The latest advances in artificial intelligence, from vehicles to robots and home appliances, will be on display at the annual CES (Consumer Electronics Show) technology fair, which opens this Thursday (5) in Las Vegas, United States.
Held virtual in 2021 and hybrid last year, CES will take place January 5-8 on more than seventy acres, including the vast Las Vegas Convention Center and pavilions installed in parking lots.
“In 2022, there were huge empty halls: CES was a shadow of itself,” Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techspotential, told AFP. “Now we expect crowds, difficult travel and closed-door meetings – everything a trade show has.”
CES will officially open on Thursday, but companies will start showing their tech news starting tomorrow.
Vehicles in the spotlight
The next generation of the transportation industry, from cars, trucks, boats and tractors to flying machines, will attract public attention, analysts say. “It will be almost like being at a car show,” said Kevan Yalowitz of Accenture, a consultancy.
More than ever, vehicles rely on operating systems much like a smartphone or laptop. Accenture expects that, by 2040, around 40% of cars on the road will have software to update remotely.
With internet-connected cars comes online apps and entertainment as developers strive to engage passengers with streaming services and in-flight shopping.
According to Yalowitz, more and more vehicles will participate in the “battle for consumer time”, one of the central themes of CES 2023. Electric vehicles with artificial intelligence will also be highlighted, anticipated Greengart.
But “what’s really creating a buzz is custom flying machines,” pointed out independent technology analyst Rob Enderle. “Basically, they are drones that carry humans.”
impulse to the metaverse
Led by Mark Zuckerberg’s company Meta, the immersive virtual worlds known as the metaverse are seen by some as the future of the internet. Already a dominant theme at CES 2022, virtual reality (VR) devices designed to transport people into the metaverse are set to be back in the spotlight.
Meta — which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — is allowing guests to try out its latest VR headset, the Oculus Quest, in order to persuade skeptics that the company’s shift in focus to the metaverse was on point.
Gadgets and services released as part of the internet’s next generation, “Web 3”, are expected to include mixed reality equipment, as well as blockchain technology and NFTs.
Web 3 promises a more decentralized internet, where tech giants, large corporations or governments no longer hold all the keys to life online.
“The idea of ​​how we connect is going to be part of the big trend at CES,” said Carolina Milanesi, an expert at Creative Strategies. Analysts had expected cryptocurrencies to be promoted among Web 3 innovations at the fair, but “there could be a backlash” due to the implosion of cryptocurrency platform FTX and the arrest of its boss Sam Bankman-Fried, according to Carolina.
covid and weather
CES 2023 should show the effects of the pandemic, as products designed during the era of lockdowns and remote work will be hitting the market, even as pre-covid habits are returning, Greengart noted.
Technologies aimed at better assessing health and connecting remotely with caregivers will also feature in this issue. And, although it is a consumer fair, the environment will also be a subject, with displays of devices for collecting garbage from watercourses and applications that help reduce energy consumption.
Many companies are removing plastic from their packaging and switching to biodegradable materials as they try to lower their carbon emissions, analysts say.
“If you’re the type of person who lives in isolation growing vegetables, then CES is not for you,” Greengart said. “But I congratulate companies that find ways to make their products and their supply chain more sustainable.”
“Gran Turismo” reveals Sony’s strategy to focus on entertainment
When Sony teases “Gran Turismo,” its long-awaited adaptation of the racing game franchise at CES 2023 this week, it will showcase its new identity as a content company.
The film reflects the transformation of the creator of the Walkman and Bravia TVs into a comprehensive entertainment provider. The production also represents a significant bridge between Sony Pictures, Sony PlayStation and Sony Music, according to industry executives interviewed by Reuters.
“I’ve defined our identity as a creative entertainment company with a strong foundation in technology,” said Sony Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida.
The film’s appearance at CES on a stage normally reserved for big-screen TVs and robots represents $10 billion in investment in music, video games and anime over the past five years, including “The Last of Us” and “God of War”.
“Gran Turismo” is one of 10 video game-inspired film and television projects that are in various stages of development.
Last month, Amazon Prime Video ordered “God of War,” a live-action adaptation of the PlayStation hit based on Greek mythology.
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years and have been an author at News Bulletin 247 for the past 5 years. I mostly cover technology news and enjoy writing about the latest gadgets and devices. I am also a huge fan of music and enjoy attending live concerts whenever possible.
