Samsung SDS CEO Joonhee Lee: "It's Time for Results Beyond AI Adoption"...Expanding From Corporate AX to Physical AI

Annual Conference 'Real Summit 2026' Held

CEO Junhee Lee: "True AX Must Lead to Results, Not Just Adoption"

First Korean Participation in OpenAI 'Daybreak' Program

Entry into Physical AI Business... Full-scale RX Initiative

Samsung SDS is focusing on delivering tangible results beyond the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by enabling tailored AI transformation for its clients. To this end, the company is strengthening the capabilities of the engineers it deploys on client sites. It also announced its participation in OpenAI's Daybreak cybersecurity program, as well as plans to enter the robotics business.

Samsung SDS held its annual "Real Summit 2026" event on September 8 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where it presented concrete execution strategies and a roadmap for achieving real business outcomes based on its "Multi-Dimensional AI Full Stack" strategy. The event brought together more than 8,000 in-person attendees and a total of approximately 10,500 industry professionals, including online participants.

Lee Junhee, CEO of Samsung SDS, is giving the keynote speech at Samsung SDS's annual event "Real Summit 2026" held on the morning of the 8th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Myunghwan Lee

"AX means redesigning the way you work"…From adoption to real business outcomes

In his keynote speech, Junhee Lee, CEO of Samsung SDS, emphasized, "AI transformation (AX) involves completely redesigning business and work processes from scratch. Companies that accomplish AX are proactive—responding before customers even express their needs, and reacting in real time rather than simply analyzing the market and then responding."

Citing data from global market research firm McKinsey, Lee noted, "While 88% of companies have implemented AI in at least one area of work, only 6% have reported that AI is making a significant contribution to corporate profits. This means there is still a gap between AI adoption and actual business results."

At this year’s Real Summit, Samsung SDS unveiled its strategy to deliver optimal AX for each client through the "Multi-Dimensional AI Full Stack." This strategy combines AI infrastructure, AI platforms, and AI solutions with Samsung SDS's consulting, integration expertise, and industry-specific knowledge.

Samsung SDS aims to go beyond simply providing AI technology by applying appropriate technologies and solutions tailored to each client's environment, thereby enabling them to achieve real AX outcomes. Lee explained, "A true AI full stack must offer not only consulting to help execute AX, but also specialized capabilities in development, integration, and operations—all of which require a deep understanding of the client’s business."

The company is also strengthening the capabilities of its forward-deployed engineers (FDEs) who are responsible for immediately solving problems and driving outcomes at client sites. Based on collaborations with OpenAI, Anthropic, Accenture, and others, Samsung SDS plans to expand its dedicated AX FDE workforce to around 200 experts within this year to help clients deliver meaningful AX results on-site.

On the morning of the 8th, a robot from Rainbow Robotics was exhibited at Samsung SDS's annual event, 'Real Summit 2026,' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Myunghwan Lee

Participating in OpenAI’s "Daybreak" AI Security Program…First Korean Company

Samsung SDS announced that it will become the first Korean company to participate as a pilot partner in OpenAI's cybersecurity initiative, the "Daybreak Partner Program." Daybreak is a program that gives partners priority access to OpenAI's latest cybersecurity models, empowering them to enhance their cyber defense capabilities.

By joining the Daybreak program, Samsung SDS will deliver AI security services based on OpenAI’s next-generation models, including automated detection and verification of vulnerabilities and providing patch solutions to clients. These services will be implemented directly on-site by Samsung SDS’s FDEs and security professionals. Previously, Samsung SDS became the first Korean company to sign a partnership agreement with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Enterprise to domestic clients.

In addition to OpenAI, Samsung SDS is also working with other global AI leaders such as Anthropic, Google Cloud, NVIDIA, and Accenture. Notably, in July, the company signed Korea’s first strategic partnership with Anthropic to support AX for domestic enterprises.

The event also featured keynote speeches from Kyunghoon Kim, head of OpenAI Korea, and Giyeong Choi, Korea CEO of Anthropic, who shared their vision for partnership direction and collaborative synergy strategies.

At the Samsung SDS annual event "Real Summit 2026" held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 8th. Photo by Lee Myunghwan

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, commented in a video message, “AI agents, which are now being deployed in real enterprise environments, are already making a practical and positive impact on productivity, and this change will only accelerate. By combining world-class tech talent and infrastructure, strong government support, and a vibrant ecosystem, Korean companies—together with Samsung SDS—can lead the next chapter in global AI.”

Beyond Digital to ‘Physical AI’…Accelerating the RX Business

On this day, Samsung SDS officially declared its entry into the robotics transformation (RX) business. Having built up considerable experience by deploying manufacturing execution systems (MES), as well as facility and logistics automation for more than 430 clients, the company is now developing technologies that leverage robots for manufacturing automation and operation of entire production processes.

From 2027, Samsung SDS plans to introduce a "robot orchestration platform" that connects and operates production equipment and robots as a single system. In the process, it will verify the transformation of actual manufacturing tasks into “physical AI.” At the event’s exhibition booth, robots from Rainbow Robotics and other companies were demonstrated in conjunction with Samsung SDS’s solutions.

Lee stated, “Through Real Summit 2026, we’ve shared ways for Korean companies to move beyond simply adopting AI and actually achieve real business outcomes. With our unrivaled multi-dimensional AI full stack technology and a world-class global AI ecosystem, we will continue to be a trusted partner, guiding our clients to successful AX journeys.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.