HARMAN and Samsung Discuss Audio Milestones and AI
As JBL and Bowers & Wilkins celebrate major corporate milestones alongside a decade-long partnership with Samsung, HARMAN leadership shares insights on acoustic innovation and the future of connected audio.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Celebrating Decades of Acoustic Innovation
High-quality sound enriches everyday experiences across concerts, cars, homes, and headphones. For 80 years, JBL has evolved alongside changing listening habits while staying connected to music and culture. Detailed historical overviews are available through the [Infographic] 80 Years of JBL: From Studios and Stages to Everyday Life and the Inside JBL Playback Gallery: 80 Years of Sound Innovation October 23, 2026 releases.
Concurrently, Bowers & Wilkins has spent 60 years pursuing exceptional sound through precision engineering, craftsmanship, and an uncompromising commitment to reproducing original performances. Both brands operate under HARMAN, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. To mark these milestones, Samsung Newsroom interviewed Dave Rogers, President of the Lifestyle Division, and Armin Prommersberger, Chief Technology Officer at HARMAN.
Staying Relevant Across Generations
Discussing the enduring relevance of JBL, Dave Rogers noted that the brand has continuously expanded beyond cinemas and studios into festivals, cars, homes, headphones, and portable speakers. While technology and listening habits change, the fundamental emotional impact of sound remains consistent.
Rogers highlighted the transition from the professional JBL 4310 studio monitor to the consumer JBL L100 loudspeaker as a prime example of bringing professional audio DNA into domestic spaces. Meanwhile, Bowers & Wilkins pursued acoustic precision through designs like the 801 loudspeaker, which became a reference monitor at Abbey Road Studios, and the Nautilus loudspeaker featuring a tapered-tube design.
The Role of Curiosity and AI in Audio Technology
Armin Prommersberger emphasized that curiosity is a core value preventing engineering stagnation at HARMAN. Discussing future expectations, Prommersberger pointed out that people's expectations do not stand still, driving the industry toward experiences that understand context, adapt intelligently, and become more personal.
According to HARMAN's Chief Technology Officer, the next major breakthrough will not simply be devices that can do more, but rather solutions that require less manual management from users. With artificial intelligence and greater connectivity, technology will better understand human needs and adapt naturally.
A Decade of Collaboration Between Samsung and HARMAN
Reflecting on 10 years of partnership, Rogers pointed to early initiatives like integrating HARMAN's audio expertise into the Galaxy experience through AKG. This collaboration later expanded into the Automotive Digital Cockpit, combining Samsung's strengths in displays and connected ecosystems with HARMAN's automotive expertise.
The partnership has taught both organizations how to turn their structural differences into mutual strengths, accelerating the speed at which ideas transform into widely adopted consumer technologies.
A Vision for Seamless Connected Experiences
Looking ahead to the next decade, Prommersberger outlined a vision where technology understands human environments, preferences, and activities across daily routines. From waking up with Galaxy devices to transitioning into an adaptive vehicle cabin, the goal is to eliminate friction and reduce seams in everyday tasks.
Rogers concluded that while technologies change rapidly, human emotion remains constant, leaving an ongoing opportunity to connect innovative systems with memorable everyday experiences.
Sources
- Samsung Global Newsroom[Interview] Sound That Connects: 80 Years of Audio and the Future of Connected Experiences
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