Adding a Human Touch to AI: LG’s Affectionate Intelligence
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By News Reporter
2024 is a special milestone for LG Electronics in Australia and New Zealand, raising a glass to 30 incredible years of innovation, happy customers and serious growth. From humble beginnings as Lucky Goldstar back in 1994, LG Electronics Australia and New Zealand has come a long way, now established as a global consumer technology powerhouse, all thanks to the amazing support of customers and staff. From 24 staff members in 1994 to over 300 today, the LG Electronics Australia and New Zealand team dedication has been pivotal to the company’s growth.
Driven by innovation, LG’s 30-year journey has been packed with world-firsts and innovations across various industries. From IT products such as UltraWide and curved monitors that revolutionized the gaming industry, to the lightest laptop that made working on-the-go a breeze, and the smallest projector that turned any room into a home theater. And let’s not forget about LG TVs. LG’s leadership in OLED technology has brought breathtaking picture quality that delivers vibrant colors and perfect blacks. We’ve also been busy in the kitchen with the InstaView fridges that let you peek inside without opening the door, while UVnano technology brings a whole new level of hygiene to the home. And who could forget about our game changing TwinWash and WashTower designs that have made laundry day a whole lot easier.
At a celebratory event for LG employees, LG staff were brought together to reminisce about the company’s incredible 30-year journey in Australia and New Zealand. With a mission to make life better through technology, LG’s Life’s Good mantra – which originated in Australia in 1999 – perfectly captures the Aussie spirit, and the reinvigorated brand promise in “Life’s Good with Optimism,” showcases how positivity can help in embracing a brighter, more positive future.
The 30th anniversary celebration was a time to reflect on past achievements and look forward to the future with optimism. To commemorate three decades of success, LG organized a special event in Australia and New Zealand with activities designed to bring Life’s Good with Optimism amongst their employees to life. This included a video photo booth where staff could record messages and stories about what they’re feeling optimistic about. These personal reflections, focused on driving positivity among employees, were shared on social media with the hashtags #LifesGood and #OptimismYourFeed.
As a customer-focused brand, LG is a passionate champion of optimism. This celebration encouraged employees to participate in the global “Optimism your feed” social movement to infuse positivity across our social media feeds and create positive changes by being intentional with our activities both online and in the real world.
Overall, the 30th anniversary celebrations underscored LG’s dedication to fostering a culture of optimism and innovation in Australia and New Zealand, a physical example of actively bringing to life LG’s brand promise of Life’s Good.
Contributed by LG Australia
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By News Reporter
The global market for smart home technology is experiencing unprecedented growth, due in no small part to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Boasting the ability to learn from people’s device-usage patterns and preferences, AI-powered home solutions can provide highly personalized experiences tailored to each customer’s unique needs.
LG is at the forefront of this trend, setting new standards and creating new possibilities and value with its advanced AI technology. Earlier this year, the company redefined AI as “Affectionate Intelligence,” emphasizing its commitment to creating empathetic and caring AI that delivers unique customer experiences. At IFA 2024, LG unveiled its vision for the future of home living under the theme “Experience, Affectionate Intelligence Home.” The company’s Berlin showcase highlighted how AI can transform everyday life by anticipating and meeting customers’ needs in a variety of different situations and scenarios.
IFA 2024 saw the debut of LG’s latest AI Home solutions, designed to bring the convenience and freedom of the “Zero Labor Home.” Offering far more than just simplified device control and connectivity, Affectionate Intelligence introduces empathy and care to the smart home environment, enhancing customers’ quality of life in myriad ways.
Central to LG’s vision is LG ThinQ ON, an AI hub that seamlessly orchestrates the operation of all smart devices in the home. Through ThinQ ON and innovations such as the LG Self-Driving AI Home Hub, LG’s booth gave IFA attendees an opportunity to see firsthand how AI can help create a comfortable and connected home experience. Individually and collectively, the company’s innovations exemplify the concept of Affectionate Intelligence, where AI not only responds to commands but also understands and evolves to meet changing needs.
Firstly, LG AI Home provides “Conversational Interactions,” allowing users to control home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices with voice commands alone. The brain of LG AI Home is the company’s generative AI agent, FURON, which integrates advanced large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 Omni. FURON combines learning and contextual understanding with real-time spatial sensing and user lifestyle data to optimize the home environment for each user.
As an example of how this works in practice, if a user says, “Hi LG, I’m going to sleep. Please turn off any devices that are still running,” the AI Home Hub will assess the situation and respond accordingly, such as offering to turn off the dryer if it has nearly finished its cycle. The hub can also tailor the environment for a good night’s sleep by playing the user’s preferred relaxation music and dimming the lights.
Additionally, FURON learns user preferences for different device settings, remembering and applying them at the appropriate times for personalized comfort and convenience. Designed with flexibility, FURON can incorporate additional LLMs to evolve with new technological developments.
LG AI Home also offers an “Upgradability” feature, allowing users to upgrade their existing appliances into AI-powered devices, delivering the convenience and comfort of LG AI Home while saving them the expense of buying newer models. For example, connecting a non-AI TV and an occupancy sensor to ThinQ ON allows LG’s intelligent system to pause content when the user leaves the room and resume it upon return. Similarly, connecting an air conditioner and a sensor enables automatic adjustment of airflow strength and direction based on the user’s position within the room.
