[Video] [CES 2024] A Day in the Life With Ballie: An AI Companion Robot for the Home
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By Samsung Newsroom
As the centerpiece of the living room, the TV is evolving into a smart platform that understands user intent and expands the viewing experience. Beyond simply playing content, TVs now enable natural conversations, provide real-time information about what’s on screen and offer personalized recommendations.
To meet these changing expectations, Samsung Electronics introduced Vision AI Companion (VAC), an integrated AI platform designed for TVs. Exclusive to Samsung TVs, VAC delivers AI-powered services that present relevant information without disrupting viewing and seamlessly connect users to related content.
In May, Samsung updated the VAC user interface and accelerated the service’s global rollout. Previously available in 38 countries including Korea, VAC has since expanded worldwide,1 with support extended to more TV models. The company plans to bring the service to additional products and markets, giving more users access to AI-enhanced screen experiences.
Samsung Newsroom spoke with Donghee Han of the Experience Planning Group, Visual Display (VD) Business to learn more about how VAC is shaping the future of TV viewing.
▲ Powered by Samsung’s advanced AI technology, VAC optimizes content experiences for TV viewing.
AI Designed for the TV Screen
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, consumers have naturally come to expect new AI-powered capabilities from their TVs. Yet questions remain about what role AI should play on TVs and which functions provide meaningful value.
“Building on Samsung TV’s longstanding technology leadership, we focused on making a wide range of AI features, content and apps easy to access, so users can enjoy them without navigating complex menus,” said Han. “Rather than simply showcasing technology, the goal was to bring together genuinely useful features that offer practical support while watching TV and make them available in one place.”
The starting point for VAC was the unique nature of TV as a device — one that differs from smartphones or PCs. “Because TV is designed primarily for viewing content on a large screen, AI interactions must be seamlessly connected to what is on screen without disrupting that experience,” he added.
▲ VAC helps users find answers in real time without leaving the content they are watching or turning to another device. When watching a movie, viewers may wonder, “Where was this film shot?” or “Who directed this?” Instead of reaching for a smartphone, they can simply ask questions about what they are watching and get answers instantly. “Conversational search allows users to resolve questions in the moment and continue exploring related content,” said Han. “It’s a fast, intuitive capability that only Samsung TVs can offer and a key differentiator.”
Natural Conversations, Smarter Discovery
VAC’s greatest strength is its natural language capabilities, allowing users to find content through conversations that feel as intuitive as speaking with another person. While traditional TV voice search typically requires an exact title or predefined genre, VAC interprets both the context and intent behind a viewer’s request.
“Even without knowing the exact title, users can describe a mood, actor or plot point that comes to mind — such as ‘Find me a movie where justice is served in a satisfying way’ or ‘Find me an animated movie about K-pop stars’ — and the AI understands the context to surface the most relevant results,” Han explained. “Because entering search terms with a TV remote can be cumbersome, the ability to find something by saying what comes to mind is an innovative leap in the viewing experience.”
▲ VAC recognizes user intent through natural-language conversations and helps users discover relevant content without manually searching with a TV remote. VAC goes beyond providing information. “Since video is at the heart of the TV experience, we designed the service so conversations don’t end with a single answer,” he said. “By presenting related videos that users can watch immediately, VAC creates a direct connection between discovery and viewing.”
Han also explained the rationale behind developing an integrated platform tailored for TV. “We believed that simply bringing existing global AI services to TV would not be enough to create a truly optimized viewing experience,” he said. “Drawing on Samsung’s extensive expertise in smart TV platforms, we built a dedicated environment where viewing, conversation, information discovery and AI-generated content come together.”
AI-Curated Updates and Content
With the latest update, VAC introduces enhanced lifestyle features. Today’s Topic, for example, uses AI to summarize top news, lifestyle updates and sports highlights — eliminating the need to search for them manually.
“Today’s Topic was inspired by a simple question — what if AI could proactively find and summarize information users might be interested in?” Han said. “Beyond providing text-based information, the feature also recommends related videos worth watching.” As a result, viewers can quickly catch up on key developments and dive deeper into subjects of interest through related content.
▲ The updated Today’s Topic feature uses AI to summarize key news, lifestyle and sports updates on screen while recommending related videos. Samsung also introduced the zero-depth user interface, designed to minimize unnecessary navigation. By displaying topic-based conversations directly on the home screen, users can explore AI features without moving between multiple screens.
“We focused on making AI features easier to access while preserving the natural flow of TV viewing,” he added.
