Televisions are also scented with AI

Televisions are intended to become more than high-tech screens according to their manufacturers, who highlight their potential in the daily lives of users, where AI (artificial intelligence) assistants will play an increasingly important role.

Already stars of CES, the annual consumer electronics show which opened Tuesday in Las Vegas (Nevada), the new models are gaining AI capabilities, sometimes with the help of Google or Microsoft.

By integrating generative AI into screens, companies hope to transform them into interactive devices, capable of interacting with humans and also other connected objects in the home.

The South Korean company LG has touted the arrival of “affective intelligence”, which should allow household appliances to watch over people, by monitoring the quality of their sleep or ensuring that they do not forget don’t take an umbrella when the weather forecast is rainy, for example.

“We are seamlessly integrating AI into physical living spaces,” said LG CEO William Cho.

“We view space not only as a physical place, but also as an environment in which holistic experiences come to life, from home, to mobility, to commerce and even virtual spaces,” he added on Monday during a press conference.

He introduced LG’s digital assistant, which uses generative AI and sensors in devices to understand what people are doing and coordinate everyday devices to provide context-appropriate responses.

LG announced a partnership with Microsoft to use Copilot, the computing giant’s AI assistant, in its consumer electronics products.

LG and Microsoft further explained that they are working on AI agents for homes, cars, hotels and other “spaces.” They plan to develop some that not only understand and interact with customers, but also predict their needs.

William Cho said LG’s plan for AI-driven connected homes would be orchestrated by a so-called “open” model, so that devices from other manufacturers can synchronize with the network.

“We believe that AI will fundamentally change the way we live and work,” recalled Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s chief commercial officer, in a video released by LG.

The explosion of generative AI with the success of ChatGPT since the end of 2022 has launched a frantic race for AI assistants between technology giants, who are rapidly deploying tools capable of writing messages, answering questions, generating images, and soon, to serve as an omniscient digital secretary available at any time.

Chinese television titan TCL, for its part, announced a new range of high-end televisions starting at $800, as well as a partnership with Google to integrate Gemini, the internet giant’s AI assistant, into certain models. .

“Television is already well positioned for entertainment and information,” Shalini Govil-Pai, a Google vice president, said at a TCL press conference.

“With Gemini and new components such as the proximity sensor and long-range microphones, we will be able to add new uses,” she continued, so that “your Google TV is always ready to help you when you will need it.”

Hisense, a Chinese group specializing in consumer electronics, will integrate Google’s “Home” software into its range of products to “automate the home”.

An objective similar to that of Samsung Electronics and its roadmap called “AI for all”, aiming to make AI omnipresent in everyday life. “This is the era of domestic AI,” assured Jonathan Gabrio, a director of the American branch of the South Korean giant.

The brand’s devices, from sensor-equipped accessories to televisions, put AI “at the service” of users, through intuitive and collaborative interactions with technology, Samsung emphasizes.