LG Electronics unveils ThinQ ON home hub at IFA 2024

LG Electronics IFA Briefing. [Courtesy of LG Electronics Inc.]

LG Electronics Inc. has unveiled its smart home platform, LG ThinQ ON, powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) at IFA 2024, the world’s largest consumer and electronics show taking place in Berlin, Germany.

At the event, LG Electronics introduced the new AI-driven platform, emphasizing the company’s ambition to lead in the AI home era, where AI autonomously manages appliances and offers lifestyle services.

“We will aim to allow customers to experience an AI home centered around LG ThinQ ON this year,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, chief of home appliance business at LG Electronics.

He described the initiative as a “journey towards the ultimate goal of enhancing life by freeing people from household chores.”

The highlight of LG Electronics’ AI home is its ability to interact using everyday language.

At its core is ThinQ ON, featuring LG’s AI agent, Furon, which acts as the system’s brain. Furon keeps appliances and Internet-of-Things devices connected 24/7.

For example, if a user requests all devices to be turned off, the AI can verify the command and inform the user if a device, like the dryer, has a few minutes remaining. LG Electronics also plans to release a mobile AI home hub next year.

“We intend to expand the AI home hub to other devices,” Lyu said, adding that even older, non-AI appliances could be upgraded with a separate ThinQ ON connection sensor.

In response to concerns that ThinQ ON‘s broad compatibility could be unfavorable to LG Electronics as a home appliance manufacturer, Lyu said the company believes it would ultimately boost brand trust, noting that upgradeable home appliances, like tech devices, will be the new thing.

“Currently, the connectivity rate of upgradeable appliances is around 50-60 percent, and our goal is to reach 100 percent with ThinQ ON,” he said.

LG Electronics is also exploring a subscription model for ThinQ ON.