Localised AI, culturally relevant content

Farhan Azhar
Head of Product, MDA & CE
Singer Bangladesh

The Daily Star (TDS): How do you assess AI adoption and progress in Bangladeshi smart TVs?

Farhan Azhar (FA): The smart TV market in Bangladesh is experiencing remarkable growth, driven by surging consumer demand for advanced features and internet connectivity. This growth is further fuelled by increasing internet penetration and rising middle-class purchasing power, with post-pandemic trends accelerating the shift towards smart LED TVs. However, AI adoption remains nascent compared to global markets.

TDS: What AI-driven features and innovations does your company currently integrate into its smart TV products?

FA: Singer Smart TVs integrate AI Picture Enhancement technology, also known as AI 4K Upscaling, to automatically adjust contrast, brightness, and reduce visual noise for optimised viewing. Our models support voice control via Google Assistant and Alexa. Additionally, seamless access to streaming platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video is enabled through AI-driven connectivity features. Singer also leverages AI internally for quality control during manufacturing.

TDS: How do these AI capabilities enhance user experience?

FA: Singer's AI capabilities eliminate manual calibration by dynamically optimising picture quality based on ambient lighting and content type, a feature absent in traditional TVs. Our voice-controlled navigation simplifies the user interface, which is a key advantage in a market like Bangladesh, where many users may not be comfortable with complex technical issues.

TDS: What challenges have you faced in developing and deploying AI technologies in smart TVs?

FA: Developing AI for smart TVs in Bangladesh faces hurdles such as limited local expertise in AI engineering, as specialists often lack domain-specific knowledge for consumer electronics. Infrastructure gaps, including inconsistent internet speeds and power supply, hinder real-time AI feature performance. Additionally, adapting AI to regional languages (e.g., Bangla voice processing) requires significant data localisation efforts.

TDS: What are your company's future plans regarding AI advancements in smart TVs?

FA: Singer Bangladesh is committed to expanding AI integration, with plans to introduce advanced features such as predictive content suggestions and enhanced voice interactivity in our product roadmap. A new manufacturing facility focused on innovation will accelerate the rollout of AI-powered models, targeting affordability for middle-class households.