Samsung Establishes AI Research Institute and Appoints Lee Kang-su as First Director

Samsung Electronics recently announced that Lee Kang-ho, 39, has been appointed as the first head of the newly established Samsung Research (Nova AI Lab). Born in 1986, Lee was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President in the year-end personnel adjustment on November 25, becoming one of the youngest senior executives in Samsung's history. He has extensive experience in AI research and is now responsible for guiding Samsung's strategic AI innovation efforts.

According to sources, Samsung recently completed an organizational restructuring to reflect the new leadership structure. Before his appointment, Lee worked in the AI model team at Samsung Research and participated in the development of generative AI language and code models within the Device Experience (DX) department. His achievements in building foundational models to enhance product differentiation and improve productivity have been recognized.

Industry observers note that Lee's appointment reflects Chairman Lee Jae-yong's philosophy of prioritizing performance and growth potential over age. His selection is seen as part of Samsung's strategy to accelerate AI innovation. Lee earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Hanyang University and a master's and Ph.D. in computer science from KAIST, joining Samsung Electronics in 2018.

The establishment of the Nova AI Lab is seen as Samsung's response to the increasingly fierce global AI competition, marking a bold attempt to take a leading position in future core technologies. While Samsung Research has operated multiple specialized development units, such as digital twins and physical AI, the company believes it needs a centralized "smart brain" focused on fundamental AI research and advanced algorithm development.

The name "Nova" symbolizes a generation's transformation and the rise of young leadership, meaning a star that suddenly bursts into light, reflecting Samsung's desire to integrate its scattered AI capabilities into a high-impact research center to achieve rapid technological breakthroughs. The lab is currently in the early stages of formation, and internal discussions are underway regarding its size, structure, and specific research areas.

The lab's primary mission is to drive Samsung's transformation from a "semiconductor manufacturer" to a "global leader in large AI models and services." Although Samsung holds a leading position in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductor market, executives say the company must achieve breakthroughs in "algorithm and model advantages" to truly reach the top globally.

As Samsung's Device Solutions (DS) division accelerates the process of establishing a semiconductor AI factory and plans to deploy 50,000 GPUs, the Nova AI Lab is expected to become the central "AI brain" connecting the company's ecosystem of factories, devices, and services. After his appointment, Lee said on social media: "At the beginning of this new chapter, I plan to avoid simple and stable paths, and courageously pursue challenging but meaningful AI field opportunities."

Key Points:
🌟 Lee Kang-ho becomes the youngest senior executive in Samsung's history, leading the Nova AI Lab.
🚀 The establishment of the Nova AI Lab is Samsung's response to intense global AI competition, aiming to integrate AI research capabilities.
💡 The lab's primary mission is to drive Samsung's transformation and secure a global leadership position in large AI models and services.

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