Microsoft Integrates AI Alongside Invisible Technologies $2 Billion Funding

Samsung Electronics is making a significant push into artificial intelligence, with CEO TM Roh outlining the company's vision at CES 2026 to embed AI across its entire product lineup and services. Roh emphasized creating a "companion to AI living" by integrating AI into mobile devices, visual displays, and home appliances. New offerings include a jumbo 130-inch Micro RGB TV and the ultra-thin OLED S95H, both featuring AI Engine Pro for enhanced picture quality. Samsung's 2026 TVs will also integrate AI agents like Bixby, Microsoft Corp., and Perplexity AI Inc., alongside Vision AI Companion (VAC) for personalized viewing and an AI Sound Controller. Beyond entertainment, Samsung is bringing AI to home appliances, such as the AI-enabled Family Hub refrigerator and Bespoke AI AirDresser, and into health tech with SmartThings and Samsung Health. This widespread integration aims to provide a seamless, unified AI experience across the approximately 500 million devices Samsung ships annually. The strategy combines on-device AI for privacy and real-time processing with cloud AI for complex tasks. In the broader AI landscape, the role of human input remains critical. Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, a $2 billion AI training startup, asserts that humans will be essential for training AI models for decades, countering the idea that synthetic data will soon replace human feedback. Invisible Technologies competes with companies like Scale AI and Surge AI, all relying on human contractors to teach AI complex skills like empathy and cultural understanding. AI adoption is also accelerating across various sectors. US health systems are increasingly using commercial AI licenses, with 27% now paying for them to ease workloads, though risks like ChatGPT fabricating medical references highlight the need for a "trust but verify" approach. The US Army is urged to quickly adopt AI for modern warfare, while police leaders are tasked with guiding AI adoption through ethical strategies, transparency, and bias testing. AI is even expanding into smart toilets and advanced health trackers, offering deeper health insights. However, the rapid proliferation of AI also presents challenges. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, warns that AI could amplify the erosion of truth and trust, making shared understanding difficult. Consumers have already faced issues, with many Christmas shoppers duped by "AI slop gifts" – low-quality items advertised misleadingly by AI-generated ads. Despite these concerns, venture capitalists predict a significant increase in global venture capital deployment for AI companies in 2026, particularly for AI infrastructure and foundational models.

Key Takeaways

• Samsung CEO TM Roh (also known as Roh Tae-moon) announced a vision to embed AI across all Samsung products and services for a unified "AI companion" experience.
• Samsung unveiled new AI-powered devices at CES 2026, including a 130-inch Micro RGB TV, OLED S95H, and AI-enabled home appliances like the Family Hub refrigerator.
• Samsung's 2026 televisions will integrate AI agents such as Bixby, Microsoft Corp., and Perplexity AI Inc.
• Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, a $2 billion AI training startup, stated that humans will remain crucial for AI training for decades, competing with companies like Scale AI.
• US health systems show high AI adoption rates (27% commercial licenses) to ease workloads, but AI tools like ChatGPT have been found to fabricate information.
• AI is expanding into unexpected consumer products, including smart toilets (Vovo Smart Toilet Neo) and advanced health trackers (Vivoo, Y-Brush Halo toothbrush).
• The US Army is urged to adopt AI for modern warfare, and police leaders must guide AI adoption with ethical strategies, transparency, and human-in-the-loop review.
• Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, warns that AI threatens to amplify the erosion of truth and trust in society.
• Christmas shoppers were duped by "AI slop gifts," low-quality items advertised misleadingly by AI-generated online ads.
• Venture capitalists predict a 10% to 25% increase in global venture capital deployment for 2026, with AI companies, especially in infrastructure and foundational models, receiving a dominant share.

Samsung unveils AI companion for daily life at CES 2026

Samsung presented "Your Companion to AI Living" at CES 2026 from January 5-7 in the USA. CEO TM Roh highlighted Samsung's AI leadership and its connected ecosystem, aiming to provide a true AI companion experience. They showcased new AI-powered devices like the 130-inch Micro RGB TV with AI Engine Pro for stunning picture quality. Vision AI Companion (VAC) personalizes viewing with features like AI Soccer Mode Pro and AI Sound Controller Pro, working across various TV models. Samsung also introduced new WiFi speakers, Music Studio 5 and 7, and The Movingstyle device, integrating AI across mobile, visual display, and home appliances.

