Samsung Electronics scouted two renowned experts on artificial intelligence from the United States in a move to strengthen its AI capabilities, the tech giant said Monday.

The company announced it is adding H. Sebastian Seung, professor at the Neuroscience Institute and Department of Computer Science at Princeton University, and Daniel D. Lee, chair professor at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, to its AI Center under Samsung Research.

Seung and Lee are expected to play a central role in building up fundamental research on AI at the R&D hub for Samsung’s set businesses. Computational neuroscientist Seung originally studied theoretical physics at Harvard University. Before joining Princeton University in 2014, he worked as a researcher at Bell Labs and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Samsung is a company with a long history of pursuing innovation, and is committed to tapping the full potential of artificial intelligence,” said Seung. “I look forward to working at Samsung to help discover what lies ahead in AI.”

Lee with an authority in AI and robotics, earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University and his Ph.D. from MIT.

After working as a researcher at Bell Labs, he joined the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania in 2001.

“I am eager to be joining Samsung Research and to help develop next-generation technologies for Samsung Electronics,” said Lee. “Fundamental research and understanding of machine learning and robotic systems will be key to fulfilling the promise of AI.” 

By Song Su-hyun (song@heraldcorp.com)