CES 2024: The most anticipated innovations of the world’s largest technology trade show
Tech pioneers will present digital devices capable of diagnosing and anticipating diseases thanks to artificial intelligence, which is driving many of the new gadgets on exhibit
Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcases the most innovative tech trends and devices on the planet. The world’s largest technology trade show, which has been held annually since 1967, has unveiled devices such as the VHS video recorder, DVD players, 3D printers and wireless or roll-up televisions. This year, the event organizers expect that more than 4,000 exhibitors and 130,000 attendees will gather for the show, which takes place in Las Vegas between January 9 and 12.
The CES will host more than 250 conferences and will be attended by technological giants such as Panasonic — which has invited EL PAÍS to the event —, Samsung, LG, Google, Amazon, Accenture, Qualcomm and Hyundai. These and other companies will discuss and exhibit their inventions in an area equivalent to 43 soccer fields, according to Kinsey Fabrizio, senior vice president of the CES. Artificial intelligence, digital health, smart homes, sustainability and beauty technology are some of the big technological trends at the event.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence has gradually crept into the daily lives of millions of people with programs such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, voice assistants, recommendation systems from platforms such as Netflix and smart home appliances. According to a report published by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes the CES, 27% of Americans think AI technologies already have a significant impact on their daily lives. The study also found that while many think of AI as “innovative, futuristic and intelligent,” very few associate it with trust and safety.
“Consumers agree that AI regulation is needed,” the report states. This issue will be discussed at the CES, along with how AI technology is revolutionizing different sectors. “Agriculture, accessibility, healthcare and semiconductor businesses are among those incorporating AI to help solve efficiency and societal challenges,” Kelsey Kelly, policy program manager at CTA, explained in an article in October. This year, the CES will also analyze the real and potential uses of generative artificial intelligence and showcase different devices equipped with this type of technology: from televisions, speakers and headphones to cameras, cars and robots.
Digital health
Healthcare is becoming more personal, portable and customizable, according to the CTA. Last year, some of the gadgets that received the most attention were apps to analyze bowel movements, sensors that monitor urine in real time and devices the size of a credit card that can take electrocardiograms. In this year’s CES, other innovative devices will be exhibited, such as lipstick to diagnose conditions and artificial intelligence that aims to detect heart diseases.
It will also address how the latest advances can transform women’s health, mental health and healthcare through smart home innovation. Experts will also share their predictions about what healthcare will be like in the future. For the CTA, it will be even more “proactive, portable and customizable.” The United Nations estimates that in 2050, 3.7 million people will be aged 100 and over.
Smart homes
Homes are becoming more efficient. About 19% of American households already own a smart appliance, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, dryer or dishwasher, according to a 2023 study published by the CTA. The technology is also present in lighting devices, window coverings, irrigation and entertainment systems. This is the case of televisions, which companies such as Panasonic also want to convert into smart home management centers.
“Energy efficiency and automation are leading trends in this sector, and consumers prefer products that save time and money while improving safety and overall well-being,” states the CTA. At this year’s conferences, the show will analyze how technology can improve home security, what it can bring to multifamily housing, and how companies are trying to win over new customers.
Sustainability
The climate emergency is the greatest economic, social and environmental threat facing the planet and humanity, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. “As calls to fight climate change intensify, technology companies are finding ways to become part of the solution,” CTA states. This year the CES will showcase devices that address this challenge, such as an electric skid-steer loader, an autonomous robot that eliminates algae that hurts water quality and an alternative to starch-based plastic.
The show will also address how technological innovation can improve some of the Earth’s most valuable resources, such as clean air and water. It will also analyze whether demand for electric vehicles is cooling after reaching record numbers. Batteries for electric cars and sustainability are among the priorities of exhibitors such as Panasonic. Companies such as Genesis Systems, which wants to generate fresh water from the air, and Nubilab, which has created a food scanner with artificial intelligence to avoid food waste, will also be exhibiting at the show.
Beauty technology
Last year, L’Oréal surprised visitors at CES with a makeup applicator for people with motor disabilities. “The goal is for them to be able to apply lipstick or mascara steadily,” explained employee Casey Barbarino. This year, the French company will become the first beauty company to deliver the keynote speech at CES. “The first wave of beauty tech changed how people discover, evaluate, and buy beauty products. More recently, we’ve seen how it can better serve the underserved, by democratizing skin health and increasing access to self-expression,” said L’Oréal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus.
At this year’s CES, dozens of exhibitors will showcase their advances in beauty technology. AmorePacific, for example, designs devices for skin care, such as its new brand of cosmetics called Authentic Color Master by Toneworks. This makeup brand performs a color analysis in more than 3,000 areas of the face and creates personalized makeup. Another exhibitor, ART Lab, has developed a chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to help customers with their skin problems and to find the right cosmetics.
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