Securing core competencies for building future intelligence services as internal resources
Enabling the creation of an AI-based open ecosystem where all devices and services are interconnected

Samsung Electronics announced the acquisition of VIV Labs Inc. (hereinafter "VIV"), an artificial intelligence (AI) platform development company based in Silicon Valley, USA.

VIV's artificial intelligence platform is characterized by allowing external service providers to freely participate and connect their respective services to a natural language-based artificial intelligence interface.

Through the VIV acquisition, Samsung Electronics has secured core competencies for building future intelligence services as internal resources, and has taken a step closer to creating an AI-based open ecosystem where all devices and services are interconnected. Through the creation of such an ecosystem, Samsung Electronics is expected to enable users to access a variety of services and devices through a single artificial intelligence conversational interface.

Lee In-jong, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Wireless Business Division, stated, "VIV possesses natural language understanding and machine learning capabilities, as well as strategic partnerships necessary for creating a more advanced open service ecosystem," and added, "We determined that VIV's platform, developed with both consumers and service providers in mind, is well-suited for creating an ecosystem that integrates all of Samsung Electronics' devices and services."

As artificial intelligence technology has recently garnered attention, consumer demand for conversational, user-customized technology that can be naturally applied to individual daily life is growing. VIV's platform, developed for this purpose, is designed to allow service providers without artificial intelligence technology to connect their services to VIV's platform.

Services connected to VIV's platform operate not independently but through analyzing user intent and organically combining them to provide services. Additionally, as users utilize services connected to the platform, the platform itself evolves, enabling it to provide increasingly personalized services to users. Samsung Electronics plans to utilize and expand artificial intelligence across platforms of various advanced devices centered on smartphones as part of its "Phone +" strategy, and believes this VIV acquisition will be of significant benefit.

VIV is also expected to be able to expand its business through Samsung Electronics' global capabilities and financial support. VIV will henceforth operate independently under its current management while collaborating closely with Samsung Electronics' Wireless Business Division.

Dag Kittlaus, co-founder and CEO of VIV, stated, "The future we pursue is one where consumers can easily and quickly get what they want regardless of where they are or what device they use," and added, "We will be able to provide the opportunity to deliver a unified conversational interface to the applications and services across Samsung Electronics' diverse devices."

Jacopo Lenzi, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Global Innovation Center, said, "We are always looking for startups that enhance consumer experience and grow together with Samsung Electronics," and continued, "We saw the tremendous potential of VIV's artificial intelligence platform technology, and believe that when combined with Samsung Electronics' global capabilities, it will provide new experiences to consumers worldwide."