CES 2023 expected to draw 100,000 as exhibitors unveil latest gadgets, cars, metaverse tech

LAS VEGAS – The latest in tech products – from the clever to the completely bonkers – will be unveiled at the world’s largest technology trade fair, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), beginning on Thursday in Las Vegas.

It is a chance for tech companies of all sizes to showcase new products soon to be on the shelves, as well as enticing concepts in the future of tech.

An expected 100,000 attendees, from journalists to tech industry players, will be spread over 7ha of convention halls and event spaces along the Las Vegas Strip. Like many conventions, CES was hit with lower participation numbers in the last two years as the pandemic forced many of its exhibitors to go online in hybrid events, while others like Google and Microsoft opted out altogether.

This year, more than 3,200 exhibitors hope to stake a claim in person for where they stand in the tech business and attract investors.

Notwithstanding this, the four-day show comes amid strong economic headwinds, and many consumers reeling from the blows of the last three years could be hesitant to splurge on new gadgetry. Observers are expecting fewer of the traditionally glitzy tech products usually introduced at CES in favour of more practical offerings, such as smart home tech and healthcare devices, to appeal to consumers’ needs.

The metaverse will continue to be a key theme among companies this year, and developers will have some convincing to do to overcome scepticism of the nascent platform. Metaverse pioneer Meta, which poured billions of dollars into its development, came through its first year in 2022 with weakened confidence from investors and the public.

People are still trying to wrap their heads around what the metaverse is, or could be, said Mr Steve Koenig, vice-president of research at the Consumer Technology Association, likening it to the birth of the Internet in the 1990s.

But metaverse products have started to take shape, with companies building technologies that immerse users in the world of tech, said Mr Koenig in the Trends to Watch keynote speech on Wednesday. He pointed to wearables showcased at CES, including devices that provide haptic feedback as users interact with the metaverse, and others that incorporate scents to deepen the virtual reality (VR) experience.

“It is not necessarily a Ready Player One situation where we have a hyper-realistic online world,” he said, referring to the science-fiction action novel and film that takes place in a VR game world. “But the metaverse will bring online experiences that render elevated senses of immersion,” he said, citing other examples of tech companies developing platforms to bring customer service experiences fully online.

Gamers will have plenty to look forward to at CES, with new gaming laptops and 3D screen technology on display, and manufacturers like Samsung and Acer battling it out to see who can create the widest gaming monitor to envelop players.

On the video gaming front, Sony announced its latest VR headset for the PlayStation. But in a break from tradition, the Japanese tech giant will not be announcing any new televisions, a surprise given the strong line-up of new OLED TV technologies launched by its South Korean rivals LG and Samsung.

Early previews of TVs launched at the show suggest more incremental improvements to units from most brands this year, instead of revolutionary ideas that change how viewers use the appliance.

Car launches and concept reveals were among CES’ most anticipated segments in the past years, as software and automobiles came together, with more traditional tech companies dabbling in cars and related software. More than 300 automobile exhibitors have set up booths at this year’s show.

Drivers can expect to see more screens on vehicles – a trend that Mr Koenig dubbed “screenification” – as cars become more digitised. The focus will shift from fully automated cars that were the obsession of car brands in the past few years to enhancing driver assistance, sensors, batteries and charging tech, all to bring more people to electric vehicles (EVs), said Mr Koenig.

There will be brands showcasing new in-car screen technologies, augmented reality overlays to assist drivers, and new safety features like drowsiness-detection sensors that will warn drivers if they are too tired to drive. Volkswagen unveiled on Tuesday the ID.7 sedan, its next major global EV that is set to go head-to-head with the Tesla Model 3 in the EV market.

LG, which has clients in Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Apple, announced a new car console display that bends with the curvature of the dashboard, while BMW announced its i Vision Dee concept car, which integrates augmented reality metaverse elements into the windscreen of the car.

Health tech will also play a big role in this year’s show, with many developers keen to meet demands for healthcare and fitness brought about by the pandemic and ageing populations in many countries.

There are at least 16 brands linked to Singapore that will showcase their products at CES, including Razer and Osim. Some Singaporean start-ups will present their latest products at the Singapore pavilion, supported by Enterprise SG.

Even though economic challenges loom over 2023, Mr Koenig told several hundred members of the media and the tech industry that it is such adversity that will spur innovation, much like how the 2008 economic downturn led to the rapid development of mobile devices and 4G.

“It is during these periods of economic downtrend that innovation tends to accelerate,” he said.

“And when that innovation is unleashed, it levels up business opportunities, the economy and consumer experiences as new products are released and services deployed.”