Samsung

• De Zuid-Koreaanse Kospi-index kelderde op 13 mei in het begin van de handel met wel 3,2% omdat Samsung Electronics geen loonakkoord kon sluiten met haar vakbond, maar herstelde zich vervolgens scherp met 2,6% om te sluiten op een recordhoogte van 7.708-7.844. • Het herstel werd ondersteund door overheidsinspanningen om de arbeidssituatie te beheersen en een breder AI-optimisme dat het marktsentiment deed herleven, ondanks Amerikaanse inflatiegegevens en spanningen met Iran. • Deze opvallende prestatie stond in contrast met gemengde regionale bewegingen, wat de volatiliteit van Korea benadrukte te midden van bedrijfskwesties rond arbeid en de kracht van de techsector.

• Samsung has launched its 2026 startup acceleration program in India, inviting applications from deep-tech startups to collaborate within its global mobile ecosystem. • The program provides up to $50,000 in grant funding with no equity stake required for Proof-of-Concept (PoC) development, allowing startups to validate and scale innovations. • Building on the success of the initiative launched in 2023, the program aims to bridge the gap between emerging Indian startups and Samsung's established mobile technology infrastructure.

• Samsung launched its Galaxy Watch blood pressure feature for U.S. consumers, enabling wrist-based hypertension tracking without cuffs. • FDA-cleared technology uses optical sensors calibrated via user input, integrated into latest watch models. • Matters for 116 million U.S. adults with high blood pressure, improving remote monitoring and chronic disease management.

• Samsung began rolling out Quick Share with AirDrop interoperability on Galaxy S26 devices and additional models on March 24, 2026, enhancing cross-platform sharing for U.S. users. • The update improves file transfer compatibility between Android and iOS ecosystems. • This move strengthens Samsung's position in the competitive U.S. smartphone market.

• Samsung Electronics unveiled an $82 billion investment plan in chip manufacturing and AI technology while its union warned of potential labor action, signaling internal tensions over worker conditions amid expansion plans. • The company expects to distribute approximately 9.8 trillion won (roughly $7.3 billion) in regular dividends for 2026, with additional returns possible if surplus funds remain available. • Samsung's major capital commitment reflects intensifying competition in semiconductor and AI markets, particularly as global demand for chips and AI infrastructure accelerates.

Samsung announced at CES 2026 a vision to unify artificial intelligence across its entire device ecosystem, committing to integrate AI into new mobile devices, 4K and higher-resolution televisions, and home appliance lineups globally. The company positioned these intelligent devices as AI companions designed to understand user context and routines, functioning beyond traditional 'smart' gadgets to anticipate user needs and quietly enable personalized experiences. Samsung's latest televisions now feature Vision AI that analyzes content, user preferences, and viewing environments in real-time to automatically optimize picture and sound without manual adjustments, while home appliances transition from tools to true AI companions that master automated routines and reduce mental load of household chores. The company is launching a new Galaxy S Series this month as part of what it calls a 'new era of intelligence' intended to be both powerful and effortless for consumers.