Transparent TVs, smart bathrooms, and AI in everything are in CES 2024's most prominent tech trends and strangest new devices.
More than 4, 000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of industry visitors are taking in some of the most recent technology trends and concepts at the CES trade show, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas.
In addition to showcasing startups and tech behemoths, CES consistently highlights some audacious( and frequently bizarre) new ideas and provides a preview of the market in the months and years to come.
Here are some of the CES 2024's most prominent trends and strangest new devices to catch you up.
Everything from binoculars to strollers and automobiles will soon use AI.
You should prepare for 2024 if you heard much about artificial intelligence( AI) in 2023.
Tech companies are figuring out how to incorporate AI chatbots and machine learning into almost everything they produce.
How automakers intend to incorporate AI into their vehicles, altering how drivers interact with them, was a significant focus of CES 2024.
Volkswagen announced this year that many of its vehicles would receive a digital assistant powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Regarding enhancing driver experiences, Mercedes-Benz also unveiled an AI assistant that it dubbed “natural, predictive, empathetic, and personal. “
A close-up of someone reaching out to touch a car's center console, display, which shows the controls.
CES 2024 sees Mercedes-Benz unveil its new in-car operating system. Ryan Sun( AP)
Hyundai and Samsung announced a partnership enabling drivers to operate their cars without leaving the house by changing the settings or controlling the lights and other appliances in their homes.
According to Boston Consulting Group managing director Aakash Arora, car companies were considering how to differentiate themselves in the market if they could reach this level of customer experience.
However, some people have expressed worries about technology. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's executive director, Cindy Cohn, stated to the Associated Press:
“We've seen an increasing number of horrifying tales where people—mostly women—who are attempting to flee abusive domestic situations end up using their cars as abuse and tracking devices.
All of the automakers vying to turn our vehicles into tracking devices must make sure that the victims can turn this off.
The first electric stroller with all AI features for comfort and safety, which is expected to cost about US 400($ 3,500), was also welcomed by CES.
Canadian company Gluxkind says the stroller makes it easier to climb hills and applies breaks automatically “so that sleep-deprived parents essentially have driver assist daily”, co-founder Kevin Huang told Agence France-Presse.
A medium shot of a man pushing an electric stroller indoors, as a man filming on a phone nearby watches on
Gluxkind's AI smart stroller is expected to cost around$ US2, 400($ 3, 500).( Reuters: Steve Marcus)
The beauty industry is integrating AI advancements as well.
Industry giant L'Oreal presented an AI-supported “virtual personal advisor “app, which gives tips, recommends products based on a person's skin type, and allows them to try products virtually.
Several companies also showcased AI mirrors— one offered makeup advice, while another scanned faces to determine a person's body mass index, blood pressure, and even a” mental stress index “calculated from their heart rate.
Elsewhere, AI fridges came up with recipes by analyzing the food inside them, and an “AI-powered” shopping trolley displayed personalized ads aimed at grocery buyers.
For the ornithologists, fashion and jewelry brand Swarovski showed off some AI-assisted binoculars it said could identify more than 9 000 species of birds and other animals. They cost$ US4, 800($ 7, 165).
A wide shot of a woman standing on a stage giving a keynote speech. Behind her are images of faces and a hand holding a phone
Transparent TVs are becoming a reality.
See-through TV screens have been shown at CES for years, but this year, LG confirmed it would start shipping a transparent display sometime in 2024.
Why would you need a transparent TV? The company claims it adds depth to images, and reviewers have tried it out as a water-free fish tank— if that's your thing.
This year, Samsung also showcased a transparent TV, but it's still just a prototype.
Both companies said AI enhancements to their other TV sets would also improve image quality and help viewers find shows they would like more easily.
A medium shot of six people standing behind a transparent TV at a trade show, with some looking at the display
LG says it will release a transparent TV this year, but its cost is still being determined.( AP: John Locher)
It wouldn't be CES without some weird stuff…
One product making a splash at CES was Kohler's concept version of an intelligent toilet.
The company added E Ink technology— the same components that power screens on many e-readers— to its smart loo so that its exterior could light up with shifting black-and-white designs.
A man holds onto an intelligent toilet seat with one hand and gestures with the other as he speaks to people at a tech show.
Kohler exhibited some smart toilets, including a concept version covered in E Ink screens.( AFP: Brendan Smialowski)
Making waves on social media was a phone case by Clicks Technologies, which gives the iPhone a physical keyboard.
Co-founder Jonathan Young told the Associated Press that the case was aimed at three core audiences: people with dexterity or accessibility issues, younger people looking to stand out, and people who miss tactile phone keyboards.
A close-up of a man's hand holding out an iPhone in a case that puts a small physical QWERTY keyboard below the device's port.
Clicks says one of its target markets is people who miss the feeling of tactile mobile phone keyboards.( Supplied: Clicks)
Shift Robotics showed off the newest versions of its Moonwalker shoes.
The company says its mobility devices can “allow users to walk up to three times faster.”
A close-up of a sandal-like shoe with velcro straps, a thick base, and small wheels. People look down at it from above
Shift Robotics says its Moonwalker shoes can allow people to walk at the speed of a run.( AFP: Frederic J. Brown)
Ever wanted to have private conversations in public without people hearing you?
Skyted said its silent mask would allow users to take calls and speak to people without being overheard.
A close-up of a man holding a thick face mask over his mouth with one hand indoors at a technology industry event
Skyted Mobility's Thibault Abily demonstrates the Skyted silent mask before the start of CES 2024.( AP: Ryan Sun)
… and it wouldn't be CES without robots
Companion robots have yet to gain much ground in our homes, but some companies believe humanoids with AI capabilities can become useful enough for everyday use.
Thanks to generative AI, robots can now depend less on communicating using pre-written scripts.
Chris Nielsen, head of US company Levatas, which has integrated generative AI software into a quadruped robot called Spot, told Agence France- Presse:
“Humanoids are going to be like coworkers in the coming years, and natural language interfaces like ChatGPT are going to be prevalent.”
CES saw robots taking on some more straightforward tasks, too.
French company Capsix Robotics showed off a robotic masseuse that used AI to tailor its massages.
A close-up near the head of a man lying on a bed and receiving a back massage from a robotic arm as people watch on
A nail-painting device by Nimble claimed to varnish and dry all 10 fingernails in 25 minutes using AI and robotics. Lancome's HAPTA makeup applicator aimed to help people with limited mobility apply lipstick using AI sensors.
Robot baristas were on show, too. Adam, a robot created by Richtech Robotics, served coffee to CES attendees with the help of generative AI.
But he still needed humans to refill the coffee machine with milk.
It is a medium shot of a robot, a barista standing behind a counter and holding up its arms slightly.