Samsung brings AI to home and entertainment at CES 2026

Samsung presented "Your Companion to AI Living" at CES 2026 on January 4, showcasing next-generation AI devices. CEO TM Roh emphasized embedding AI across all categories for a unified, personal experience. New TVs feature AI Engine Pro for vivid picture quality and Vision AI Companion (VAC) for personalized viewing, including AI Soccer Mode Pro and AI Sound Controller Pro. Samsung also unveiled the ultra-thin OLED S95H, a portable projector, and HDR10+ ADVANCED, with all 2026 TVs offering Eclipsa Audio and seven years of Tizen OS upgrades. For the home, the AI-enabled Family Hub refrigerator offers recipe recommendations and FoodNote reports, while the Bespoke AI AirDresser and Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra simplify chores, all powered by AI.

Samsung launches supersized AI TVs with vibrant colors

Samsung unveiled new televisions at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on January 5, including a jumbo 130-inch Micro RGB TV. These new LCD-based 4K TVs use Micro RGB technology with individual red, green, and blue backlights for improved color accuracy. Samsung also enhanced its OLED lineup, introducing the S95H OLED, which is 35% brighter, and the S90H series with a low-glare screen and 15% improved brightness. All new Samsung TVs integrate AI agents like Bixby, Microsoft Corp., and Perplexity AI Inc., and feature an AI Sound Controller for adjusting audio. The company also introduced a larger 98-inch version of The Frame TV.

Samsung aims to embed AI across all products and services

Samsung Electronics announced its vision to become an "AI companion" by applying AI technology to its entire product lineup and services. President Roh Tae-moon stated this goal at an event in Las Vegas on January 5, 2026, ahead of CES 2026. The company unveiled Vision AI Companion, an AI platform for Samsung TVs, and plans for 2026 TVs to feature HDR10 Plus Advanced. Samsung also introduced a "home companion" vision for smart appliances and will integrate AI into its SmartThings platform. Furthermore, Samsung Health will use AI to gather user data for personalized wellness, including detecting chronic diseases and recommending recipes.

Samsung co-CEO details unified AI experience for all products

Samsung co-CEO T M Roh announced the company's goal to embed AI across every product, category, and service for a seamless, unified AI experience. Speaking at Samsung's First Look event in Las Vegas on January 5, 2026, Roh highlighted that Samsung ships around 500 million devices annually. The strategy involves combining on-device AI for privacy and real-time processing with cloud AI for complex tasks. Samsung also revealed new AI-powered devices, including the 130-inch Micro RGB TV with Micro RGB AI Engine Pro, which offers an exhaustive and detailed color spectrum. Roh emphasized that Samsung is leading the way in providing meaningful everyday AI experiences through its global connected ecosystem.

Humans remain essential for AI training says startup CEO

Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, a $2 billion AI training startup, stated on the "20VC" podcast that humans will remain crucial for training artificial intelligence for decades. He believes the idea that synthetic data will soon replace human feedback is a misconception. Fitzpatrick explained that AI models still struggle with complex tasks requiring language, cultural, and legal understanding. Humans teach AI subtle skills like empathy and humor by labeling, ranking, and correcting outputs. Invisible Technologies competes with companies like Scale AI and Surge AI, which also rely on millions of human contractors for AI training.

AI startup CEO says humans vital for training for decades

Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, a $2 billion AI training startup, stated that humans will remain involved in data creation for decades. On the "20VC" podcast last week, Fitzpatrick countered the misconception that synthetic data will soon replace human feedback. He explained that AI models face too many complex tasks requiring accurate language and cultural context, making human input essential. Synthetic data is artificially created for training when real data is scarce or private, while human feedback involves real people filtering and training AI responses. Fitzpatrick joins other data labeling startup CEOs in emphasizing the continued need for human effort in the AI industry.

VCs predict more venture dollars for AI in 2026

Crunchbase News interviewed top VCs who predict an increase in global venture capital deployment for 2026, ranging from 10% to 25% higher than 2025. They expect round sizes to grow, especially for AI companies, while non-AI companies might see flat or down valuations. Net new dollars will concentrate on growth rounds, particularly in AI infrastructure and foundational models, with seed rounds also becoming larger. The VCs unanimously agree that AI will be the dominant sector, gaining significant share of venture dollars in 2026, specifically in foundation models, agentic infrastructure, and vertical AI.

US Army must embrace AI for modern warfare

The US Army must quickly adopt artificial intelligence to maintain strategic relevance and compete with rivals like China, who are embedding AI throughout their military. AI is already used in autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, predictive logistics, and decision-support systems like the Maven Smart System. The Army aims for smarter decisions, agile force planning, and resilient logistics, using large language models for administrative tasks and generative AI for influence operations. However, challenges include the need for constant connectivity, lack of edge integration, scarce classified data, and ethical considerations like the "human-in-the-loop" doctrine for lethal decisions.

