Samsung and LG to focus on OLED for power-guzzling on-device AI

Samsung Display and LG Display emphasized the promise of low-powered organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices in a keynote at the Display Business Forum on Tuesday.

Lee Chang-hee, executive vice president at Samsung Display, speaks at Display Business Forum 2024 at Coex in southern Seoul on Tuesday. [SAMSUNG DISPLAY]

Samsung Display and LG Display emphasized the promise of low-powered organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology in a keynote at the Display Business Forum on Tuesday.

“The most important factors when researching OLED technology are developing effective and long-life materials and elements,” Samsung Display Executive Vice President Lee Chang-Hee said in the speech titled “Display Technologies for AI Era.”

“We are continuing our research to secure low-electricity technology through developing new materials that lower heat and new pixel-controlling algorithms.”

Both display makers projected that the OLED market would show growth this year as the expansion of on-device AI bolsters demand for its energy-saving functionality.

Samsung Display pointed to its OLED on Silicon (OLEDoS) panel for virtual and mixed reality, or extended reality (XR).

“Samsung Display will support multimodal AI by enhancing the charms of XR experiences through high-resolution technology and high-brightness OLEDoS technology,” Lee said.

The Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset that Apple launched in February, deployed OLEDoS panels from Sony.

LG Display Chief Technology Officer Yoon Soo-young [LG DISPLAY]

LG Display, which is also researching into OLEDoS technology, also predicted high potential for OLED in consumer hardware this year.

“Starting with tablet PCs, the deployment of OLED in laptops is also showing exponential growth,” LG Display Chief Technology Officer Yoon Soo-young said in his keynote titled “New Opportunities for the Display Industry.”

Yoon said that LG Display is focused on developing low-powered OLED screens for products with on-device AI as well as slidable and rollable panels for vehicles.

For OLED TVs, in which LG Display is a leader, Yoon said the company will continue to prioritize white OLED technology.

The forum, hosted by the Korea Display Industry Association, runs through Wednesday at Coex in southern Seoul.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]