CES 2026: Samsung’s “AI Living” strategy turns TVs and appliances into smart companions

At “The First Look 2026,” Samsung didn’t just showcase new gadgets; it outlined how the company wants people to interact with technology. Kicking off the event, CEO TM Roh declared a new mission: to be “Your companion to AI living.” The focus has moved beyond simple connectivity to a unified, intelligent ecosystem where devices—from TVs to refrigerators—anticipate user needs rather than just reacting to commands.

The future of display: Micro RGB and AI immersion

The most immediate impact of this strategy is visible in the living room. Samsung’s display technology has taken a massive leap forward, but the company is also making aggressive moves in digital health and home automation, backed by major partnerships with Google, Qualcomm, and even insurance providers.

The crown jewel of the presentation was the unveiling of the 130-inch Micro RGB display. Described by SW Yong, Head of Visual Display Business, as the “pinnacle of display engineering,” this technology features microscopic red, green, and blue diodes that shine independently. For the everyday viewer, this means the purest, most vibrant colors ever achieved on a TV. Samsung explicitly noted that this tech creates “games that pull you right into the action.” The independent diode control eliminates the halo effects common in older LED tech, ensuring that high-contrast scenes—like a flashlight beam in a dark horror game or a neon-lit cyberpunk street—retain perfect clarity without bleeding light.

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Samsung is also leveraging AI to change how we watch sports, just in time for the 2026 World Cup. The updated Vision AI Companion (VAC) introduces an AI Sound Controller that solves a decades-old complaint: bad commentary. Users can now issue a simple command—“Mute the commentator”—to strip away the talking heads while keeping the roar of the stadium atmosphere intact.

Audio and software longevity

Audio immersion is getting a boost with Eclipsa Audio, a spatial sound technology co-developed with Google. Already available on select YouTube videos, this feature aims to provide a theater-like experience where sound moves precisely with the action on screen. Furthermore, Samsung confirmed it is the first to implement HDR10+ ADVANCED in its 2026 lineup, with Amazon Prime Video pledging support for the format. Perhaps the most consumer-friendly announcement, however, was the commitment to longevity. Samsung is setting a new industry benchmark by promising seven years of Tizen OS upgrades. This ensures that the TV you buy in 2026 won’t be obsolete by 2030, a crucial factor for anyone investing in a premium display.

Appliances get a brain upgrade with Google Gemini

In the kitchen and laundry room, the “Home Companion” concept comes to life through a deeper integration with Google Gemini. The new AI Vision Inside feature in Samsung refrigerators can now recognize a wider array of food items and read labels, combining text and visual data to keep a precise inventory. This isn’t just about making grocery lists; it’s about reducing mental load. The new gamified feature “What’s for Today?” helps indecisive cooks choose a meal based on existing ingredients. For those who rely on YouTube tutorials, the Video to Recipe feature converts cooking videos into step-by-step guides displayed directly on the fridge or oven screen, eliminating the need to pause a video with messy hands.

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Robotics also saw a significant upgrade. The Qualcomm Dragonwing AI chipset now powers the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra. Equipped with a 3D dual obstacle sensor, it can distinguish between different types of liquids—like coffee, juice, or water—to avoid spreading messes.

Proactive Health and Real-World Savings

Samsung Health is shifting from reactive tracking to Intelligent Care. New metrics for cardiovascular health (vascular load, ECG) and sleep coaching are designed to catch issues before they become problems. In a forward-looking move, Samsung also teased a beta feature for monitoring cognitive health, identifying subtle changes in speech or sleep patterns that could signal early issues in aging relatives.

Finally, the ecosystem is starting to pay for itself. Through a partnership with Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), the Smart Home Savings program allows users to lower their home insurance premiums. By using data from connected appliances—such as a fridge detecting a leak—insurers can offer personalized rates, rewarding users for the proactive safety their smart home provides.

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