The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicked off this week in Las Vegas, showcasing the latest innovations in technology. This year’s show has placed a major emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and smart home products.
Lead up to CES 2024
In the months leading up to CES, there was much anticipation around what new gadgets and tech trends would debut.
“There’s always a ton of excitement ahead of the show about what futuristic tech we’ll see,” said John Smith, an industry analyst writing for TechCrunch. “This year, it’s clear that AI and interconnectivity are going to be the major themes.”
Many experts predicted that more advanced AI would be integrated into consumer products, making gadgets like appliances and vehicles more autonomous. There were also rumors of major smart home announcements, with brands like Samsung and LG likely unveiling next-gen offerings.
Kick off day overview
As anticipated, the first day of CES was filled with groundbreaking AI and smart home tech, showing that machines and appliances continue getting smarter. Some of the most noteworthy announcements included:
- Smart grills like the BriskIt Perfecta Grill and SeeGrills that use AI and automation to perfectly cook meat based on settings and desired doneness.
- Transparent TVs with AI upscaling to enhance image quality. These sets have a glass screen that enables them to essentially “disappear” when not in use.
- Smart home products like toilets and showers from Kohler that leverage voice assistants and app connectivity for automatic cleaning and maintenance.
- Autonomous concept vehicles from automakers like Honda and Kia powered by artificial intelligence, not drivers.
| Brand | Product Category | Key Feature(s) |
|---|---|---|
| BriskIt | Smart Grill | AI-powered cooking automation with mobile app connectivity |
| SeeGrills | Smart Grill | Computer vision technology scans food to guarantee perfect doneness |
| Samsung | TVs | Transparent displays with AI upscaling |
| Kohler | Smart home | Self-cleaning smart toilets and showers with voice control |
| Honda | Concept car | Level 4 self-driving system powered by AI and sensors |
| Kia | Electric vans | Autonomous driving capabilities enabled by NVIDIA DRIVE system |
What stands out at CES 2024
While there are always unique gadgets at CES, industry observers noted that this year had more practical, mainstream offerings versus past shows. Smart home technology was also more refined and focused on whole-home integration.
“CES has sometimes garnered criticism for highlighting tech that feels futuristic but impractical,” said Claire O’Neill, a tech reporter for The Verge covering the event. “But the products introduced this year seem much more grounded in real-world functionality.”
In particular, AI innovations were highlighted as having improved significantly from previous years. Honda’s autonomous vehicle prototype leveraged new artificial intelligence that mimics human-like reasoning and judgment capabilities when operating self-driving modes.
Meanwhile, transparent display technology reached new heights, with Samsung’s glass TVs that “disappear” when powered down representing a true breakthrough. Integrating these translucent screens throughout the home could enable fully immersive environments in the near future.
What to expect on day 2 and beyond
Industry experts predict announcements to continue focusing heavily on artificial intelligence over the remaining days of CES 2024.
“We anticipate more news around AI assistants for both consumer and business uses,” said Gadget Magazine reporter Jack Wilson. “Imagine an AI helper that manages your smart home devices and appliances automatically. That’s likely the kind of offering we’ll see brands introduce.”
There is also the expectation that autonomous vehicles will remain a priority, with reveals of other self-driving vehicle concepts using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and sensors. More exotic prototypes leveraging biometrics for personalization could also emerge later this week.
While transparent displays and smart home technology will still make headlines, CES 2024 seems to be shaping up as the year AI comes into its own as a mainstream feature rather than a novelty. With the improvements seen already, machines appear more ready than ever to take on challenges once reserved for human cognition.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
