Afternoons spent watching trash TV and eating mince pies are just memories now. It’s January, folks, and in the tech world that means one thing: CES. The annual extravaganza in Las Vegas, the first of the big consumer tech conferences, starts on Sunday.
Here’s what to look out for:
Top of the trends
Artificial intelligence and 5G will continue to dominate at CES. Jean Foster, SVP of marketing and communications for the conference, expects AI to be the central theme for the next two or three years at least.
Delta Airlines, one of the traditionally non-tech companies now exhibiting at CES, will talk about how it uses AI to improve customer experience.
CES 2019 in Las Vegas
1/26
The new edition Sony Aibo robot dog incorporates a series of sensors, cameras, and actuators to activate the pup and keep it interactive.
AP
2/26
The Impossible Burger 2.0, the new and improved version of the company’s plant-based vegan burger that tastes like real beef is introduced at a press event during CES 2019
AFP/Getty Images
3/26
Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager Client Computing Group Gregory Bryant display an Ice Lake chip during an Intel press event for CES 2019
Getty Images
4/26
Hyundai’s Elevate ‘ultimate mobility’ concept vehicle is a walking car, envisioned to traverse any terrain
AFP/Getty Images
5/26
An autonomously operated ANYmal quadrupedal delivery robot appears at the Continental press conference
AFP/Getty Images
6/26
LG Senior Vice President David VanderWaal holds the LG V40 phone
AFP/Getty Images
7/26
The Signature OLED TV R, a roll-up television, is presented at the LG press conference
AFP/Getty Images
8/26
This product image provided by Kohler shows Kohler’s smart toilet Numi, featuring Amazon Alexa
AP
9/26
Lovot companion robots by Groove X
AFP/Getty Images
10/26
Julian Martijn Jagtenberg poses with a Somnox Sleep Robot, which mirrors your breathing for a better night’s sleep
REUTERS
11/26
Two different sizes of the HiMirror uses its skin analysis technology, to assess your skin for wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, dark spots, red spots, roughness, and pores
AP
12/26
Navatics MITO displays their underwater drone with 4K camera
AP
13/26
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones are among the CES 2019 Innovation awards winners
AFP/Getty Images
14/26
Codi, a story-telling robot for children, is displayed at “CES Unveiled”
REUTERS
15/26
A new semi-autonomous P4 prototype based on the current Lexus LS500h sedan used to develop Toyota’s Guardian and Chauffeur next generation autonomous driving system
AFP/Getty Images
16/26
The Harley Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle, developed in collaboration with Panasonic Automotive
REUTERS
17/26
Michael Moskowitz, president, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, holds an S Series camera
AP
18/26
A reporter checks out the Spectra X, an electric skateboard by Walnut Technology that moves depending on the shifting body weight of the rider
REUTERS
19/26
The Disney Technology School of Magic, a computer game designed to teach basic programming skills
REUTERS
20/26
An Air 100 selfie drone, a portable HD aerial camera
REUTERS
21/26
A woman demonstrates the Artemis smart mirror
AP
22/26
The D Free, an ultrasound device for people who suffer from incontinence
REUTERS
23/26
Coleen, a smart, electric bicycle with built-in GPS and navigation
REUTERS
24/26
Kuan-Ling Liu of Ganzin Technology models the Ganzin Aurora eye tracker module
REUTERS
25/26
The Omron HeartGuide wearable device
Getty Images
26/26
The Cosmo helmet-mounted connected brake light with handlebar-mounted turn signal controller
AFP/Getty Images
1/26
The new edition Sony Aibo robot dog incorporates a series of sensors, cameras, and actuators to activate the pup and keep it interactive.