Responsible AI for the TV Screen
Bringing AI services to a screen as familiar and ubiquitous as the TV presented challenges beyond the technology itself. Establishing strong policies and safeguards — particularly around copyright, privacy and data use — was a top priority.
“There was no clear roadmap for applying rapidly evolving AI technologies to the TV screen,” Han recalled. “Throughout the planning and development process, we had to make decisions and define principles ourselves.”
▲ Prioritizing safety, privacy and responsible AI use was essential to ensuring that Samsung TVs could be used with confidence by millions of people worldwide. “There was certainly pressure to introduce new features quickly in a global AI landscape where new services emerge almost daily,” he continued. “But as a platform offered to households around the world under the Samsung name, building user trust mattered more than the speed of implementation.”
To support that goal, the team worked closely with Samsung’s legal department from the earliest stages of development, conducting a thorough review to ensure that every feature met company standards and was introduced responsibly. The result reflects not only technical innovation but also a commitment to earning user trust through robust policies and protections.
The Future of TV, Powered by AI
VAC focuses not only on implementing AI technology but also on integrating it naturally into the TV experience. This philosophy underpins Samsung’s vision for the future of screens. Unlike traditional smart TV services limited to predefined features and fixed interfaces, VAC is designed to adapt alongside changing user needs and market trends.
“Samsung TVs will move beyond menu-based navigation to become platforms that understand user intent and proactively connect users to relevant content,” Han explained. “By combining AI-powered conversations with the immersive experience of a large screen, everything from information discovery to content viewing can become part of a single journey.”
▲ VAC is expanding the possibilities of TV viewing by enabling screens to converse, understand and connect users with content. “TVs will continue to evolve toward a future where they better understand user intent and significantly broaden the viewing experience,” he continued. “Through VAC, we will keep enhancing both features and usability so more users can enjoy intuitive AI experiences on TV.”
Moving beyond screens that simply display content, Samsung TVs are becoming more intuitive companions. With VAC, Samsung is expanding the possibilities of smarter screen experiences by helping users discover information and content more naturally.
Excluding Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Russia and Syria ︎ View the full article
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics is giving K-Pop fans a new way to experience the front-row energy of live SM Entertainment concerts from home — no ticket required. Building on the exclusive livestream of SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in L.A., Samsung TV Plus is expanding its collaboration with SM Entertainment to bring monthly concert broadcasts from popular SM artists to Samsung TVs and compatible Samsung devices through its subscription-free service.
The Monthly SM Concert series will be available exclusively on the SMTOWN channel, the Samsung TV Plus destination for SM Entertainment content. Available in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico and Korea, the collaboration will bring premium K-Pop performances to growing fan communities in these markets.
A Monthly K-Pop Stage, Built for Fans
To kick off the Monthly SM Concert series, NCT WISH’s first concert tour, “’INTO THE WISH: Our WISH’ ENCORE IN SEOUL,” will premiere live on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. local time. Following the premiere, fans can tune in to the SMTOWN channel every Saturday at 7 p.m. for encore programming and future monthly concert streams, creating an easy weekend rhythm for watching SM performances from home.
With more SM artists and concert streams to be announced, the series will offer fresh performances and encore programming throughout the year, giving fans more ways to watch and revisit the artists they love on the biggest screen at home.
Viewers can also use SmartThings on any smartphone or Samsung TVs to set reminders before each stream, so they never miss a moment. For fans with compatible connected Samsung devices at home, SmartThings can help create a richer viewing environment by adjusting sound and lighting settings, bringing more of the concert atmosphere into the living room.
The Best Seat Is at Home
Samsung TV Plus continues to grow as a global destination for Korean entertainment, offering more than 4,000 hours of free-to-stream Korean content — from dramas, thrillers and romance to crime series, music programming and live event experiences.
The Monthly SM Concert series builds on this offering with monthly programming that lets fans follow every minute of their favorite SM performances from home, at no additional cost.
Made for everyone and every moment, Samsung TV Plus offers over 4,300 channels globally, subscription-free, and is available in 30 countries exclusively across Samsung TVs, Samsung Galaxy phones, XR headsets, Galaxy Tab, Smart Monitor and Family Hub lineups. This includes the new 2026 TV series announced earlier this year at CES, spanning Samsung Micro RGB TV, Neo QLED, OLED, The Frame, The Frame Pro and more.
More information on Samsung TV Plus is available at samsungtvplus.com.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Wallet provides an e-wallet service to its customers through wallet cards, as well as offering features designed to enhance user engagement and drive business growth for partners. Sending push notifications to users is such a feature. Partners can send push notifications to users' wallet cards directly, using pre-approved message templates.
