LG CEO William Cho Shares Focus for the Future
-
Similar Topics
-
By News Reporter
LG Aims to Expand Its B2B Offerings and
Build a Growth-Driven Portfolio in Emerging Sectors
SEOUL, Oct. 10, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) held a press conference today at LG Digital Park in South Korea to share its future vision for the B2B sector with domestic journalists. The company outlined its goal for the LG Business Solutions (BS) Company to achieve KRW 10 trillion in annual revenue by 2030.
At its 2024 Investor Forum in August, LG highlighted the acceleration of its B2B operations as one of the central components of its business portfolio innovation strategy. By 2030, the company expects that its B2B concerns will account for 45 percent of total sales.
LG plans to strengthen its leading B2B businesses, such as hotel and hospital TVs, digital signage and premium laptops, while also focusing on medical monitors and electric vehicle (EV) chargers to build a sustainable, growth-focused portfolio.
Additionally, the company is rapidly strengthening its B2B capabilities across a wide range of areas, including vehicle components, HVAC systems, built-in appliances and smart factory solutions. The expansion into mobility and new business segments is part of the company’s strategy to accelerate its business transformation.
Leading LG’s flagship B2B businesses, the LG BS Company offers customized digital signage for various commercial spaces, including hotels, retail stores, offices, schools and hospitals, as well as IT products ranging from high-spec monitors to LG gram laptops, commercial robots and EV charging solutions.
The B2B sector is less affected by economic fluctuations than B2C, resulting in comparatively stable revenue and profits. Another advantage of B2B is the “lock-in” effect, which typically leads to close, long-term relationships with customers and a virtuous cycle of mutual growth.
“Over the past 66 years, LG has accumulated valuable insights into its customers and the diverse spaces they occupy through its consumer electronics business,” said Jang Ik-hwan, president of LG Business Solutions Company. “Going forward, we will leverage this expertise to offer tailored services and differentiated solutions to our business customers, further cementing our reputation as a trusted partner in the competitive B2B market. The BS Company is seeking to double its current revenue, reaching KRW 10 trillion by 2030.”
Driving the Commercial Display Market with Premium Signage and Hospitality TVs
LG has gained a leading position in the B2B display solution market thanks to its top-tier commercial display technology, premium digital signage and strong performance in the global hotel and hospital TV segments. LG’s information display business has experienced steady growth since 2019, recording an average annual growth rate of seven percent.
LG will continue to expand its display solutions business with products tailored for various spaces. The focus will be on premium fine-pitch LED signage (including All-in-One LED and Micro LED models), a product category that has seen a double-digit rise in revenue each year.
At the forefront of this expansion is the cutting-edge LG MAGNIT Micro LED display. LG MAGNIT is offered in various formats, including an all-in-one model for conference rooms, a model designed for virtual production studios, a premium home cinema edition and a model with a separate power supply unit (PSU). Since 2020, MAGNIT has recorded an impressive growth rate, with its annual revenue growth nearing a twofold increase on average over the past four years.
Additionally, LG is strengthening its portfolio of innovative digital signage solutions with products such as the next-generation LG Micro LED display, which is set to launch later this year. LG has employed the latest AI technology for its upcoming Micro LED, both during the production process and to create intelligent image-quality algorithms that help ensure superior visual performance. As part of the manufacturing process, AI is used to assess and select each of the product’s approximately 25 million LED chips (based on a 136-inch model). Meanwhile, the AI processor applied to the LG Micro LED display analyzes and optimizes color and brightness in real-time to deliver optimal picture quality.
To drive future growth, LG is actively working to identify potential demand and will keep on adding to its diverse lineup of tailored hardware and software solutions for commercial spaces.
Preferred by customers around the world, LG’s hospitality TVs boast many user-friendly features, including the ability to wirelessly mirror personal devices screens via Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay. Hotel guests simply scan the QR code displayed on the TV to watch content from their device on the TV’s larger screen. To protect users’ privacy, viewing history and connection data are automatically deleted upon check out.
LG continues to maintain its strong leadership in the global hospitality TV market, and is collaborating with renowned international hotel chains including IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Hyatt.