LG has been at the forefront of smart appliance innovation since 2011 when it added Wi-Fi modules to its home appliances. Continuing its leadership, the company introduced ThinQ UP, leveraging on-device AI chips and appliance-specific operating systems for feature upgrades and peak operational performance. These customer-centric innovations enable conventional appliances to “evolve” into AI-powered ones, improving daily life and solidifying LG’s leadership in AI home solutions.
Finally, LG AI Home offers “Extensive Connectivity” with various global brands’ appliances and IoT devices, working smoothly with all kinds of apps, including calendars, transportation services and online shopping platforms. Users can effortlessly manage their schedules, control household devices and receive real-time updates for a more personalized and connected home experience.
LG is continuing to expand the LG AI Home ecosystem. Through its acquisition of smart home company Athom, LG has ensured that ThinQ ON can connect with over 50,000 devices and IoT appliances and is compatible with more than 1,000 third-party apps. This presents users with a wider range of smart home solutions and services to choose from, giving them the freedom to create the convenient home lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of.
While LG’s AI solutions work in perfect harmony to help realize the company’s Zero Labor Home vision – where household chores are automated, and people have more time to relax and enjoy life – the LG Shield security system vigilantly protects customer data around the clock.
A leader in AI home solutions, LG will continue to push the boundaries of customer-centric innovation. Before the end of this year, LG plans to introduce IoT devices, including motion and light sensors, air quality sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, and smart plugs, all designed to integrate perfectly with ThinQ ON. Customers will be able to purchase an AI Home package featuring these new devices with professional installation by qualified technicians. In addition, ThinQ ON will add support for the Athom ecosystem, allowing users to connect their AI home to an even more extensive array of products and services from other brands.
LG’s Affectionate Intelligence will soon extend beyond the home, connecting different spaces in people’s lives, from cars to commercial environments such as hotels and offices. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future where its intelligent and caring AI technology is always there, working autonomously and proactively to enhance every experience.
By Lyu Jae-cheol, President of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company
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By News Reporter
LG first incorporated Wi-Fi modules into its home appliances over a decade ago, and since then, the company has continued to enhance home living with its groundbreaking innovations. A leader in the fast-growing AI home appliance market, LG is now applying its proprietary on-device AI chip – the ‘DQ-C’ – to its latest lifestyle solutions, infusing them with the unique power of ‘Affectionate Intelligence.’
Introduced by CEO William Cho at CES 2024, Affectionate Intelligence underscores LG’s commitment to delivering differentiated customer experiences via cutting-edge AI technology that is more caring, empathetic and attentive.
Affectionate Intelligence is built on three pillars: Real-time Life Intelligence, drawing insights from real-life data gleaned from our global LG smart products and diverse IoT devices; Orchestrated Intelligence, seamlessly coordinating the operation of interconnected devices in alignment with customer preferences and intentions; and Responsible Intelligence, ensuring secure learning and adaptation, upholding privacy and integrity while delivering personalized experiences.
Enhancing Convenience with an Expanded ‘Affectionate Intelligence’ Lineup
LG’s expanded Affectionate Intelligence home appliance lineup now boasts 11 product categories: air conditioners, washing machines, dryers, Styler, air purifiers, robot vacuums, refrigerators, electric ranges, dishwashers, water purifiers and TVs.
Launched earlier this year in South Korea, the Affectionate Intelligence stand-type air conditioner offers unparalleled comfort with enhanced ‘AI Smart Care,’1 a feature that detects the user’s location in real time and automatically adjusts airflow directionality, intensity and temperature. Another innovative addition is the WashCombo all-in-one washer and dryer, which selects the optimal drum motions from LG’s 6Motion technology to gently yet thoroughly care for user’s laundry2 after analyzing each load’s weight, humidity level and fabric types.
Looking ahead, LG plans to evolve its Affectionate Intelligence into a generative AI-based service that extends beyond the smart home to diverse sectors and spaces, including mobility and online.
LG’s AI Home Appliances: From Wi-Fi Modules to Hyper-Personalized ThinQ UP 2.0
In 2011, LG became the first manufacturer to apply Wi-Fi modules to its home appliances. Six years later, in 2017, the company expanded Wi-Fi connectivity to most of its appliance lineups, introducing the LG ThinQ brand and ushering in the era of AI home appliances.
In January 2022, LG elevated customization and convenience with the launch of ThinQ UP, allowing the addition of new features to compatible LG appliances based on the analysis of customers’ usage patterns and habits. ThinQ UP home appliances operate intelligently, reducing the time and effort associated with household chores. They also offer flexible subscription options along with the ability to add new user-friendly services. With 336 downloadable ThinQ UP features now available3 – and more being added regularly – users can continually update their existing appliances for a tailored, always-evolving customer experience.
Last year, LG signaled the beginning of a new era for AI appliances with the South Korean debut of ThinQ UP 2.0. This latest smart life solution from the company offers hyper-personalization with advanced, new features plus a range of subscription services from LG and various partner companies.
