Samsung, the South Korean technology group has evolved from a consumer electronics manufacturer into a global technology leader spanning semiconductors, smartphones, displays and connected devices, with AI shaping its next phase of innovation.
Samsung Electronics is positioning artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductor technologies at the centre of its next phase of growth as the company marks 57 years since its establishment in 1969.
Founded on November 1, 1969, Samsung began as a consumer electronics manufacturer producing products such as black-and-white televisions before expanding into home appliances, telecommunications, semiconductors and mobile devices.
Its transformation accelerated in the 1980s, when it established a research and development centre in Suwon in 1980 and began producing personal computers in 1983. In 1988, Samsung Semiconductor & Telecommunications merged with Samsung Electronics, bringing semiconductors, telecommunications and home appliances together as core business areas.
The company made significant advances in semiconductor technology during the 1990s, developing what it identifies as the world’s first 64-megabit DRAM in 1992. It also intensified its focus on product quality and international competitiveness through its New Management initiative, announced in 1993.
By 1998, Samsung had begun mass-producing digital televisions and established a leading position in the global TFT-LCD market. Its expansion into mobile technology continued in 1999 with the development of a wireless internet phone and an MP3 mobile phone.
The early 2000s marked Samsung’s emergence as a major global technology player. It ranked first in NAND flash memory in 2002 and reached the number-one position in the global television market in 2005.
In 2010, the launch of its Galaxy smartphone series, powered by Android, opened a new chapter in the company’s mobile business, bringing communication, entertainment, photography and productivity into an expanding range of devices.
Samsung subsequently broadened its technology ecosystem through acquisitions and product innovation. Its 2014 acquisition of SmartThings strengthened its connected home capabilities, while the introduction of QLED televisions and The Frame in 2017 expanded its display portfolio.
In 2019, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold, entering the foldable smartphone market, and introduced BESPOKE refrigerators, extending product personalisation into home appliances. It followed with the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold2 in 2020.
AI and advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Samsung’s more recent technology strategy has increasingly focused on artificial intelligence, advanced memory and semiconductor manufacturing.
In 2022, the company began production using a three-nanometre semiconductor process incorporating gate-all-around transistor architecture, marking a significant development in its chip manufacturing capabilities.
In 2023, it unveiled Samsung Gauss, its generative AI model, as it expanded its work in artificial intelligence. The following year, it developed 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X DRAM optimised for AI applications and announced 24GB GDDR7 DRAM designed for next-generation AI computing.
The developments reflect Samsung’s broader ambition to advance the memory and computing technologies needed for increasingly sophisticated digital applications.
The company also reported retaining its position as the world’s leading television manufacturer for the 18th consecutive year in 2024, while ranking among Interbrand’s five most valuable global brands for the fifth consecutive year, with a brand value of US$100.8 billion.
Beyond semiconductors and consumer electronics, Samsung’s portfolio includes smartphones, wearables, tablets, network systems, medical imaging technologies, heating and cooling solutions, robotics and automotive technologies through Harman.
Its SmartThings ecosystem and integration of AI across its products are also central to its ambition to deliver more connected experiences across devices and services.
As Samsung marks its 57th anniversary, its evolution reflects the changing structure of the global technology industry, from traditional electronics manufacturing to semiconductors, mobile computing and artificial intelligence.
The company says its mission remains centred on using its technology and talent to create products and services that contribute to a better global society, guided by its values of People, Excellence, Change, Integrity and Co-prosperity.
