The Consumer Electronics Show or CES is back for its 2024 iteration in Las Vegas where companies from all over the world and from varying sectors are showing off the latest technologies in their products and services.
The event, which runs from January 9-12, is on day two, and so far, we have seen some very interesting gadgets from over 40,000 exhibitors. While the AI hype train is long and strong this time around, it has also led to the introduction of some weirdly cool tech.
CES 2024 Highlights: So Far
Below we have listed a few of what we believe are the coolest gadgets, techs, and claims from the CES 2024 so far. Feel free to be the judge.
1. A Blackberry-style keyboard For Your iPhone
That’s what Clicks Technology, a UK-based startup that builds tools for smartphones thought. They wanted to bring back the old days of having tactile keyboards on mobile phones. What better way to do that than to recreate BlackBerry’s iconic keyboard and retrofit it to an iPhone?
The $139 keyboard attaches to the phone like a case, giving users more screen space without the on-screen keyboard. Although the case may make your iPhone look a lot taller, it will definitely look cooler.
2. Sony And Honda’s Afeela EV That You Can Drive Using A PS5 Controller
A year on since Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) – a joint venture between the two Japanese giants – debuted its concept EV, the Afeela, the company is back again. This time offering more details about the car.
Although the car’s name and design remain unchanged from last year, SHM has since added one of the coolest features we’ve ever seen in automobiles. The ability to drive the Afeela around with a PlayStation 5 controller.
SHM president and COO Izumi Kawanishi, who presented the car, drove it onto the stage using a DualSense controller.
Now beat that!
3. An e-bike fully Integrated With ChatGPT
High-end e-bike manufacturer Urtopia has returned with an all-new bike at CES 2024 called the Fusion that has ChatGPT integrated.
The company also introduced a smart ring powered by a technology it calls “Jarvis” that can turn on the e-bike, play music, or activate other techy features that come with the Fusion using OpenAI’s generative AI chatbot.
The bike also has a built-in speaker that you can use to have direct conversations with ChatGPT. Urtopia says that if you ask the chatbot what its business is on an e-bike, it will answer that it can assist you with exploring new routes, getting real-time information, and engaging in entertaining conversations with the AI.
4. The Asus AirVision M1 Wearable Display
Asus is known for its innovative and stylish tech products. The company is always one to look forward to at every CES event. This year, the Taiwanese tech giant has introduced a lengthy list of products, including a high-tech wearable display in the form of an eyewear called the AirVision M1.
However, the device is not competing with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro or mixed reality headsets from other companies. The AirVision M1 is simply a wearable display that can project multiple virtual screens that allow users to multitask on the go. The eyewear is equipped with an FHD 1,920 x 1,080 micro-OLED display that has a 57-degree vertical perspective field of view.
5. Swarovski’s AI-powered Binoculars
Swarovski is not a name associated with affordability, and neither does it rhyme with binoculars or AI, but that is exactly what the Austrian jeweler has done. The AX Visio 10×32 is a pair of AI-powered binoculars that can identify more than 9,000 birds and other animal species.
The $4,799 AI binocular also allows you to capture photos and videos of your discoveries and share them with friends and family.
6. Dynamic Sound Mixing System That Tunes Music To Your Driving Style
Sound Drive, a tech startup founded by singer and songwriter Will.i.am, is looking to match the music you listen to while driving with the cadence and energy of your commute. The technology responds to your speed and plays a matching song, with lyrics dropping in and out intelligently according to your driving style.
Tech News: Sony’s ‘Digital Birth Certificate’ For Images Is NFT In Disguise
7. LG’s AI Agent For Your Smart Home
Korean electronics giant LG announced a two-legged wheeled robot called the Smart Home AI Agent that acts as an assistant in sync with LG appliances in your home. The robot is generative AI-enabled and allows you to hold conversations with it.
LG says the robot can show you empathy. In a promotional video, the company showcased some of the AI Agent’s features like reminding you to take your medicines or calling the police in time of a crisis.
8. An AI-Powered Grill That Cooks The Perfect Steak For You
Seergrills unveiled its flagship grill, the Perfecta, at the CES 2024. This time the grill comes with a built-in AI chef who can cook a one-inch steak in under 90 seconds.
Inside the grill are two vertical infrared burners that can cook both sides simultaneously. The company argues that this eliminates the need to flip the burger or steak, speeding up the cooking process. The built-in AI chef takes note of the desired doneness and sear level and calculates the approximate cooking time and temperature based on the food.
Sensors inside the grill detect the thickness of the meat to prevent over or undercooking and burners can automatically move towards and away from the food as needed.
9. Rabbit R1, A Handheld AI Assistant That Aims To Replace Your Smartphone
Californian startup Rabbit has taken the CES 2024 by storm. The company introduced an adorable little handheld device powered by what it dubbed a Large Action Model (LAM).
The Rabbit R1, as it is called, learns the way you interact with apps on your smartphone and performs tasks on request. For example, if you want to book an Uber, the device will do it for you on your command in a single step, instead of you having to take multiple steps on the app.
The company predicts devices like the Rabbit R1 will replace smartphones in the long run.
