News| AI Unifies Companies at 2024 CES in Las Vegas

At the largest global tech conference held in Las Vegas last week, companies of all sizes showcased new artificial intelligence products and futuristic visions inspired by AI.

People walk past the Las Vegas Convention Center at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 10, 2024. (AP Photo /John Locher)

There are pillows that reduce snoring, mirrors that can detect your mood, and innovations ranging from pet-like companions to cars that integrate with the viral chatbot ChatGPT.

But this year's announcement is a departure from previous hot developments, such as Metaverse or adding voice assistant technology to devices. That's because by 2024, almost every company seems to be on the same page.

Dipanjan Chatterjee, an analyst at market research firm Forrester, said: "It's almost a tie in line with the AI theme... Because it has infinite possibilities and a wide range of applications."

Previous themes had "limited universal appeal," he added.

While CES is a hotbed of deals for executives, manufacturers and retailers across industries, it can also set the stage for some of the biggest tech trends of the year and shine a spotlight on how companies intend to participate in those conversations.

This year, non-tech companies including Walmart and L 'Oreal hosted keypoints to discuss their AI visions for the future, which mainly included adding generative AI solutions to help customers better find the products they want.

At the same time, Amazon updated some developers on how to integrate similar technology with its Alexa voice assistant. Even some automakers, such as Volkswagen, have said they will add the viral chatbot ChatGPT to their car lineup later this year to help drivers control options like GPS, infotainment systems, and heating and cooling, and get answers to general questions.

"[These announcements] show how companies are prioritizing customer needs first and then figuring out how technology can best serve them," Chatterjee said. "It's a far cry from showcasing cool technology to find use cases."

Baracoda's BMind smart mirror is displayed at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 10, 2024. Designed to help users stay mentally healthy, the mirror can interact with voice commands, gestures, and "intent detection."

It's also part of a larger shift happening at CES, from technology-driven experiences to ones powered by technology. To further drive this change, chipmakers Nvidia NVIDIA and AMD Advanced Micro introduced new processors that will help run the next generation of AI products.

Jitesh Ubrani, an analyst at market research firm IDC, agreed that the discussion around CES this year feels unique because companies have a general understanding of "how ubiquitous and seamless AI will be in the coming years."

"While many use cases are still unknown, what we do know is that no one wants to be left behind, so they start investing in products and use cases even before they are fully fleshed out," he said.

In addition to AI, other products stand out. Samsung wowed onlookers with the world's first transparent MicroLED screen, which looks a lot like a floating piece of glass. EssilorLuxottica showed off a prototype of its Nuance Audio glasses, which also feature built-in hearing AIDS. SONY also unveiled a mixed reality headset that can be controlled via a smart ring.

But given that CES 2024 is the first major tech conference since last year's AI craze, Eric Abbruzzese, director of market Research firm ABI Research, said, "it's no surprise that AI is everywhere."

He expects AI to dominate conversations in the tech world not only for the rest of the year, but beyond.

However, it's important to note how the AI field will fit into potential regulations as government agencies and the White House aim to deal with rapidly evolving technology.

"If regulation inhibits the growth of AI in the name of privacy, security, or if major negative news events are related to AI, then companies will work to shift information away from AI, at least to some extent," Abbruzzese said. "Even if their products are still using AI, highly focused AI marketing is likely to decrease."

Data reference:

Source: CNN

Link:  [https://edition.cnn.com/business]

Page Title: [At a 2024 consumer electronics show, AI gets companies on the same page]