These notifications can be used to send promotional messages or alert users about important updates. This article demonstrates a complete implementation of the Send Notification API.
In the example scenario, we send a notification to a user's wallet card from a partner's server using this API.
System requirements
The Notification API has the following prerequisites:
Complete the onboarding procedure to obtain the required security certificates if you are new to Samsung Wallet.
Now create your wallet card. Follow the Step 1 - Create Wallet Card Template section of the documentation.
Create your notification template and request for approval. Follow the Notification Workflow Overview to complete this step. Remember to check the template to detect prohibited content. No additional approval is required if it passes.
Get permission from Samsung to use the Send Notification API. Reach out to Samsung Developer Support for further support. API fundamentals
As an authorized partner, you can send notifications to the users linked to your card, using the Send Notification API from your server.
Endpoint: The endpoint below processes the notification requests.
URL https://tsapi-card.walletsvc.samsung.com/{cc2}/wltex/cards/{cardId}/notifications/{templateId}/send Headers: Header information is required to ensure secure communication between the Samsung server and the partner server.
Authorization: Bearer token for authentication. Refer to JSON Web Token documentation for specifications. x-smcs-partner-id: Unique partner identifier required for API access. x-request-id: A unique UUID string that identifies each request. Body: A payload including a parameter named ndata possessing a JWT token that contains the relevant data to identify the card user.
See the official documentation for detailed API specifications.
API implementation process
The Send Notification API allows you to send personalized push notifications to users. Download the sample source code and follow the step-by-step process below for a better understanding of the implementation of the API.
Step 1: Managing cryptographic keys
Cryptographic keys are needed for authorization purposes. In this step, use the certificate you obtained during the onboarding process to extract the necessary keys. These keys are needed for JWT token generation.
Extracting the public keys
Extract the public keys from the partner.crt and samsung.crt certificate files.
def getPublicKey(crt_path): try: with open(crt_path, "rb") as f: crt_data = f.read() certificate = x509.load_pem_x509_certificate(crt_data, default_backend()) public_key = certificate.public_key() public_key_pem = public_key.public_bytes( encoding=serialization.Encoding.PEM, format=serialization.PublicFormat.SubjectPublicKeyInfo ) return public_key_pem except Exception as error: print(f"Error reading public key from {crt_path}: {error}") return None Extracting the private key
Extract the private key from the .pem file generated during the onboarding process.
def getPrivateKey(pem_path): try: with open(pem_path, "rb") as data: private_key = serialization.load_pem_private_key( data.read(), password=None, backend=default_backend() ) return private_key except Exception as error: print(f"Error reading private key from {pem_path}: {error}") return None Step 2: Constructing the authorization token
An authorization token is needed to validate the API request. Construct an authorization header with AUTH as the payload content type and include the certificate and partner IDs. Retrieve these IDs from My account > Encryption Management in the Wallet Partner Portal, then build the payload and construct the authorization token.
The following code snippet implements the actions described.
def generateAuthToken(partnerId, certificateId, utcTimestamp, privateKey, cardId, cc2, templateId): auth_header = { "cty": "AUTH", "ver": 3, "certificateId": certificateId, "partnerId": partnerId, "utc": utcTimestamp, "alg": "RS256" } auth_payload = { "API": { "method": "POST", "path": f"/wltex/cards/{cardId}/notifications/{templateId}/send" }, } auth_token = jwt.encode( payload=auth_payload, key=privateKey, algorithm='RS256', headers=auth_header ) return auth_token Step 3: Constructing the notification data token
The request payload requires the ndata parameter, which is a JWT token that contains information about the notification data and the cards’ identifiers. Follow these steps to construct the ndata token.
Defining the notification object
The notification object is a JSON structured data object containing a list of reference IDs and the data. The reference IDs identify the specific cards to send the push notification to. You can use a list of reference IDs to send the push notification to multiple recipients at a time. The data contains the name-value pairs used in the notification template. In our sample notification template, we used two name-value pairs (name and insert_end_date).
notifcationObject = { "refIds": [ "4afb049c-efef-43ca-8f03-1df55243477c" ], "data": { "name": "Premium", "insert_end_date": "12/12/2026" } } Constructing the notification data JWT token
Next, construct the JWT token for notification data (ndata). You can get more information about the JWT format in the "Card Data Token" section of this documentation.
