DEEP LEARNING TO DRIVE LG’S GREEN INITIATIVE

Once thought of as a farfetched theory, climate change is reshaping opinions at both consumer and policy level. Across the globe climate change and the vagaries of weather had a negative impact on communities. Over the last decade more people have become aware that their lifestyle and consumption habits have an environmental impact and are demanding more eco-friendly products.

This ‘re-awakening’ and increased environmental awareness has seen a shift in Consumer Appeal from basic functionality and flashy utility towards products that are eco-friendly. In this evolving context, the environmental management can make or break a company’s corporate reputation.

For manufacturers of and more so those in the home and industrial appliance market, it is a delicate balance between building future-proof products and minimizing their ecological footprint. Even for those manufacturers that do strike the balance, other factors such as usability, consumer appeal and User-centrism.

To cope with this diverse needs the appliance of the future will have to constantly adapt to keep up with emerging environmental trends and diverse user-centric functions. This is however a difficult concept to build into appliances as they are hardware based. To solve the issue appliance manufacturer LG has had to breakdown its appliances and rebuild them to segregate and optimize towards adjustable components that are easily manipulated through in built chips.

Traditionally such a functionality would require technicians to update and adjust appliances based on user needs or that users learn to control and adjust their own appliances. To solve the problem, LG has leveraged deep learning to enable their appliances learn and predict user patterns and self-adjust based on user routines.

“Deep learning technology is the next phase in the evolution of smart appliances, and as an industry leader, we have the responsibility of being an early mover,” said Song Dae-hyun, president of LG Electronics and Home Appliance & Air Solutions Company.

LG has relied on a series of sensors and other data gathering tools to build in its deep learning component into key appliance. Though the amount of data generated by the new appliances has raised ethical queries on the use of this data, LG is confident that its own internal policies will safeguard consumers against any manipulation or misuse.

“But even more important than what appliances are capable of will be how companies behave when entrusted with data. “At LG, we believe performance and convenience do not mean having to sacrifice security and privacy. They can and should exist simultaneously.” Mr. Song added.

The utilization of deep learning in appliances could be the key to cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions more so in appliance such as air conditioners which emit harmful chlorofluorocarbons and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons. According to the Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA) global sales in air conditioning systems are set to hit 137.8 million units by 2020; more efficient cool could therefore pave the way for a significant reduction in emissions.