LG Unveils ThinQ ON: A Revolutionary AI-Powered Smart Home Hub

LG debuts its ThinQ ON smart home hub that comes with an AI voice assistant

LG has introduced a smart home hub called ThinQ ON that has the technology to control not just LG-branded appliances but also other smart home devices. It comes with a built-in speaker that gives you a way to talk to LG's AI voice assistant, so you can use it to look up information, as well as to control your smart devices with spoken commands. LG says its technology can "understand the context of conversations" and can determine your preference for a specific device. It could, perhaps, tell your preferred temperature for the thermostat or the washer cycle you typically use. And it can notify you when a task is done, such as when the dryer cycle is finished. The ThinQ ON hub is Matter-certified and can use Wi-Fi or Thread -- a low-power wireless protocol -- to connect to smart home devices and appliances. In addition, LG's acquisition of smart home platform company Athom and its smart hub Homey Pro earlier this year gives the device's compatibility a huge boost. Apparently, the Homey App Store contains over 1,000 applications that will give the hub that capability to control products from a wide number of brands around the world. LG has yet to reveal the ThinQ ON's pricing and availability, but it's showcasing the hub at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, which will take place from September 6 to 10.

LG's new smart home hub has a built-in voice assistant

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. LG has announced the ThinQ ON, the company's first dedicated smart home hub. The device, which was teased at CES earlier this year, will debut at the IFA 2024 tech show in Berlin, Germany, next week. The ThinQ ON is an AI-powered hub that can connect and control LG appliances and other smart home devices via Thread, Matter, and Wi-Fi. It works on LG's ThinQ smart home platform and uses LG's Affectionate Intelligence to learn from your usage patterns, monitor your appliances, and allow for voice control of connected devices. A small, circular white hub, the LG ThinQ ON is also a smart speaker with LG's AI voice assistant onboard. The company says the assistant can understand natural language, interpret context, and learn user preferences. LG's AI chipset powers the hub, and according to LG, it has been designed with future scalability in mind. Like most smart home hubs, the ON will allow you to control and monitor the settings of connected devices and create routines to enable smart home automations through LG's ThinQ app. The ThinQ ON is Matter-certified, and LG says it will support various network connectivity options, "including Wi-Fi and Thread." It's also compatible with a wide range of LG devices and "a growing number of appliances and IoT devices from other manufacturers." Some of this "growing number" will likely come from LG's recent acquisition of Athom, maker of the Homey Pro hub, a smart home hub that supports hundreds of smart home device integrations. LG bought Athom in July of this year, so it seems unlikely that all of Homey's integrations will be available on the ThinQ ON at launch. LG's approach to the smart home to date has largely been limited to controlling its own devices and appliances. This new hub is the first major move toward becoming a more robust smart home platform, similar to Samsung and its SmartThings smart home platform. Earlier this year, LG also announced that some of its TVs will work as Matter-enabled Google Home Hubs, allowing you to set up and control any Matter-compatible smart home devices, along with LG, Google, and Google Home devices, through the ThinQ app. We don't yet know how much the ThinQ ON will cost or when it will be available. We've contacted LG for more details and will be at IFA next week to see the new device in person.

LG's New ThinQ ON is an AI-Powered Smart Home Hub - Phandroid

The growing market of smart home products in the past decade has led to a number of new and pretty clever software-hardware solutions from different manufacturers, and this has only expanded even more with the advent of modern AI. Not one to be left behind, LG recently unveiled the ThinQ ON AI, which (as you can guess from the name) infuses smart home management with AI features. The ThinQ ON is essentially a smart home hub which LG describes as the "centerpiece of a comprehensive smart home ecosystem." The hub can connect with a wide range of different appliances and devices, and is powered by the company's "Affecionate Intelligence" which allows it to learn usage patterns to provide a tailored user experience aimed towards convenience. With that said, the ThinQ ON is built to fit in a relatively compact package, with muted color options that allow it to blend in different household setups, and packs several other hardware features such as an AI speaker for content streaming and conversational communication with the onboard assistant, a custom AI chipset, and built-in support for Matter-enabled products. The hub also uses LG Shield, which is the company's proprietary security system. LG Shield encrypts user data which is then stored in a separate server. The ThinQ ON will be featured at LG's booth during IFA Berlin on September 6-10, 2024.

LG shows off ThinQ ON AI smart home hub ahead of IFA 2024

LG Electronics has announced ThinQ ON AI, its first dedicated smart home hub, which will be unveiled at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany that begins next week. This hub features Affectionate Intelligence and aims to be central to a smart home ecosystem, integrating LG appliances with advanced AI for personalized comfort and convenience. The ThinQ ON connects with a wide range of appliances and IoT devices, simplifying the setup of an AI-powered home. It uses LG's Affectionate Intelligence to learn from user habits and trends, working towards LG's vision of a "Zero Labor Home." The hub boasts a compact, cylindrical design in neutral gray or white, blending seamlessly with various home décors. It features an AI speaker for interaction with LG's voice assistant and audio playback. Powered by a high-performance AI chipset, the ThinQ ON is designed for future upgrades. The ThinQ ON comprehends everyday language and context, adjusting settings based on user preferences and autonomously monitoring the home environment. The ThinQ ON is Matter-certified and supports Wi-Fi and Thread, ensuring easy setup and integration with various devices. It is compatible with LG products and appliances from other brands. LG's acquisition of Athom, including the Homey Pro hub, extends the ThinQ ON's connectivity to over 50,000 devices and about 1,000 apps for global brand integration. The hub features LG Shield, a security system that encrypts and securely stores user data. It maintains data integrity by preventing unauthorized modifications and protecting user information throughout its lifecycle. LG ThinQ ON will be showcased at IFA 2024 from September 6-10, 2024, at LG's booth in Hall 18, Messe Berlin. Attendees can view and experience the ThinQ ON and other LG AI Home solutions, with pricing and release details yet to be announced. Speaking about the launch, Lyu Jae-cheol, President of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company, said,