Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are to open their AI (Artificial Intelligence) platforms to outside businesses and developers in order to form ecosystems that are centered on them. It is expected that their AI platforms will become a foundation for outside developers to develop various devices. It will be interesting to see whether or not they can form ecosystems that will cover even other manufacturers just like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
According to industries on the 21st, Samsung Electronics’ ‘Bixby’ and LG Electronics’ Deep ThinQ’ are close to be opened to outside businesses and developers. Samsung Electronics has set a plan to open a source code of its voice-recognition-based AI platform ‘Bixby’ to outside businesses and developers shortly.
“As we made an announcement at last year’s Samsung Developers Conference that we are going to make Bixby’s ecosystem public, we are going to open up Bixby’s source code and others shortly.” said a representative for Samsung Electronics. It is heard that Samsung Electronics is working on final inspection and modification before it makes Bixby’s source code public.
LG Electronics is also looking to make its AI platform ‘Deep ThinQ’ public. Its plan is to examine outside demands and then decide on whether or not it is going to make its AI platform public.
“If we decide that there are many needs from outside developers towards Deep ThinQ, we may look into opening up Deep ThinQ.” said a representative for LG Electronics. However LG Electronics did not reveal exact date for making Deep ThinQ public.
LG Electronics distributed development kit of Deep ThinQ throughout its company during last month in order to support every businesses with making AI products and services through Deep ThinQ.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are planning to expand their ecosystems by making their AI platforms public. If source codes, development codes, and APIs (Application Programming Interface) of Bixby and Deep ThinQ are opened to outside developers, they can join AI ecosystems of Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. For example, a R&D team within a small and medium home appliances manufacturer can developer an AI air conditioner or a refrigerator through Bixby or Deep ThinQ. Considering that there are no limitations on how much they are going to open up their platforms, foreign home appliances manufacturers can also adopt Bixby and Deep ThinQ into their products.
“Although their AI platforms are currently used only within their respective companies, they are going to be made public in a long-term.” said a representative for an industry. “This will open up a way for many groups and businesses to join AI ecosystems.”
It is likely that their competitions with other global AI platforms from Amazon and Google will become even more competitive once Bixby and Deep ThinQ are made public. Alexa and Assistant have been solidified as wide-use AI platforms as many home appliances manufacturers are adopting them into their products. Global home appliances manufacturers such as Siemens, Miele, Panasonic, Sony, and Whirlpool are adopting Alex and Assistant in order to develop products that can be controlled with voice. Although Bixby and Deep ThinQ are still up-and-coming, they can definitely join in competitions with other AI platforms.
“As their AI platforms begin to expand, level of dependence on their platforms will also begin to rise.” said a representative for a home appliances industry. “This can be an opportunity for Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to grab leadership in markets. However they first need to establish policies on licenses and others before they open up their AI platforms.”
Staff Reporter Kwon, Dongjoon | djkwon@etnews.com