CES or the Consumer Electronics Show, is taking place in Vegas on Thursday this week. They are going to show AI incorporated in new technologies, including cars, household appliances, and even robots. Many thousands of people are expected to attend the event that is now located in the Las Vegas Convention Center as well as other hotspots around the town. After having to fully cancel the show in 2021 and making it hybrid the previous year due to the pandemic, people have high hopes to be greeted with the iconic overflowing crowds and fast-paced trading sessions that are a staple of CES.
Return to Full Scale
Analysts expect the show to return to its pre-pandemic splendor. Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techspotential, reflected on the scale of the show in recent years relative to expectations. “In 2022, it was a shadow of itself—empty halls, no meetings in hotel rooms,” Greengart told AFP. “Now [we expect] crowds, trouble getting around, and meetings behind closed doors—which is what a trade show is all about.” The CES show officially commences on January 5, but companies were set to begin competing for attention with their latest tech presentations as early as Tuesday, ahead of the main event. The show extends its physical footprint beyond 18 acres (seven hectares) of the Convention Center and other adjacent locations.
Transportation as a New Frontier
Analysts claim that transportation technology will showcase the new frontier of computing, since next-generation autos, trucks, boats, farm equipment, and even flying machines are projected to indisputably garner interest. “It’s going to feel almost like you’re at an auto show.” This describes the feeling people will have during technological advancements in vehicles. Accenture estimates that by 2040, 40% of cars will be equipped with smartphone- or laptop-like operating systems with the ability to perform software updates remotely and will require constant servicing like smartphones and laptops. These smart cars provide access to new outlets for applications and online entertainment where developers are said to be fighting to capture the attention of eager passengers who want streaming or shopping services on board. Greengart said innovative electric vehicles augmented with AI will be shown “in a big way” at the exhibit. Independent industry analyst Rob Enderle adds, “What has really been the buzz is personalized flying machines,” Enderle explains, “Essentially, they are human-carrying drones.”
Momentum surrounding the metaverse is expected to be prevalent at CES.
Some companies, most notably Zuckerberg’s Meta, consider fully immersive virtual worlds as the “next frontier” of the internet. This optimism is overshadowed by harsh criticism regarding over-investment in seemingly uncharted sectors. With prototypes of virtual reality headgear, which was a major focus at CES last year, it is once again expected to dominate the conference floor. As Facebook’s passive parent, Meta is reported to have allowed select guests to test its latest Oculus Quest virtual reality headset. This hosted demonstration appears to be an attempt to win over skeptics that the hyper shift to the metaverse was indeed a strategic pivot worth pursuing. Also spearheading ahead of the next internet revolution, or “Web 3,” gadgetry and services are expected to feature mixed reality components, blockchain, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Web3 is marketed as fostering a more liberated internet, wherein interlinked cyberspace would no longer be monopolized by traditional technology companies, businesses, or government entities that dominantly controlled most aspects of daily life. Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi noted, “The idea of how we are going to connect is going to be part of the big trend at CES.”
Context of Crypto Pullback
Despite initial anticipation revolving around the showcasing of Web3 innovations, new developments concerning the crypto space have instilled caution.
Milanesi suggests that there “could be a pullback” for the promotion of cryptocurrencies at CES because of the collapse of the crypto platform FTX and the later arrest of its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried. These negative, high-profile happenings in the crypto realm might dampen the zeal for the promotion of cryptocurrencies themselves in relation to other Web3 components such as blockchain or NFTs.
Pandemic Impacts and Healthcare Technology
CES is likely to feature products that stem from and are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further fuels innovation. Products designed and developed during periods of lockdowns and heightened remote work are rolling into the consumer market, even if many people are said to be going back to their pre-COVID routines. Technology that enables better assessment of health and remote connections with caregivers is also expected to have a strong presence at CES, catalyzed by the pandemic, augmenting an attitudinal shift towards prioritizing health and connectivity.
Environment Theme
Even though CES highlights consumerism and new products, the environment is also set to be a theme. Technologies such as apps that help people reduce their energy consumption and gadgets that scoop trash from waterways also demonstrate an environmentally friendly focus. Analysts report that other companies have plastic-free packaging and are shifting toward the use of biodegradable materials. Also, some companies are trying to reduce carbon emissions in their manufacturing and supply chain processes. As for the greening issue, Avi Greengart said, “If you’re the kind of person who’s off the grid growing vegetables, then CES is not for you,” but also stated, “But, I do commend companies that find ways to make their products and the supply chain more sustainable.”
