Samsung SDI has outlined a strategy focused on business recovery and artificial intelligence, with President and Chief Executive Joo Sun Choi expressing confidence that the battery manufacturer can achieve an earnings turnaround during 2026.
Speaking at the company’s 56th anniversary ceremony at its Giheung headquarters, Choi said Samsung SDI had spent the past year strengthening its business foundations and was now positioned for renewed growth.
Battery Business Builds Growth Momentum
Choi highlighted several milestones achieved over the past year, including new energy storage system (ESS) contracts, supply agreements with global premium electric vehicle manufacturers, efforts to improve the competitiveness of Samsung SDI’s cylindrical battery business, and expansion into advanced semiconductor packaging materials and high-definition display materials.
He said these achievements provide a stronger platform for future growth but emphasized that consistent execution would be essential to translate new business opportunities into improved financial performance.
The company has been expanding beyond its traditional battery operations while continuing to strengthen its position in the rapidly growing markets for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage.
AI Becomes Strategic Priority
Alongside its battery business, Samsung SDI is placing artificial intelligence at the center of its long-term corporate strategy.
Choi called on employees to transform the company into an AI-native organization, arguing that artificial intelligence is becoming a fundamental capability rather than simply another digital tool.
He identified agentic AI—systems capable of autonomously completing complex tasks—as a technological shift that will reshape both business operations and product development.
“AI is already embedded in many aspects of our daily lives. To secure a leading position in future markets, Samsung SDI must fully transform itself into a true AI-native company.”
He added:
“Agentic AI constitutes a paradigm shift that fundamentally changes the way work is done and how business models are built. By boldly riding this wave of change, we can once again become a company with top-tier technological capabilities.”
Samsung SDI’s strategy reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence across advanced manufacturing, where companies are increasingly integrating AI into engineering, production planning, quality control and business operations while continuing to invest in next-generation battery technologies and energy storage solutions.