In addition to its hardware offerings, LG provides a variety of cloud solutions through its online B2B platform, LG Business Cloud. These include the LG DOOH Ads digital signage advertising solution, LG SuperSign Cloud and Pro:Centric digital signage and hospitality TV content management solutions, and LG ConnectedCare remote monitoring and management solution.
To accelerate its expansion into new business areas and enhance overall competitiveness, LG is fostering strategic partnerships with global B2B companies. It recently signed a memorandum of understanding with office solutions provider Ricoh to explore the development of comprehensive enterprise services.
Strengthening LG’s Position as a Leading EV Charging Solutions Provider
LG is set to expedite its growth in promising new business areas, with the company’s EV charger business standing out as an emerging “unicorn.” Through strategic partnerships and investment, LG is poised to increase its presence in the global EV charger market.
LG opened its EV charger production factory in the U.S. (Texas) in January of this year and in June reached an agreement with ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for EVs in North America. The two companies are collaborating to expand their businesses by boosting product sales through distribution channels, reinforcing their product portfolios and jointly developing next-generation solutions. Additionally, LG is leveraging its extensive B2B sales network in the U.S., established through its nationwide success in hospitality TVs and digital signage, to actively target the country’s increased demand for EV charging infrastructure. This includes the necessary charging framework for hotels, shopping malls and retail stores, as well as highway charging stations and depots.
LG aims to secure around eight percent of the U.S. fast charger market by 2030 and position itself as a global top-tier provider of EV charging solutions.
At present, LG offers six types of EV chargers, including 7kW and 11kW slow chargers, and 100kW, 175kW, and 200kW fast-charging models.1 In addition, the company is producing a 350kW ultra-fast charger for the North American market and plans to release two slow-charging models – 30kW and 7kW – targeting the European market, all scheduled to launch by the end of this year.
Furthermore, LG is proactively addressing concerns over EV charger safety by implementing various fire-prevention solutions.
The charging control system applied to LG’s EV chargers prevents overcharging, which is one of the leading causes of EV charging safety incidents. The control system automatically stops charging when the vehicle battery reaches 80 percent during fast charging and 100 percent during slow charging. Additionally, LG chargers are equipped with a load management system that allocates electricity based on the installation site’s power capacity, ensuring stable charging even with limited power availability.2
The installation environment and consumer safety are key considerations in the design of every EV charger that LG makes. The company’s 175kW fast-charging model operates reliably in extreme temperatures ranging from -35 to 55 degrees Celsius and boasts an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, along with an IK10 rating for impact resistance. Additionally, LG EV chargers comply with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations for the use of ten harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury during the manufacturing process.
Prioritizing Medical Monitors as a Key Growth Engine
LG is focusing on the medical monitor sector as a new growth driver for its IT business, with plans to become a global top-three medical monitor provider within the next five years.
Medical monitors are required to meet the medical device regulations of each country, as well as medical imaging display standards, such as DICOM Part 14. Delivering excellent image accuracy and reliability, these monitors are considered premium products with high entry barriers, and are recognized as high-value-added products. According to market research firm Omdia, the global medical monitor market is expected to reach approximately USD 2.5 billion in value by 2030. In markets such as North America and Europe, hospitals are required to use medical-grade monitors for the reviewing of medical images obtained from X-rays, endoscopies and other procedures. With these strict regulations in place, the market for medical-grade monitors is expected to grow significantly in the future.
Launched in 2016, LG’s medical monitor business has steadily expanded in size, achieving close to double-digit annual growth in North America and Europe. Its product lineup, which is now available in more than 50 countries worldwide, currently comprises 14 types of medical monitors – including clinical, diagnostic and surgical models – and six types of digital X-ray detectors (DXDs).
LG offers healthcare institutions a diverse range of medical monitors, including surgical monitors with Mini-LED technology, specialized diagnostic monitors for mammography and high-resolution displays with screen-split features. By adopting a turnkey solution approach, LG has enhanced its competitiveness in the global medical display market and set a solid foundation for future growth.
