LAS VEGAS: The CES gadget extravaganza in Las Vegas began Jan 9, and AI is set to be a major focus. Companies big and small are showcasing products at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which boasts more than 3,500 exhibitors and is expecting some 130,000 visitors.
The event started with previews for the press, with AI being a key theme in the pitches for products that aim to improve lives. LG CEO William Cho said the world is at “a historical turning point” due to AI.
His company aims to be part of that transformation by utilizing data gathered by sensors in hundreds of millions of smart devices around the world to detect behavior patterns and provide insights, Cho said.
Other TV giants also unveiled AI enhancements to greatly improve images and help viewers find shows they will like, the Consumer Technology Association’s research director Jessica Boothe said.
Televisions will advance to become a “smart command hub” connecting appliances, security cameras, and incorporating thermal scanning for health insights, she added.
ChatGPT on wheels
Volkswagen introduced the first vehicles built with a chatbot powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. The “Cerence Chat Pro” digital assistant made in a partnership with Cerence Inc will be standard in many Volkswagen vehicles beginning in the second quarter of this year, according to the car maker.
Nvidia, known for its graphics chips that can handle the intense computing demands of AI, announced new chips for gamers and creators at CES.
New technologies for translating multiple languages simultaneously and glasses for augmented reality that turn space in front of a viewer into a controllable screen were also teased ahead of the show floor opening.
Apple, not in attendance at CES, announced it will release its highly anticipated Vision Pro mixed reality headset in the United States on Feb 2. The Vision Pro will cost US$3,499 before tax, more than double the price of Meta’s top-of-the-range Quest Pro headset.
Year of AI at CES
CES exhibitor and attendee numbers have jumped each year since the Covid-19 pandemic caused it to be an online-only event in 2021. Analysts expect AI to be the main theme of product pitches at this year’s CES extravaganza.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, introduced at last year’s CES, has since improved dramatically and is being applied in meaningful ways for consumers, according to Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.
Ending Friday, CES is expected to see strong themes of AI-infused health, cars, beauty, entertainment, and sustainability, with more than a decade of investments in AI “coming to life”, said Jong-Hee Han, Samsung’s Device solution CEO.
AI is expected to reshape industries beyond technology and make life easier and more inclusive for all.
“We will watch as TVs become the command center for the home beyond just streaming entertainment,” said Boothe.
Analysts expect AI to be the main theme of product pitches at this year’s CES. AI will be applied in meaningful ways for consumers, according to Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart. The show is also expected to see strong themes of AI-infused health, cars, beauty, entertainment, and sustainability, with more than a decade of investments in AI “coming to life”, said Jong-Hee Han, Samsung’s Device solution CEO.
