A massive investment plan of over $700 is on the verge of unveiling in South Korea; it’s led by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, covering AI, robotics, and semiconductors.

Samsung boss Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won are expected to show up in person at the “National Report on the Three Mega Projects for a Great Leap Forward of the Republic of Korea” event at the Blue House on June 29.

The companies could unveil investment plans worth more than 1,000 trillion won, or over $700 billion. That is an eye-watering figure by any standard, and the focus appears to be on pushing high-tech development beyond the Seoul area.

One of the headline items is a semiconductor cluster in Honam, along with broader infrastructure spending. The plan is said to revolve around three main pillars: semiconductors, physical AI and robotics, and large-scale AI data centers.

Chips remain the foundation, AI is driving demand for more computing power, and robotics is quickly moving from a niche topic to a serious industrial battleground.

Samsung has been leaning harder into advanced semiconductor manufacturing, AI chips, and future computing platforms, and this kind of national-scale push could give it more room to build out the ecosystem around those businesses.

The government has framed the initiative as a joint effort with major companies to create new growth engines outside the capital region.

Kim Yong-beom, Senior Secretary for Policy Planning at the Blue House, said the talks are in their final stage and that the confirmed plans will be presented publicly with companies and ministries together.

Galaxy Watch lineup has become the center of a $170 million Swatch lawsuit after Swiss watchmaker Swatch demanded $170 million in damages, claiming Samsung allowed digital watch faces that copied the designs of luxury Swiss timepieces.

According to FinancialTimes, the case focuses on 26 third-party watch faces apps available for Samsung smartwatches, which Swatch says replicated the appearance of iconic brands including Omega, Tissot, and Breguet.

While the apps were created by independent developers, Samsung was held responsible because of its role in reviewing apps and promoting its smartwatch platform with customizable watch faces.

Here are three key reasons why Samsung’s watch faces became part of a major trademark battle.

The first issue is the alleged replication of luxury watch designs.

Swatch argues that these digital watch faces were more than simple customization options.

The second reason is Samsung’s involvement in the smartwatch ecosystem.

The apps were developed by third parties, but courts in the UK previously found Samsung liable for trademark infringement.

The third factor is the huge gap between Swatch’s demand and Samsung’s position.

Swatch is seeking around $170 million for alleged infringements between October 2015 and February 2019.

Watch faces have become one of the easiest ways for users to personalize devices, but they also sit close to the world of traditional watch design, where brands protect even small visual details.

From Samsung’s perspective, this could simply be a case of cleaning up third-party content on its platform, but for luxury watchmakers like Swatch, digital copies on smartwatches represent a bigger threat to brand value.

The final damages decision could set an important precedent for how smartwatch platforms handle user-created designs in the future.

Source – Samsung

Samsung has lost a patent infringement case in the US involving roaming technology used in its Galaxy smartphone models, with a jury ordering the company to pay $3 million to Vasu Holdings LLC.

The verdict came from the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (via Bloomberg), where the jury found that Samsung infringed US Patent No. 8,886,181. The patent covers technology related to roaming capabilities.

The case centered on technology related to wireless roaming, which allows smartphones to maintain network connectivity when moving between different carrier networks.

Vasu argued that Samsung used the patented technology in its Galaxy devices without authorization. However, the jury rejected Vasu’s claims involving two other patents, meaning Samsung was cleared on those allegations.

The $3 million damages figure is relatively small compared with Samsung’s overall business, but patent cases like this can still create headaches for major smartphone makers.

Companies like Samsung rely on thousands of technologies across hardware, software, and connectivity features, and even a single disputed patent can turn into a costly legal battle.

For now, the verdict only addresses damages tied to the 8,886,181 patent infringement claim. It remains unclear whether Samsung will appeal the decision or pursue further legal action.

Samsung is getting ready to expand its smartwatch lineup with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and ahead of the official announcement, a closer look at the upcoming bands has revealed accessory plans for this year.

The leaked Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 bands (via AndroidHeadlines) show that Samsung is continuing to focus on personalization, with a mix of sporty, casual, and adventure-focused options.

While the watches themselves are expected to take the spotlight at the upcoming Unpacked event, the new bands could play a bigger role in how users customize their devices.

Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bands leak

One of the biggest details is that the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 bands appear to carry “Ultra” branding near the tip, separating them from the standard Galaxy Watch 9 options.

Samsung appears to be bringing back its sporty band style with some changes. The new version looks inspired by the Marine band from the Galaxy Watch Ultra, but it removes the thicker build and ripple design.

The Hybrid band is also returning after debuting last year. Samsung introduced this option as a leather-style band made from a workout-friendly material, allowing users to get a premium look without worrying about sweat.

The Galaxy Watch 9 series version is expected to come in beige, black, gray, and brown colors. Samsung is also leaning heavily into softer colors this year. Some new bands feature pastel shades like Light Yellow, Blue, Green, and White

The regular Sport band is also getting a small design refresh. The center section now looks slightly concave, creating a different visual style while keeping the familiar workout-friendly design.

Samsung’s Fabric band is returning as well, with only minor changes. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 version appears to feature a stronger buckle design. Meanwhile, the Trail band is making another appearance for the Ultra lineup.

These leaked bands likely represent only part of Samsung’s full accessory lineup. The company usually launches a wide selection of watch straps alongside its smartwatches, and more options could appear at Unpacked.

Samsung completed the investment of $110 million into GRAIL, a US biotech company that uses AI for early cancer detection through a simple blood test.

The investment, completed jointly by Samsung C&T and Samsung Electronics, gives you a clear picture of where the Korean tech giant sees its future.

GRAIL’s flagship product is Galleri, a screening service that can identify over 50 types of cancer from a single blood draw by analyzing DNA fragments for genomic signals.

GRAIL and Samsung C&T Corporation intend to collaborate to commercialize the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test in South Korea, with the potential to expand into additional Asian markets, including Japan and Singapore.

The test is already in large-scale clinical trials with the UK’s National Health Service and is on track to file for FDA approval this year. Samsung C&T secured exclusive distribution rights for Galleri in South Korea.

“This investment from the Samsung entities further strengthens our balance sheet and extends our cash runway as we advance key priorities, including securing regulatory approval and reimbursement for Galleri in the US and expanding access to multi-cancer early detection internationally,” said Aaron Freidin, Chief Financial Officer of GRAIL.

For Samsung specifically, GRAIL fits neatly into its “Connected Care” vision the idea that Galaxy Watches, the Samsung Health app, and diagnostic tools eventually form a cohesive health management ecosystem.

Samsung Electronics recently invested in Element Biosciences, a DNA sequencing firm, and acquired digital health company Zellsh.