In 2023, the company made significant strides in the medical display segment by securing a four-year, EUR 10 million contract with Centrale d’Achat de l’Informatique Hospitalière (CAIH), France’s public hospital IT purchasing center, for the supply of medical monitors. Looking ahead, LG plans to integrate AI technology into the data analysis and solutions derived from its medical monitors and digital X-ray detectors, and is also considering an entry into the medical imaging equipment sector.
LG’s success in the B2B sector owes much to the company’s technology and knowhow accumulated over many years in the B2C market. Recently, LG is in discussions regarding a contract to supply a U.S. financial services company with custom-built, high-resolution monitors for a period of five years. LG has supplied dual monitors to a U.S. financial media company and provided in-flight entertainment (IFE) displays to international airlines.
# # #
1 LG’s 7kW and 11kW slow chargers and 100kW fast charger are available in South Korea, while the 175kW and 200kW fast-charging models are available in North America.
2 LG’s load management solution, which has already been applied to the company’s fast- and slow-charging EV charging solutions in North America, will be introduced in South Korea beginning next month.
link hidden, please login to view -
By News Reporter
Company Drives Strategic Growth With AI webOS, an Intelligent Platform
that Delivers Outstanding Customer Value and Unique User Experiences
SEOUL, Sep. 30, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) last week held webOS Summit 2024 in Incheon, South Korea, sharing its strategic vision and future initiatives for expanding the AI webOS ecosystem and growing its platform business. Themed “Empowering webOS with AI,” the second webOS Summit played host to around 300 attendees representing 140 partner companies – including content developers, producers and providers – from 24 countries. The event also marked a major milestone: the tenth anniversary of the launch of webOS on LG smart TVs.
AI webOS plays a pivotal role in LG’s ambitious business transformation, shifting from a consumer electronics manufacturer to a Smart Life Solution Company. With a strategic investment of over KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million), LG aims to significantly enhance the capabilities of its webOS platform and related businesses.
To achieve its strategic vision and elevate the value of its unique offerings, LG is continuously broadening the extensive selection of content and services accessible on AI webOS. The platform, which delivers exceptional experiences to LG TV users in over 180 countries, currently provides over 4,000 apps, including those for entertainment, home fitness, education and gaming.
This year, LG is reinforcing the reputation of AI webOS as an advanced gaming platform by adding a variety of new services and experience innovations. At present, the cutting-edge platform offers around 4,500 games across popular cloud gaming services such as GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna. To make gaming on its TVs even more responsive, LG has teamed up with MediaTek and Razer, leveraging new Bluetooth Ultra-Low Latency (BT ULL) technology to reduce input lag to an imperceptible 1ms when using a Bluetooth gaming controller. Demonstrated during webOS Summit 2024, this impressive responsiveness enhances the cloud gaming experience, giving users more precise control and making gameplay more immersive.
LG is also bolstering its competitive edge in content and services by actively seeking out and securing top industry talent. The company recently hosted a global hackathon to discover compelling new games and AI-powered content suitable for AI webOS and is also collaborating on game development with respected institutes of higher education, such as Sungkyunkwan University and New York University.
Furthermore, with the introduction of webOS Pay, LG has made it faster and more convenient for users to purchase content and services on AI webOS. The simple-to-use payment service contributes to the seamless, personalized shopping experience on LG’s intelligent platform.
Over the last decade, LG has sold a remarkable 220 million smart TVs and has consistently strengthened its webOS platform business through licensing agreements with an array of local and global companies. LG first made webOS available to other TV makers in 2021, and since then, the versatile platform has been adopted by over 400 brands. The company is now poised to further expand the webOS ecosystem via an array of webOS-powered automotive infotainment solutions, digital signage, smart monitors, gaming monitors and projectors.
Additionally, the webOS platform is shoring up LG’s strong competitiveness in the advertising business. In 2024, revenue generated by advertising and services on webOS is projected to exceed KRW 1 trillion, which represents a fourfold increase from 2021.
A significant contributor to this excellent performance is LG Channels, a free, ad-supported streaming service that provides over 3,800 channels and is now available in 29 countries. The company has augmented its already stellar offering of top-notch viewing options on its free service with the launch of LG Channels Showcase and LG 1 – new channels boasting a curated selection of premium entertainment. What’s more, LG is adding value to the user experience via the provision of AI-based ad solutions that make content recommendations even more relevant to user preferences.
