Samsung announced it’s honoring 300 public middle and high schools from all 50 states across the US as State Finalists in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM (Science, Technology (AI), Engineering, and Mathematics) competition.

The company will award over $2 million in prizes to 2024’s participating schools. For now, each State Finalist school has won a $2,500 Samsung technology prize package.

This is an initial milestone on the path toward becoming one of three National Winners that will each unlock $100,000 for their school.

• The full list of State Finalists can be viewed here.

“These State Finalist teams are answering that call by engaging technology for good, like their quick adoption of AI to power wide-ranging solutions that address not only pressing challenges in their communities but also global issues.” – Salman Taufiq, Director – Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics America.

Upcoming Competition Phases

Based on the activity plans, judges will select State Winners, who will be revealed in March 2025.

State Winners

50 State Winners will get a Samsung Video Kit to help create their “STEM solution pitch video,” along with $12,000 worth of Samsung technology.

One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized with a Sustainability Innovation Award for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation, and an additional $25,000 prize package, including Samsung ENERGY STAR technology.

From the 50 State Winners, one school will be selected for the Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving a $25,000 prize package to nurture and develop their STEM solution into a venture extending beyond the competition.

National Finalists

Based on their videos, 10 National Finalists will be chosen to participate in a live pitch event and present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies.

From the National Finalists, one Community Choice Winner will be determined through online voting by the general public, winning an additional $10,000 in prizes.

One Employee Choice Winner will be selected by Samsung employees to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings.

National Winners

Judges will name three National Winners, each earning a $100,000 prize package.

Apple has reportedly requested Samsung to revamp the iPhone DRAM memory design to boost AI capabilities. The company is said to be working to switch to a discrete packaging method for the low-power DRAM used in iPhones.

TheElec reports that the new iPhone DRAM design change by Samsung aims to meet the growing need for memory bandwidth driven by on-device AI and foldable phones.

Samsung’s new discrete packaging method places memory independently next to the system-on-chip. It allows better heat dissipation and more I/O pins, potentially boosting AI capabilities.

Meanwhile, it may not fully meet the iPhone’s needs for low communication latency. The company is also likely to implement the next-gen LPDDR6-PIM standard for enhanced AI performance.

Apple Intelligence (Source – Apple)

As Mobile AI evolves, Apple seems to have realized the continuously increasing requirement of high bandwidth memory on the iPhone to seamlessly run AI tasks and generative processing.

That said, Apple has opted for discrete packaging, which it has used in Macs and iPads. This method ensures memory is placed alone next to the SoC, allowing for more I/O pins and flexibility.

In discrete packaging, there is a larger surface area for heat to dissipate, and the heat generated by the SoC and memory does not overlap, which is generated during generative AI processing.

Apple reportedly aims to switch iPhone LPDDR to a discrete package format starting in 2026. The company apparently plans to separate LPDDR DRAM memory from the system semiconductor.

Previously, LPDDR was vertically stacked on top of the system chip in the PoP configuration. It is used in mobile memory to enable smaller IC designs compared to horizontal packaging.

In a shocking move, South Korea’s President imposed emergency martial law. The decision was taken back shortly after, but the question arises whether South Korea’s martial law debacle could delay the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and One UI 7.

As a South Korean firm, Samsung will face the impact of the recent martial law controversy, which may lead it to rethink the Galaxy S25 and One UI 7 launch plans. However, the company hasn’t issued a statement since yesterday.

Martial Law

Yesterday, President Yoon imposed the emergency Martial Law in South Korea. A portion of local political leaders are accused of trying to destabilize the Korean government to indirectly benefit the rival neighbor, North Korea.

Citing national interest, the President called for Martial Law, ordering the military to occupy the parliament. However, Yoon was forced to lift the emergency order as the Korean parliament voted against the imposition of martial law.

Samsung’s plans to be affected?

Citizens came on the road after hearing the call for a nationwide emergency. The situation is returning to normal in South Korea as the martial law has been lifted. Well, it doesn’t mean the political situation is all well in the country.

There are reports that Yoon may resign his Presidency, leading the country to political instability. General elections may be called upon, potentially harming the economy of South Korea, in which Samsung plays a key role.

The company had scheduled late January as the Galaxy S25 series launch. The One UI 7 Beta Program has already been delayed so long, and this unexpected political turmoil may lead us to another phase of delay in product and software launch.

To be clear, the delay is an assumption based on the political situation in South Korea. Samsung has neither announced the Galaxy S25 and One UI 7 Beta launch date nor cited anything about the revision of plans due to martial law.

We will keep you updated…