Samsung's AI Ecosystem Strategy

Larry Heck, executive director of the Samsung Electronics AI Research Center in Silicon Valley, explains the company's strategy at the center on Jan. 10 (local time).

Samsung Electronics has decided to keep its artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems closed for the time being.

"Samsung Electronics’s AI will take shape as a closed ecosystem that focuses on Samsung devices," said Larry Heck, executive director of the Samsung Electronics AI Research Center in Silicon Valley, the United States, during a meeting with reporters at the center on Jan. 10 (local time).

However, Heck said that such a basic tone would not last long. "We will gradually move toward connecting with other vendors' devices in compliance with user needs," Heck added.

Apple has a closed ecosystem but its consumers are loyal. Apple has kept its users in its device ecosystem with its own user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). In addition, Apple tightly linked its smartphones, smart watches, laptops and other product lines to boost users’ productivity. But Apple is now reaching out to the outside world for collaboration. The company has partnered with Amazon, Microsoft (MS), and other content and software companies and joined hands with manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.

Heck also explained why he moved from Google to Samsung Electronics. "I was convinced that Samsung would develop the AI business ​​well," Heck said.

He cited Samsung’s acquisition of VIV Labs, an AI platform developer. "Viv Labs is a company that was founded by developers who created Apple's AI service, Siri. The fact that Samsung took over Viv Labs has influenced my decision to move to Samsung," Heck said.

Hek is a renowned AI specialist who participated in the development of the “Google Assistant” platform at Google, and has been in charge of research and development of AI at Samsung Electronics since 2017.

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution