LG Electronics, Apple deepen AI home alliance with 7 next-generation IoT devices

LG Electronics and Apple have moved to deepen their alliance to expand the AI home ecosystem. LG Electronics unveiled seven next-generation IoT (Internet of Things) devices co-developed with Apple, including indoor and outdoor cameras and a door lock, integrating LG's IoT lineup with Apple's platform to target the AI home market.

The two companies held a product launch event Tuesday (local time) in Manhattan, New York, unveiling IoT devices for the "Apple Smart Home Collection." LG Electronics Executive Vice President Kwak Do-young, head of North America operations, and Executive Vice President Jeong Ki-hyeon, head of the HS Platform Business Center, attended alongside Apple Vice President of Hardware Engineering Matthew Costello.

The seven new products include an indoor camera, two outdoor camera models, a doorbell, a door lock, a thermostat and a temperature sensor. Sales will begin in December in North America — including the United States and Canada — and the United Kingdom. Some products are scheduled to launch next year.

LG Electronics and Apple agreed to build an AI home environment together by combining each company's strengths. LG Electronics brings world-class manufacturing capabilities and customer experience data accumulated over years in residential spaces, while Apple has built an unrivaled platform ecosystem anchored by the iPhone.

To that end, the two companies went beyond simple device compatibility, collaborating closely from the initial product-planning stage across hardware, software and the overall user experience.

All seven new products work seamlessly with both LG Electronics' AI home platform LG ThinQ and the Apple ecosystem. They connect easily via iPhone and iPad, and usage history is automatically saved to the cloud. Apple says every device was designed to connect smoothly with the Apple Home app.

Delivering a user-friendly AI home experience is the shared goal of both companies. The thermostat, for example, uses the iPhone or Apple Watch to analyze the user's movement patterns, time of day and weather conditions, then optimizes indoor heating and cooling accordingly.

The door lock uses ultra-wideband technology to unlock automatically when an iPhone or Apple Watch with Home Key comes within range. Users can also grant access to family members or guests, and the lock detects unauthorized entry attempts.

Products equipped with cameras — including the indoor and outdoor cameras and the doorbell — feature vision AI technology that lets customers monitor conditions inside and outside the home. The devices send differentiated alerts for people, animals and package deliveries. The indoor camera also detects sounds such as a baby crying or glass breaking and sends customized notifications.

Given that the products are used in the home, both companies placed a strong emphasis on security. LG Electronics applied its LG Shield security solution alongside Apple's data encryption technology to protect sensitive everyday data, minimizing the risk of hacking or data leaks.

With the new lineup, LG Electronics has significantly expanded its IoT device offerings — a core component of its AI home strategy. The company plans to further build out its AI home ecosystem, which spans the ThinQ On AI home hub, the ThinQ platform and AI-enabled appliances. The strategy also calls for deeper integration with Apple's platform, which supports more than 2.5 billion active devices, to broaden the reach of its AI home offering.

"By combining LG Electronics' expertise in home appliances and living spaces with Apple's unparalleled user experience and both companies' strong security capabilities, we will deliver a safe and intuitive AI home experience," said Jeong Ki-hyeon, head of LG Electronics' HS Platform Business Center.