Police leaders must guide AI adoption with ethical strategy

As policing enters 2026, artificial intelligence presents a defining leadership test for police executives. Leaders must adopt a deliberate, values-driven strategy focusing on innovation, accountability, and people-centered leadership. This involves acknowledging public skepticism and leading with transparent communication and ethical framing. Police should co-design AI systems with vendors and community stakeholders, moving beyond opaque "black box" solutions. Furthermore, leaders must take ownership of AI governance, implementing internal oversight, human-in-the-loop review, and continuous bias testing. Finally, investing in officer training and readiness is essential to ensure AI tools are used effectively and legitimately.

Erosion of truth and trust threatens intelligent age

Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, warns that the erosion of truth and trust poses a dramatic crisis for society, which artificial intelligence threatens to amplify. Digital networks and AI spread misinformation, making shared understanding and democratic debate difficult. Trust in institutions like government, media, and science is declining globally, leading to increased societal friction. AI accelerates information flow and decision-making but does not inherently strengthen society's ability to interpret or believe information. To restore coherence, societies must re-establish common reference points through transparent deliberation and credible institutions, and institutions must re-earn trust through accountability.

Christmas shoppers duped by low quality AI gifts

Many Christmas shoppers were duped by "AI slop gifts" this holiday season, leading to these low-quality items appearing in thrift stores. Companies used AI to create misleading online advertisements, making trinkets like shirts and mugs appear much better than their actual quality. These AI-generated ads often fooled older generations, and many recipients received items that barely resembled what was advertised or were not delivered at all. Social media videos show examples of these cheap-looking products, such as mugs designed to look like stacks of books, already being resold. Many people shared similar experiences of receiving disappointing AI-generated gifts.

AI comes to smart toilets and health tech at CES 2026

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, artificial intelligence is expanding into unexpected home appliances, including smart toilets. The Vovo Smart Toilet Neo model, priced at $4,990, offers features like auto open/close, bidet, heated seat, and UV sterilization. Wellness company Vivoo debuted a universal clip-on hydration tracker for existing toilets, which analyzes urine for eight wellness markers using no-touch optical sensing. Additionally, the Halo toothbrush by Y-Brush, set for a 2027 release, uses AI and gas sensors called "SmartNose" to detect compounds linked to over 300 health conditions by analyzing breath. These products aim to provide deeper health insights and support independence for at-risk individuals.

Health systems adopt AI to ease workload

A recent report indicates that 27% of US health systems now pay for commercial AI licenses, a rate three times higher than the broader US economy. This adoption aims to ease workloads and improve efficiency, such as reading X-ray reports faster, as noted by Samir Abboud of Northwestern Medicine. However, AI tools also carry risks; Mayo Clinic cardiologist Paul A. Friedman discovered that ChatGPT fabricated medical journal references, leading him to adopt a "trust but verify" approach. Despite these challenges, over half of doctors surveyed by the American Medical Association believe AI can significantly support core clinical functions.

New AI pet health tool and veterinary products launched

The latest innovations in veterinary medicine include an AI-powered predictive pet health tool from Pumpkin, called Pet Health Predictor. This free tool analyzes a pet's breed, age, and location to forecast common health conditions and estimate veterinary care costs, offering tailored insights for families. Other new products highlighted include Chi Cat cooked cat food, a canine kennel cough vaccine called Vanguard Recombishield by Zoetis, and adoro Pet Insurance Services. Gerosynth Labs introduced Mytulin EQ, an equine nutritional supplement, and Dechra launched Cefovecin sodium (Solovecin), a generic injectable antibiotic for pet skin infections.

Sources

• Samsung Presents ‘Your Companion to AI Living’ at The First Look During CES 2026
• Samsung Presents ‘Your Companion to AI Living’ at The First Look During CES 2026
• Samsung Unveils New Supersized, Color-Rich TVs With More AI
• Samsung Electronics says will apply AI to entire product lineup
• Samsung working towards unified AI experience for all products, services: New co-CEO
• This AI Training Startup CEO Says Synthetic Data Can't Replace Human Judgment 'For Decades To Come' - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
• CEO of AI startup says artificial data won't take over for decades
• Crunchbase Predicts: Why Top VCs Expect More Venture Dollars, Bigger Rounds And Fewer Winners In 2026
• Army Must Embrace AI Usage
• Artificial intelligence and police leadership in 2026: From skepticism to stewardship
• The Fragile Foundations of the Intelligent Age
• Everyone is donating their 'AI slop' gifts after Christmas shoppers...
• Smart toilets bring AI to the bathroom at CES 2026
• 27% of Health Systems Turn to AI to Ease Workload
• Products+Services360: AI-powered predictive pet health tool and other products