def generateCDataToken(partnerId, samsungPublicKey, partnerPrivateKey, certificateId, utcTimestamp, data): jwe_header = { "alg": "RSA1_5", "enc": "A128GCM" } jwe_token = jwe.encrypt( data, samsungPublicKey, encryption=jwe_header["enc"], algorithm=jwe_header["alg"] ) print(f"jwe_token: \n{jwe_token}\n") jws_header = { "alg": "RS256", "cty": "NOTIFICATION", "ver": 3, "certificateId": certificateId, "partnerId": partnerId, "utc": utcTimestamp, } jws_token = jws.sign( jwe_token, key=partnerPrivateKey, algorithm='RS256', headers=jws_header ) print(f"jws_token: \n{jws_token}\n") return jws_token Step 4: Building and executing the POST request
Construct the HTTP POST request to send the push notification using the following code structure.
# --- Prepare JSON body (Python dictionary) --- payload = { "ndata": nData } # --- Build HTTP Request --- headers = { "Authorization": "Bearer " + authToken, "x-smcs-partner-id": partnerId, "x-request-id": requestId, "Content-Type": "application/json" } # --- Execute HTTP Request --- try: response = requests.post(endpoint, json=payload, headers=headers) response.raise_for_status() print("Wallet Card Template Notificatiom: " + json.dumps(response.json())) except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e: print("Failed to notify the Wallet Card user:") print(f"Error: {e}") if response: print("Response body:", response.text) Running the sample application
Once the four steps described above are implemented, open the sample project and do the following:
Update the partner_id, certificate_id, card_id, and template_id values in src/main.py with your actual values. Place your partner.crt, samsung.crt and private_key.pem files in the /cert directory. Install all dependent libraries listed in the requirements.txt file. Run the main script in the terminal. After the script is executed successfully, a push notification is sent to the user's wallet.
Conclusion
Now that you have implemented the Send Notification API sample application successfully, you can implement this API with your server to send customized push notifications.
Additional resources
For more information on this topic, consult the following resources:
Complete source code Official Samsung Wallet API documentation View the full blog at its source
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung TV Plus, Samsung Electronics’ free ad-supported streaming (FAST) service, has surpassed 100 million monthly active users (MAU) worldwide. After reaching 88 million in October 2024, the figure has increased by 12 million in about a year and two months, highlighting how Samsung’s longstanding hardware dominance in the global TV market — maintained for the past 19 years — has evolved into a robust media platform ecosystem.
As the global media market shifts increasingly toward paid subscriptions, Samsung TV Plus provides a unique viewing experience that allows users to access content instantly, without requiring additional sign-ups or payment. Surpassing the milestone of 100 million users underscores the success of this model as an appealing alternative for viewers.
Samsung Newsroom takes a look at the transformative journey of Samsung TV Plus as it evolves into a global media platform amidst the changing landscape of television viewing.
Lost in a Flood of OTTs: Authentic TV Experience Regains Attention
With paid OTT services becoming the norm in today’s media market, the explosion of content has led to viewer fatigue. As subscription fees continue to rise and platforms have become more fragmented, many find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, making it increasingly difficult to locate the content they actually want to watch.
In this context, FAST services are gaining recognition as a new viewing method. By merging the straightforwardness of traditional television — where viewers can jump right into content as soon as they turn on their TVs — with the vast selection offered by OTT platforms that allow viewers to choose content tailored to their preferences, FAST services are appealing to viewers worldwide looking for a simpler, hassle-free viewing experience.
The Beginning of Samsung TV Plus: A Viewing Method Faithful to the Basics
Samsung TV Plus has evolved into a prominent FAST service, but it isn’t new. Launched in 2015 — before the concept of FAST even existed — the platform has been delivering free channel services that come pre-installed on Samsung smart TVs. The core feature allows users to enjoy live content simply by turning on their TVs, without the need for separate subscriptions, payments or extra equipment.
In its early days, Samsung TV Plus was often viewed more like the pre-installed free TV channels available in some regions, rather than as a standalone media platform. Recently, however, with American broadcasters flooding into the FAST market, the idea of ad-supported free services has become well-established. Recognizing this shift in the media landscape, Samsung has begun to cultivate Samsung TV Plus as a distinct, independent media platform.
Today, Samsung TV Plus is broadening its content offerings beyond traditional entertainment and dramas, as well as incorporating content enhancement utilizing AI technology. One innovative feature is the “All-in-One AI Integrated Channel,” which revives popular dramas from the 2000s. These classics have been remastered in high definition using AI-driven picture and sound quality enhancements, providing viewers with a fresh take on beloved content while utilizing the existing video assets. Additionally, the platform has bolstered its travel and fitness-focused lifestyle web entertainment content by adding popular creators’ channels like “Pani Bottle” and “Hip Euddeum.”
