AI’s real potential: Orchestrating the technology around us

Historically, notable American innovations have been easily identifiable objects such as the telephone, television, personal computer, and smartphone. These devices expanded people's capabilities by providing powerful new tools within their reach. However, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) follows a distinct trajectory.

Rather than being a singular device, AI is now appearing across various technologies that individuals use daily, from smartphones and watches to televisions and home appliances. Just as the internet and mobile connectivity added an intelligent layer by connecting these devices, AI is evolving as a force that orchestrates technology to work intelligently together.

The potential of AI lies in making technology more responsive, interconnected, and useful as a unified system. In a typical morning, people interact with multiple connected technologies, such as checking a wearable to monitor sleep, using a calendar app to manage daily schedules, and relying on connected devices to control temperature or alert to package deliveries. These interactions often remain isolated, as people frequently need to re-enter information and manage settings across different devices and platforms.

AI can bridge these gaps by presenting relevant information at the right moment, minimizing the small tasks and decisions that consume attention throughout the day. Samsung is already witnessing this shift in its connected ecosystem, with users utilizing devices and services together to manage various aspects, such as energy consumption, schedules, and entertainment. The next challenge is ensuring these experiences operate seamlessly together, reducing friction rather than introducing more complexity.

Healthcare presents a particularly compelling opportunity. Wellness tools can help individuals understand patterns in their daily lives, while healthcare providers possess the clinical data necessary for diagnosing and treating health conditions. Bridging the gap between routine wellness insights and clinical care requires connecting technology, data, and people to create holistic health management.

Samsung is working towards this goal by connecting everyday wellness insights with care teams, aiming to present a more comprehensive picture of a person's health.

The ultimate aim of AI should be to design technology around real-life contexts rather than individual devices. This same principle can be applied to various industries, where connected intelligence can streamline energy use, enhance accessibility, bolster home safety, and simplify household coordination. The true value of AI lies in its ability to work cohesively within an environment, rather than forcing people to manage each component independently.

However, this increased coordination necessitates greater transparency and security. As AI systems gain access to more personal data and context, it is crucial for people to understand how these systems operate, why they make specific decisions, and how they can modify or halt their actions. Seamless experiences should never compromise meaningful control.

In developing the next generation of connected technology, it is essential to prioritize user choice. Consent should be granular and easily reversible, with preferences being intuitive to understand and manage. Additionally, systems must clearly explain their actions, ensuring that assistance proves beneficial rather than intrusive.

In the realm of healthcare, these principles are especially important. Connected care has the potential to assist individuals in interpreting the data collected by their devices and, when appropriate, share useful insights with healthcare professionals who can support their actions. Ultimately, individuals must retain control over what they share, when it is shared, and can adjust their preferences at any time.

Interoperability is equally vital, as no household, workplace, or healthcare system operates solely on a single company's technology. Progress in this area will depend on devices and services functioning across boundaries. Failure to establish this interoperability risks creating new digital barriers.

In the AI industry, progress must be evaluated based on how much people value these systems in their everyday lives. The most successful products and companies will offer technology that is not only useful and understandable but also trustworthy, respecting individual choice and providing people with more time to focus on their work, relationships, and priorities. The future may see an ecosystem intelligent enough to coordinate multiple devices together while maintaining the necessary trust to operate on people's terms.