Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung Electronics' (005930.KS) Device eXperience (DX) division, has previewed form factor innovation through new foldable phones and the unveiling of artificial intelligence (AI) glasses. The plan is to go beyond simply improving model performance, using diverse form factors to secure user data in daily life and provide personalized experiences, thereby showcasing the world's best AI service.
"The most important AI is not the smartest AI, but the AI that knows me best," Roh stressed Monday. "It is about understanding people best and turning that understanding into a trustworthy experience." He said, "A model that answers questions can get by without knowing the user, but an AI agent that takes action cannot. What Samsung has built over a long time by staying close to people is precisely that point of contact."
As global competition in AI phones intensifies, Samsung Electronics plans to secure a competitive edge by providing user-tailored services, going beyond advancing its onboard AI models to lead with the "Galaxy AI ecosystem" that spans smartphones, wearable devices, home appliances, and software.
With Samsung Electronics set to introduce new foldable phones, Roh said, "The form of the device that holds the AI also matters." He added, "The more AI helps us in more personal, proactive, and varied ways, the more a screen that flexibly unfolds and folds broadens those possibilities."
Samsung Electronics sent invitations to global media the same day, announcing it will hold its new product launch event "Galaxy Unpacked 2026" at Old Billingsgate in London on Jan. 22. In addition to the "Galaxy Z Flip8" and "Galaxy Z Fold8," which succeed existing foldable phone products, the "Galaxy Z Wide Fold," featuring a wider horizontal form, will also be unveiled for the first time. When unfolded, the Wide Fold is expected to offer a wide screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, enhancing content immersion and supporting multitasking and AI tasks more efficiently.
At this Unpacked event, Samsung Electronics will also reveal for the first time the actual AI glasses to be released in the second half of the year. The AI glasses are the first eyewear-type device in the Galaxy series, jointly developed by Samsung Electronics and Google in collaboration with fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The built-in AI carries out the user's voice commands 24 hours a day and provides assistance by understanding surrounding situations.