In efforts to expand its K-content offerings, Samsung TV Plus has partnered with leading Korean media companies to enhance its premium K-content lineup, making it one of the largest K-content providers in the United States. By streaming various live concerts, the platform draws in fans who want to engage with Korean entertainment and culture.
Beyond Hardware: Establishing a Global Media Platform
Currently, Samsung TV Plus boasts around 4,300 channels and 66,000 videos on demand (VOD) across 30 countries — all for free. By partnering with local broadcasters and content creators, the service continues to develop content that meets regional viewing demands, shaping a global FAST ecosystem. Moving beyond being merely a hardware manufacturer, the company is establishing itself as a major media platform.
In Korea, major channels and content typically consumed via terrestrial broadcasts and existing IPTV services can now also be accessed on Samsung TV Plus. Offering live channels and vast content libraries without additional subscriptions or fees, this platform has become a practical alternative for those wishing to reduce their reliance on paid broadcasting services. Users can enjoy an intuitive experience without the hassle of extra equipment or complicated setups and the burden of discovering new content is significantly eased.
Achieving Major Broadcaster-Level Viewership: Solidifying Leadership in the Global FAST Competition
Samsung TV Plus has achieved impressive 100 million monthly viewership numbers, placing it on par with the three major global broadcasting networks. This notable milestone signifies that the service has evolved from being just an additional feature on Samsung TVs into a robust platform that competes alongside leading global media companies.
Samsung is committed to expanding its presence within the global media ecosystem through Samsung TV Plus. The strategy focuses on continuously enhancing the platform’s value by setting standards for enjoyable TV viewing experiences for users — driven by three key factors: instant viewing capabilities without the need for a separate set-top box, AI-based content curation and constantly updated competitive offerings.
“Samsung TV Plus has transformed into a global media platform that seamlessly integrates into the daily lives of viewers worldwide,” said Choi Joon-hun, Head of the TV Plus Group from Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our distinct competitive edge in the FAST market by diversifying channels and securing premium content.”
Built on its strong hardware leadership, Samsung Electronics is positioning itself as a key player in the global media ecosystem. Samsung TV Plus is ushering in a new, user-centric lifestyle of content consumption, reshaping the way viewers interact with media.
View the full article
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics today announced an exclusive global partnership with the world’s leading guitar brand, Fender, to bring the world’s first TV edition of Fender Play to Samsung TVs in 2026.1
“With video-based lessons on Samsung TVs, learning an instrument fits naturally into daily life and helps players reach goals faster,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “By bringing Fender Play to TVs for the first time, Samsung is turning the largest screen at home into a place to learn and play together.”
Players can choose an education path for four different instruments: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass or ukulele. Musicians can also access on‑demand courses by skill level, each with a wide range of step‑by‑step lessons built around familiar songs. Through Jam Mode, players can pick a fun background and play along with curated tracks from a variety of genres, turning their screen into a stage.
Samsung debuted a live preview of the experience at CES 2026, with on-screen demos that showcased the immersive learning experience. With 20 consecutive years of leading the global TV market, Samsung delivers the picture, sound and reliability that keep new players engaged as they build skills.
“We are thrilled to bring Fender Play’s immersive learning experience to Samsung TV users, helping guitar enthusiasts take their skills to the next level,” said Cliff Kim, VP of Growth Strategy, Digital Products at Fender and President of the Fender Play Foundation. “Our mission has always been to educate and inspire players globally and this partnership gives music lovers the opportunity to learn, practice and play with Fender Play’s high-quality, interactive lessons directly on their Samsung TV.”
The app will be released in the first half of 2026. For more information, visit www.samsung.com.
About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) — whose portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch® guitars, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby® and PreSonus® — follows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest-quality instruments and digital experiences across genres. Since 2015, Fender’s digital arm has introduced a new ecosystem of products and interactive experiences to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. This includes innovative apps and learning platforms designed to complement Fender guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories and pro-audio gear, and inspire players through an immersive musical experience. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of musical expression for all players, from beginners to history-making legends. In 2026, Fender celebrates 80 years of giving artists “wings to fly,” carrying on the vision of its founder, Leo Fender, and connecting players through a shared love of music.
Beginning in 2026, Fender Play will be available on 2025 and later Samsung TVs in 49 countries across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. ︎ View the full article
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