With its Affectionate Intelligence vision for a more caring, empathetic and attentive AI technology, LG is continuously enriching and enhancing the customer experience. The application of Affectionate Intelligence allows webOS users to enjoy easier control as well as personalized content and service recommendations suited to their individual tastes and lifestyles. Through collaborations with innovative partner companies and the seamless integration of the latest technologies, LG is constantly refining its cutting-edge platform.
Along with informative presentations and demonstrations, webOS Summit 2024 featured an experience zone where attendees were able to see first-hand how powerful AI technologies are driving customer experience innovation on webOS. One of the many intelligent features offered on LG’s platform, AI Concierge employs voice recognition, search history and user data to provide customized app and viewing recommendations. Thanks to its ability to recognize different voices, AI webOS can take each LG smart TV user straight to their own personalized Home Screen without having to manually select their profile.
“Our webOS platform business continues to go from strength to strength based on close collaboration with our valued partners and an unrelenting focus on meeting the diverse needs of our customers,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “Celebrating a decade of webOS innovation, and now enriching customer’s everyday lives with AI webOS, LG is accelerating its transformation into a leading media and entertainment platform company.”
# # #
link hidden, please login to view -
By News Reporter
Between September 6-10, LG showcased its diverse range of AI-powered home solutions, opening a new chapter of intelligent home living at its IFA 2024 booth. Under the theme of Experience, Affectionate Intelligence (AI) Home, the company presented its unique, AI-inspired vision of future living to visitors from around the world.
Designed in collaboration with Korean science fiction author Kim Cho-yeop, the expansive booth featured diverse experience zones curated to demonstrate how the company’s AI can be embedded into home life to elevate lifestyles in intelligent and distinctive ways.
Upon entering Hall 18 of Messe Berlin, visitors were greeted by the AI Home Gate, a massive LED media wall displaying the journey of LG AI, from the birth of LG’s AI Agent, FURON, to how it communicates with the world and enriches daily life.
After gaining a solid understanding of what Affectionate Intelligence is all about, visitors could explore how it makes everyday life more simple and convenient. Divided into several distinct lifestyle spaces, LG’s booth showcased how natural conversations with
link hidden, please login to view, can help manage every aspect of daily routines.
The first lifestyle space, “Second Youth Home,” showcased a new and more active lifestyle for retirees. The digital signage on the wall visualized how ThinQ ON customizes and takes care of home appliances depending on the user. For example, after recognizing certain phrases like “tennis lesson” on the user’s calendar, ThinQ ON automatically sets the washer and dryer to its “Activewear course” via Smart Pairing.
, employs AI DD technology to intelligently minimize water and energy usage based on each load. It also features Easy Control technology, which automatically selects cycles according to usage patterns and user preferences for maximum convenience.
The second lifestyle space, named “Smart Green Home,” showcased the ideal abode for families passionate about the environment and energy conservation. Among the many power-saving solutions on display, LG’s AI-enhanced Energy Storage System (ESS) analyzes energy usage patterns and weather forecasts to adjust its mode according to various conditions. Another highlight was the . With these devices – both inside and outside the home, connected to ThinQ ON – LG AI optimizes household energy usage in real-time and reduces energy bills by intelligently managing the power consumption of every connected device.
The next lifestyle space was the “Affectionate Home,” designed with children and pets in mind. It featured the company’s Self-Driving AI Home Hub, which can move freely around the home and interact with children through conversation. Its multi-modal sensing combines voice, sound and image recognition to change its expression according to various emotions, allowing it to respond to different situations with appropriate etiquette. The hub can move from room to room and control connected appliances and IoT devices, constantly making sure the environment is optimized for the little ones.
Not just a hub for home appliances, LG AI is an Affectionate Intelligence storyteller that boasts a deep level of emotional depth and understanding, enabling it to communicate and interact with users effectively. Through generative AI, the Self-Driving AI Home Hub can develop stories based on images drawn by the user, ensuring a unique bedtime story every night.
