LG Electronics (LG) has presented its strategic vision for expanding its AI-powered webOS ecosystem at its second webOS Summit in Incheon, South Korea.
The event, which brought together 300 attendees from 140 partner companies across 24 countries, marked the tenth anniversary of the launch of webOS on LG smart TVs.
LG’s WebOS is the second-largest smart TV operating system (OS) platform, with a 7.4 percent market share as of June 2024. Samsung’s Tizen is the largest smart TV OS platform.
Themed “Empowering webOS with AI,” the summit highlighted LG’s transition from a consumer electronics manufacturer to a Smart Life Solution Company. As part of this transformation, LG is investing over KRW 1 trillion or $740 million to enhance the webOS platform and its related businesses, aiming to further elevate the user experience with AI integration.
LG’s AI webOS platform offers users in over 180 countries access to more than 4,000 apps across entertainment, home fitness, education, and gaming categories. The company has also ramped up its focus on cloud gaming, partnering with MediaTek and Razer to implement Bluetooth Ultra-Low Latency (BT ULL) technology. This innovation reduces input lag to just 1ms, delivering a seamless, immersive gaming experience on popular services like GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna.
Moreover, LG introduced webOS Pay, making it easier for users to purchase content and services directly through the platform. Additionally, LG is actively recruiting talent through global hackathons and partnerships with universities to develop new AI-powered content.
The webOS platform has been licensed by over 400 TV brands since 2021, with plans to expand its reach into automotive infotainment, digital signage, smart monitors, and projectors. Revenue from advertising and services on webOS is projected to surpass KRW 1 trillion in 2024, thanks in part to LG Channels, a free, ad-supported streaming service available in 29 countries.
In its tenth year, LG is focusing on enhancing customer experiences through its Affectionate Intelligence vision, which personalizes content recommendations and control for webOS users. The summit also included an experience zone where attendees could explore how AI is transforming the platform.
“LG’s webOS platform business is thriving thanks to our partnerships and dedication to customer needs,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of LG Home Entertainment Company. “We’re accelerating our transformation into a leading media and entertainment platform company.”
