CES 2024: NEWS AND GADGETS FROM TECH’S BIGGEST SHOW
Latest advances across personal tech, transportation, health care and more highlighted at annual event
CES 2024, the multiday trade event put on this week by the Consumer Technology Association is expected to bring in some 130,000 attendees and more than 4,000 exhibitors to Las Vegas. The latest advances and gadgets — with burgeoning uses of artificial intelligence — will be on display.
Here are some of the most interesting finds from the floor of CES:
Mercedes-Benz makes talking to your car an experience
Mercedes-Benz unveiled several in-car tech upgrades at CES 2024 Tuesday, including an AI-powered virtual assistant that will be rolling out to its vehicles soon.
The German automaker boasts its new cloud-connected AI-assistant is “natural, predictive, empathetic and personal” as it works to personalize interactions between drivers and their cars. The update will pair AI with added functions for infotainment, automated driving, seating comfort and charging.
Walmart announces AI, drone plans
In a Tuesday keynote, Walmart announced that it would be expanding its drone delivery to 1.8 million additional households in the DallasFort Worth metropolitan area later this year. Drones aren’t new to Walmart — which has already completed 20,000 drone deliveries across seven states to date — but company leaders say that this expansion displays growing demand and efficiency. Walmart executives said no other rival has gotten this close to this type of drone concentration of households in a big metro market.
Among AI advances, Walmart announced a generative AI-powered search experience for iOS customers, which suggests relevant products for consumer queries ranging from football watch parties to bridal showers. The company also provided a glimpse into “InHome Replenishment,” which plans to use AI to learn consumers’ shopping habits and keep them stocked on their favorite groceries, as well as a beta platform that allows customers to create outfits virtually and get feedback from their friends.
Meanwhile Sam’s Club, which Walmart owns, has a new twist on checking out — whether it’s with the “scan and go” technology, self-checkout or just using a traditional manned register. Instead of stopping at a cashier to show the receipt, cameras at the stores’ exits take a picture of what’s in shoppers’ carts and confirm purchases with the items they’ve paid. The camera technology is currently available in 10 clubs so far, according to Sam’s Club CEO Chris Nicholas, and is rolling out to the chain later this year.
Honda debuts its Zero Series electric vehicle concept cars
Honda premiered two concept vehicles, dubbed the “Saloon” and “Space-Hub,” for a new global electric vehicle series on Tuesday. The Japanese automaker says the Zero Series approach for EV development focuses on models that are “thin, light and wise,” with specific goals to minimize battery size.
The first models of the Zero Series are aimed at making their way to the North American market in 2026, the company said, with plans to introduce those vehicles in Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle
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East and South America afterward.
Chromecast and car apps
Google on Tuesday showcased various ways it is integrating generative AI features into Android devices — including previously-announced customizable, AIgenerated wallpapers and suggested text messages responses, written in styles ranging from casual to “Shakespearean.”
Google also took the opportunity to unveil some new features.
Chromecast is being expanded to more apps and devices, with TikTok content now able to be cast directly to TVs.
More automakers are also partnering with Google to offer vehicles with pre-install apps such as Google Maps and Assistant. The apps will come to select models from Ford, Nissan and Lincoln this year, with Porsche following suit in 2025.
Letting the right ones in
Tech startup Pawport has unveiled a motorized pet door that will let your pet come and go as they please — while keeping other critters out. An accompanying collar tag will open the door when your pet is near. But there’s also customizable guardrails.
The product, which can slide directly onto existing pet door frames, can be temporarily locked for specific pets or set to “curfews” using the Pawport app or with remote-control through compatible virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
Pawport’s pet door and app are available for preorder and are set to make their ways into homes during the second quarter of 2024.
Smart locks go biometric
It’s 2024, of course your face can unlock your phone. And your front door is next.
Lockly, a tech company that specializes in smart locks, is showcasing a new lock with facial recognition technology that allows consumers to open doors without any keys. The new smart lock, dubbed “Visage,” is set to hit the market this summer. In addition to facial recognition, this lock will feature a biometric fingerprint
sensor and secure digital keypad for alternative ways of entry — similar to past Lockly products. Visage is also compatible with Apple HomeKey and Apple Home.
Hyundai and hydrogen
Hyundai on Monday spotlighted its future plans for utilizing hydrogen energy. Beyond hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, the South Korean automaker pointed to the possibilities of moving further into energy production, storage and transportation — as Hyundai works toward contributing to “the establishment of a hydrogen society.” Company
leaders say this sets them apart from other automakers.
“We are introducing a way to turn organic waste and even plastic into clean hydrogen. This is unique,” José Muñoz, president and global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company, said in a Monday news conference.
Hyundai also shared plans to further define vehicles based off of their software offerings and new AI technology. With so-called “software defined vehicles,” that could include opportunities for consumers to pay for features on demand — such as advanced driver assistance or autonomous driving — down the road.
Transparent TVs are here
Consumer electronics giants LG and Samsung have unveiled transparent TVs at the show, with LG having just announced its OLEDpowered display will go on sale later this year.
Almost invisible when turned off, LG’s 77-inch transparent OLED screen can switch between transparent mode and a more traditional black background for regular TV mode.
“The unique thing about OLED is it’s an organic material that we can print on any type of surface,” explains David Park from LG’s Home Entertainment Division. “And so what we’ve done is printed it on a transparent piece of glass, and then to get the OLED picture quality, that’s where we have that contrast film that goes up and down.”
Content is delivered wirelessly to the display using LG’s Zero Connect Box, which sends 4K images and sound.
Why would you need a transparent TV?
When not being watched as a traditional TV, the OLED T can be used as a digital canvas for showcasing artworks, for instance.
Samsung’s transparent MICRO LED-powered display showed off the technology as a concept.
Ads on shopping carts
Food companies advertise all over the grocery store with eye-catching packaging and displays. Now, Instacart hopes they’ll start advertising right on your cart.
This week at CES, the San Francisco-based grocery delivery and technology company is unveiling a smart cart that shows video ads on a screen near the handle. General Mills, Del Monte Foods, and Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream are among the companies that will advertise on the carts during an upcoming pilot at West Coast stores owned by Good Food Holdings.
Instacart says a screen might advertise deals or show a limited-edition treat, like Chocolate Strawberry Cheerios. It might also share real-time recommendations based on what customers put in the cart, like advertising ice cream if a customer buys cones.