The next room demonstrated how LG appliances optimize the environment for pets and their owners. Once temperature and humidity sensors detect indoor air conditions, the LG DUALCOOL air conditioner can achieve the perfect temperature with airflow customized to suit the environment and personal preferences.
This zone also featured the AeroCat, a purifier designed specifically for cats. As every cat owner knows, cats love to sleep on devices and appliances. With this in mind, LG AeroCat can detect when a pet sits on top of it, stopping operation to provide a quiet place for a nap. And since weight can be an important indicator of heath, the AeroCat’s built-in weight sensor tracks the pet’s weight and alerts owners of any unusual changes via the ThinQ app.
“Delightful Home,” the final lifestyle space on display, presented a perfect setting for inviting and entertaining family and friends through a shared love of food. This zone highlighted LG AI’s ability to make cooking easier and quicker, with ThinQ ON providing menu recommendations and step-by-step instructions for numerous delicious dishes. Visitors could even learn some new skills by watching the “AI Talking Cooking Show,” a live cooking demonstration by chef Kristof Mulack, a culinary master who knows the best ways to customize LG’s AI appliances.
To let visitors focus on the technology that makes all these lifestyle spaces possible, the company also set up the “LG Affectionate Intelligence” zone. This area effectively illustrated the connectivity and expandability of the Matter-certified LG ThinQ ON, engineered to help users manage their entire smart home with a single device.
LG also shined a light on its AI legacy with a special “AI to the Core” space. Using a transparent OLED display, the company explained how its Core Tech has evolved into LG AI core tech. This lineup includes revolutionary AI DD and AI DUAL Inverter, both of which employ AI to enhance performance and deliver more precise control, resulting in new and improved levels of customer care and user experiences.
The final zone by LG was none other than the “Sustainability Lounge,” which provided visitors with an overview of the company’s latest efforts to promote sustainable living. Here, visitors could relax while learning more about LG’s ESG activities, including its use of recycled plastics in select products.
LG’s booth at IFA 2024 successfully delivered an insightful window into the LG AI Home. Stay tuned to to explore how LG AI can enrich daily life in the new era of AI.
# # #
-
By News Reporter
Seamlessly Integrating Customer and Spatial Experiences, Company’s “Affectionate
Intelligence Home” Presents an AI Home Lifestyle of Curated Comfort and Convenience
SEOUL, Sep. 5, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is set to unveil its vision for future living at IFA 2024, showcasing a complete range of AI home solutions for every need and lifestyle under the theme of “Experience, Affectionate Intelligence (AI) Home.”
Central to LG’s Affectionate Intelligence Home is LG ThinQ ON, an advanced AI home hub designed to deliver comfort and convenience tailored to individual preferences. ThinQ ON seamlessly integrates with LG’s latest AI appliances, forming the core of the LG AI Home Solution. This system is driven by Affectionate Intelligence, LG’s empathetic and caring AI technology. As the AI Home Solution learns more about users’ routines, preferences and behaviors over time, it creates a personalized spatial experience, delivering unmatched customer value and bringing greater ease to everyday life.
The first thing visitors to the LG booth at IFA 2024 will encounter is the AI Home Gate, an immersive LED media wall that visually communicates how LG AI is deployed within the AI Home to elevate customer lifestyles.
Visitors will get to experience LG’s sophisticated generative AI technology through the ThinQ ON hub once they pass through the AI Home Gate. ThinQ ON understands natural language, allowing users to control a wide range of appliances, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and services with conversational voice commands. LG’s AI hub facilitates a truly personalized AI home lifestyle, managing everything from lifestyle services to helping kids get a good night’s sleep.
Intelligently Personalized AI Home Lifestyles for Every Generation, Family and Pet
The Second Youth Home exemplifies LG’s commitment to enhancing the lives of the elderly by easing household chores and enriching leisure activities. Powered by ThinQ ON, this space highlights how conversational voice-recognition and seamless coordination of home appliances – for example, automatically setting the dryer to “Activewear course” once the washing machine finishes a workload – simplify home management. The AI hub can also provide voice briefings to keep users informed of what’s going on, relieve stress by offering guidance for tasks such as booking a taxi, and estimate travel time to the selected destinations.
