Samsung’s AI-powered smart TVs can get OS updates for seven years

Samsung is reportedly offering seven years of free operating system (OS) updates for select models of its artificial intelligence (AI) TVs. According to a report, the South Korean tech giant will offer updates for its Tizen OS with the new move. Samsung is reportedly aiming to improve its market share in South Korea and other regions with the move. Notably, the announcement comes after the company announced seven years of OS updates for the Galaxy S24 series, which was launched in January.

Samsung to reportedly offer OS updates for seven years with AI TVs

According to a report by Business Korea, Samsung Electronics announced in South Korea that it will offer free OS updates for selected AI TV models for seven years. Initially, some AI TV models from 2023 and those launched in March 2024 will be eligible for the updates, with other models to follow later. Notably, the Tizen OS, which powers all of Samsung’s smart TVs, was developed in collaboration with Intel. The in-house OS powers over 270 million Samsung smart TVs worldwide.

According to the publication, the announcement was made during a briefing on August 22 by Yoon Seok-woo, president of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business Division at the Digital Research Lab of Samsung Electronics’ Suwon Campus in Gyeonggi Province.

It is believed that the tech giant decided to offer the OS updates in a bid to improve its TV market share in South Korea and other regions. The company is said to have seen a decline from 20.3 percent in Q1 2023 to 18.8 percent in Q1 2024. The decline was due to the rise of Chinese smart TVs with AI capabilities.

During the briefing, Yook is said to have discussed the rise of Chinese manufacturers and stressed that Samsung stands out with a unique differentiator. “AI TV will act as the hub of the AI ​​home, connecting other AI appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. We will expand the AI ​​home era by allowing users to monitor and control peripherals through the TV, even when it is turned off or when the user is away,” Yoon was quoted as saying.