelligence device loaded with a display. Harman is also working with the Amazon Alexa. Google and Amazon, both global artificial leaders, are launching their artificial intelligence devices through Harman. In particular, Harman is widening its gap with Samsung's Bixby while developing even a next-generation artificial intelligence device with Google. An artificial intelligence speaker loaded with Bixby is expected to come out in November of this year.
Some experts say that although Samsung Electronics is working hard to survive in global artificial intelligence ecosystems, but without specific measures, Samsung Electronics will eventually wind up a device maker depending on Google's software platforms just as Samsung Electronics did in the smartphone world. "Samsung Electronics built the Tizen platform for mobile devices but the platform finally failed," said Roh Kyung-tak, a researcher at Eugene Investment and Securities. "The platform after mobile devices is artificial intelligence devices. As there are strong competitors like Google and Amazon, Samsung Electronics is having an uphill battle.”
Google and Amazon are strengthening their holds on artificial platforms, forming a two-runner race. At the IFA 2018, Huawei, one of the largest home appliance companies in China, loaded the Amazon Alexa platform into its artificial intelligent speakers for the global market. Meanwhile, Google unveiled its AI speaker Google Home. Google Home will officially arrive in Korea on September 18. The AI speaker will make a foray into the Korean artificial intelligence home appliance market by launching services that are linked with eight kinds of LG Electronics home appliances (washing machines, dryers, refrigerators among others)