In the Affectionate Home zone, the focus is on AI solutions designed to help families care, especially for children and pets. The Self-Driving AI Home Hub, capable of controlling AI appliances and IoT sensors, adjusts device settings and environmental conditions to meet children’s needs. For example, it can activate Sleep Mode at bedtime, dimming lights and adding a starlight effect to help kids drift off to sleep. Additionally, the hub supports learning by using generative AI to create stories from children’s drawings.
For easier pet care, LG’s AI Home Solution manages connected appliances and devices to maintain fresh air and clean floors. Air-quality sensors intelligently control the LG PuriCare Alpha Pet Double air purifier, while temperature and humidity sensors manage the DUALCOOL air conditioner, automatically adjusting mode and air flow to suit current conditions. The robot vacuum autonomously cleans the floor once after pets leave, ensuring a more pleasant living space. Additionally, the Affectionate Home zone introduces a brand-new home appliance made especially for cats (and their owners). The innovative LG AeroCat combines a cat bed with an air purifier to offer a comfortable resting spot for cats and a fresher atmosphere for their human companions.
In the Delightful Home zone, ThinQ ON takes center stage in creating a more convenient culinary experience by engaging with visitors and providing personalized recipe recommendations as well as nutritional analysis. Visitors can also enjoy live cooking demonstrations, such as the “AI Talking Cooking Show,” savor the delicious dishes prepared by LG’s AI ovens with built-in cameras, and see how the InstaView with MoodUP refrigerator enhances the ambiance.
Next up is the Smart Green Home, a self-sustaining abode featuring high-efficiency appliances, including the advanced Therma V R290 Monobloc air-to-water heat pump and state-of-the-art heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. LG AI optimizes household energy usage in real time, adjusting device settings and schedules in accordance with users’ lifestyles and routines, while accounting for fluctuations in electricity rates. ThinQ ON also helps reduce household energy costs by intelligently managing the power consumption of all connected devices.
Innovating the AI Home Ecosystem and Key Technologies with LG AI
The LG Affectionate Intelligence zone showcases the scalability of LG’s Affectionate Intelligence with ThinQ ON at its core. Utilizing LG’s own generative AI technology and advanced security solutions, ThinQ ON acts as the central hub of diverse IoT ecosystems enhanced by a range of LG’s IoT sensors and devices. These include motion and light sensors, temperature and humidity sensors and smart buttons, all providing real-time spatial information for personalized, AI-driven home services.
The zone also highlights how LG’s open AI ecosystem integrates third-party services to enrich the customer experience and demonstrates the versatility of IoT sensors that can even connect non-AI appliances to the AI Home system. The exhibit underscores the scalability of LG’s AI solutions, giving visitors a real sense of the intelligent and responsive living environment LG is creating.
What’s more, the LG Affectionate Intelligence zone illustrates how ThinQ ON serves as the home’s central hub, working in complete harmony with LG’s ThinQ UP and ThinQ app, and a wide variety of services and solutions. This creates an exceptionally personalized experience and fosters a continuously-growing AI home ecosystem.
Finally, the AI to the Core zone highlights the cutting-edge innovation of LG’s AI Core-Tech, including the AI DD and the AI DUAL Inverter. The integration of LG’s latest AI solutions with industry-leading core technologies delivers more precise control, improved energy efficiency and enhanced personalization.
“Our Affectionate Intelligence Home solutions at IFA 2024 will enable customers to experience the ease of the Zero Labor Home, where they can enjoy a life free from mundane household chores,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “We will continue to lead the AI home era with our Affectionate Intelligence solutions and state-of-the-art core technologies.”
Visitors to LG’s booth (Hall 18, Messe Berlin) at IFA 2024 from September 6-10 can discover the unprecedented customizability and convenience of the company’s latest Affectionate Intelligence Home solutions.
# # #
link hidden, please login to view -
-
By News Reporter
LG Electronics CEO William Cho, in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, discussed the company’s business strategy, growth areas, and the competitiveness of LG’s AI. Cho highlighted the focus on expanding B2B, subscription services, and its webOS-based advertising and content business to drive growth.
video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" data-embed-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LNI0STXN_qA?si=yxEcHdSBzmK_0WRW&start=2066">
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.