Dedicated On-Device AI Chip Lineup and Expanded Application
In July 2023, after more than three years of research and development, LG revealed the DQ-C chip – a sophisticated on-device AI chip – and a brand-new operating system for home appliances. Last year, the company also established an organization specifically tasked with developing the next-generation of AI chips for future Affectionate Intelligence home appliances. This forms part of LG’s strategy to diversify its growing portfolio of state-of-the-art AI chips, and to bring the many benefits and advantages of AI-powered performance and features to more customers.
With ‘Affectionate Intelligence’ and impressive core technologies, LG has solidified its position as a global leader in the home appliances industry, and cemented its reputation as a smart life solutions company.
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1 Products capabilities are currently available in Korean region only.
2 Availability for products, features and home services may vary depending on model and region.
3 Availability for products, features and home services may vary depending on model and region.
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[Executive Corner] Orchestrating “Affectionate Intelligence” With AI Processors Exclusive to LG OLEDBy News Reporter
Imagine a TV that not only delivers your favorite shows in incredible picture quality but also connects with you on a deeper level. That concept is no longer bound to imagination, as LG’s latest TVs are capable of understanding what you want and need, tailoring every moment you spend with it through ‘Affectionate Intelligence.’ This is the essence of LG’s unwavering commitment to crafting empathetic algorithms through three decades of technological innovation. This ethos seamlessly extends to the development of its AI chipsets, which are designed to foster more meaningful TV interactions.
As a testament to this dedication, LG’s Alpha AI processor, engineered exclusively for its OLED TVs, made its global debut a decade ago as one of the biggest breakthroughs in TV processing technology history. This AI-powered processor is constantly evolving based on customer feedback, which guarantees a TV experience that only gets better with time.
Amidst the widespread adoption of OLED panels, LG OLED TVs set themselves apart courtesy of the first OLED-dedicated AI processor. This processor leverages advanced algorithms and cutting-edge upscaling technology to unlock uncharted levels of picture quality within LG OLED TVs.
Various processing technologies continue to evolve with AI, notably showcasing significant performance enhancements in the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) – essential for affectionate intelligence – with a remarkable surge of 400 percent. LG’s latest OLED evo TVs1 are equipped with the new α (Alpha) 11 AI processor which boosts processing speeds by 30 percent compared to its predecessor.
What’s more, LG’s premium AI processing technology has expanded to LG QNED TVs, taking the performance of its high-end LCD TV lineup to new levels. LG QNED TVs feature the Alpha 8 AI processor to achieve a 1.3-fold increase in AI performance and 1.6-fold increase in processing speed compared to its predecessor. These remarkable advancements come together to form a powerful yet refined audiovisual experience that heightens the audience’s sense of immersion.
At the core of LG’s AI TVs lies a deep understanding of the user’s preferences, habits and desires. Seeking to enrich the home entertainment experience with versatile personalization and added convenience, the latest LG AI TVs can recognize voices based on unique webOS profiles, making it easier to deliver personalized recommendations based on their personal viewing history.
This user-centric approach lets users access their favorite or most-used content and services in an instant, while Picture Wizard works to tailor picture quality to their preferences to foster a deeper understanding and connection. Picture Wizard lets users pick from a range of image options, so that they can fine-tune images to their liking and receive greater viewing satisfaction without having to learn everything there is to know about technical aspects such as brightness, contrast or sharpness.
With sound quality now deemed just as important as image quality in completing the viewing experience, AI processing technologies have been evolving to help the TV’s audio performance catch up. AI Sound Pro offers richer and fuller audio while the LG TV’s built-in speakers produce virtual 11.1.2 surround sound to heighten immersion. The AI can even enhance dialogue clarity by separating vocals from the soundtrack, making it seem like sounds are emanating naturally from the screen’s center. Moreover, WOW Orchestra creates three-dimensional audio which works in unison with the TV’s built-in speakers and compatible LG soundbars, creating a unified sound together.
LG’s focus on the webOS smart TV platform, which powers over 200 million smart TVs, is clear for everyone to see. webOS enriches everyday life experiences with versatile personalization and enhanced convenience in the form of individual profiles, voice recognition and recommendations based on viewing history. With its extensive user base, LG is set to maintain a strong presence in targeted advertising, FAST and content streaming services.
Lastly, the webOS Re:New program2 offers the latest webOS upgrade to existing LG Smart TV owners to guarantee the most up-to-date TV experience for the next five years. That means consumers purchasing an LG OLED TV or LG QNED TV launched in 2024 can benefit from the latest webOS platform until 2028.
To explore the various efforts the LG Home Entertainment Company is making to curate life-enriching experiences for every kind of user, stay tuned to the
link hidden, please login to view. By Jung Jae-chul, home entertainment research and development lab leader of HE R&D Lab at LG Electronics
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1 LG OLED evo M4 and G4 models.
2 Pop-up notifications offering a full upgrade without the need to select specific UX, UI or features are only sent to customers who have agreed to receive them. Please note that this upgrade does not cover the TV’s hardware performance, features or durability.
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