AP
2/26
The Impossible Burger 2.0, the new and improved version of the company’s plant-based vegan burger that tastes like real beef is introduced at a press event during CES 2019
AFP/Getty Images
3/26
Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager Client Computing Group Gregory Bryant display an Ice Lake chip during an Intel press event for CES 2019
Getty Images
4/26
Hyundai’s Elevate ‘ultimate mobility’ concept vehicle is a walking car, envisioned to traverse any terrain
AFP/Getty Images
5/26
An autonomously operated ANYmal quadrupedal delivery robot appears at the Continental press conference
AFP/Getty Images
6/26
LG Senior Vice President David VanderWaal holds the LG V40 phone
AFP/Getty Images
7/26
The Signature OLED TV R, a roll-up television, is presented at the LG press conference
AFP/Getty Images
8/26
This product image provided by Kohler shows Kohler’s smart toilet Numi, featuring Amazon Alexa
AP
9/26
Lovot companion robots by Groove X
AFP/Getty Images
10/26
Julian Martijn Jagtenberg poses with a Somnox Sleep Robot, which mirrors your breathing for a better night’s sleep
REUTERS
11/26
Two different sizes of the HiMirror uses its skin analysis technology, to assess your skin for wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, dark spots, red spots, roughness, and pores
AP
12/26
Navatics MITO displays their underwater drone with 4K camera
AP
13/26
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones are among the CES 2019 Innovation awards winners
AFP/Getty Images
14/26
Codi, a story-telling robot for children, is displayed at “CES Unveiled”
REUTERS
15/26
A new semi-autonomous P4 prototype based on the current Lexus LS500h sedan used to develop Toyota’s Guardian and Chauffeur next generation autonomous driving system
AFP/Getty Images
16/26
The Harley Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle, developed in collaboration with Panasonic Automotive
REUTERS
17/26
Michael Moskowitz, president, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, holds an S Series camera
AP
18/26
A reporter checks out the Spectra X, an electric skateboard by Walnut Technology that moves depending on the shifting body weight of the rider
REUTERS
19/26
The Disney Technology School of Magic, a computer game designed to teach basic programming skills
REUTERS
20/26
An Air 100 selfie drone, a portable HD aerial camera
REUTERS
21/26
A woman demonstrates the Artemis smart mirror
AP
22/26
The D Free, an ultrasound device for people who suffer from incontinence
REUTERS
23/26
Coleen, a smart, electric bicycle with built-in GPS and navigation
REUTERS
24/26
Kuan-Ling Liu of Ganzin Technology models the Ganzin Aurora eye tracker module
REUTERS
25/26
The Omron HeartGuide wearable device
Getty Images
26/26
The Cosmo helmet-mounted connected brake light with handlebar-mounted turn signal controller
AFP/Getty Images
Supersized TVs
LG and Samsung often use CES to highlight their latest TV tech so expect a lot of chat about the magic of 8K displays (a resolution of about 8,000 pixels) and larger-than-life screens. LG is predicted to debut its transparent OLED prototype — the pixels produce their own light so there’s no need for a backlight, presenting the perfect opportunity for transparent screens.
Samsung’s vision for the future is thought to be a QLED TV with no bezel around the screen. The company registered the brand name “Zero Bezel” with the EU Intellectual Property Office in October so we’re excited to see what this looks like at the company’s keynote speech.
First-timers
For the first time in 28 years, Apple will be at CES, though not to unveil new tech — its senior director of privacy, Jane Hovarth, will discuss consumer privacy at a round- table with Facebook execs. Last year, Apple promoted its privacy features with huge billboards around Las Vegas, so it will be interesting to hear what Hovarth has to say.
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is also holding a CES event — a first for the company — to showcase its first concept phone. There aren’t many details on what the OnePlus Concept One will look like — the company says only that it offers “an ever smoother, faster and more ‘burdenless’ experience” — a folding phone, perhaps?
Beyond the gadgets
At tech shows, it’s easy to focus on the shiniest new gadget or robot. But the Consumer Technology Association, which holds CES, now supports the wider start-up ecosystem and companies using tech to tackle global issues.
Last year, it pledged to invest $10 million (£7.6 million) in funds that support women and founders from under-represented backgrounds. Another initiative will see the World Bank on stage to announce new tech challenges, in partnership with the CTA, for companies tackling issues such as gender diversity.
The industry is still very much a boys’ club — CES was criticised last year for removing an innovation award for a female-focused sex toy on the grounds it was “immoral and obscene” despite allowing VR pornography exhibits — so it’s good to see the CTA making up for this.
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