After two years ruined by the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest electronic megashow in the world, are aiming to bring back the energy of previous years.
Here are some things to look out for in this year’s edition.
Just weeks before Covid-19 will put much of the world on lockdown in January 2020, more than 117,000 individuals attended the Las Vegas spectacular. A dramatic increase in the Omicron variation kept people out of the Nevada desert for the 2021 edition, which was hosted virtually, and the hybrid version held the previous year, which attracted roughly 40,000 visitors.
The president of the Consumer Technology Association, which hosts the annual expo, Gary Shapiro, predicted that attendance at CES 2023 in Las Vegas “will rock.” Over 100,000 participation are the target that the organizers are aiming for.
– Auto show –
The presence of auto companies will be the biggest ever this year, with nearly 300 exhibitors grouped in a dedicated hall with keynote events by Stellantis, BMW and other heavyweights.
“This year, it’s going to feel like you’re almost at an auto show,” said Kevan Yalowitz, global software & platforms lead at Accenture, the consultancy.
Even though the promise of driverless cars is taking longer than expected to materialize on the roads, companies will once again be promoting innovations that mainly involve replacing the human driver.
Another highlight will be software for cars: auto operating systems that can be updated remotely, much like for a laptop or smartphone.
These programs could “tweak the user experience (like speed limits or maintenance) at a moment’s notice and identify issues that can be addressed without consumers even really knowing that they were addressed,” said Yalowitz.
– Meta’s metaverse –
Last year’s CES was dominated by the idea that virtual reality, accessible through a variety of headgear from a wide group of companies, would be the internet of the future.
A year later, the blind faith in the metaverse has taken a blow, brought down by the difficulties suffered by Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, that gambled its future on building a virtual world embraced by all.
Despite Meta’s big bet, the metaverse “is still not a mainstream category just yet,” said Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi.
However, virtual worlds will continue to be a big part of the CES as Meta and others keep trying to convert the skeptics, she added.
– ‘Connected’ revolution –
Last year, a quiet revolution took place far from the headlines and experts believe it will make a big difference when it comes to connected devices.
A new norm known as Matter was agreed in October meaning that devices built specifically for Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Nest are now interoperable — creating a massive opportunity for developers that can innovate and reach the widest possible audience.
“The first version of the standard is out, a handful of products have passed certification, and there are going to be many more on the floor at CES,” said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.
“We will really see the Matter devices come together with door bells, vacuum cleaners and more,” he added.
– Green tech –
The importance of consumer technology in facing the challenges of climate change has been a recurrent theme at CES, though events rarely draw the crowds of connected automobiles or the latest gaming gadgets.
Given the higher priority put on the environment by companies and governments, green tech will be given a bigger place and even its own venue at CES this year.
Companies will also tout their sustainable outlook, pointing to recyclable material in products and their low carbon footprint.
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