(Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Key Takeaways
- The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off in Las vegas tomorrow, the first time it’s returned to ‘normal’ in two years.
- Every year CES throws up tech that’s innovative, exciting and sometimes downright weird, and this year is likely to be no exception.
- We can expect to the latest and greatest in gaming and computer hardware, audio visual, electric vehicles and smart home technologies.
- For investors, it provides a peek at future revenue sources for a range of different companies, from the biggest names in tech to small startups.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) launches tomorrow, January 5th, the first time the world’s largest technology exhibition has been properly running for two years.
If you’re not 100% sure CES is, it’s a global tech trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), held every year (apart from when Covid messes it up) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It’s widely considered one of, if not the, influential technology trade show in the world. The show attracts companies and professionals from around the globe, showcasing the latest and greatest in consumer electronics, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, home appliances, and much more.
CES also features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and other events, giving attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations in the technology industry.
It’s also a great opportunity for startups and smaller companies to showcase their innovations and get exposure to a global audience. In addition to the main event in Las Vegas, CES also hosts a number of smaller events around the world, including CES Asia and CES Unveiled, which provide a platform for companies to showcase their products and technologies to a global audience.
Basically, if you’re in tech and you’ve got something new to the world (which you probably always should have), CES is a great place to do it.
For consumers and investors, it’s pretty awesome as well. It gives us the opportunity to see the exciting tech we might be able to purchase in the near future, and also to start to gain insight on how it’s going to impact the bottom line (and stock price) of the companies presenting.
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CES exhibitors focus changes over time
Because CES is all about the latest technology, patterns often emerge on the types of innovations on show. Some years see a big focus on new gaming tech, some years it’s all about new flat screen TVs
In recent years, CES has become increasingly focused on virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These are connected devices like smart doorbells, smart fridges and smart speakers. Basically, any ‘normal’ device with the word smart in front of it.
What to expect from CES 2023
This year’s exhibition comes at an awkward time. The economic exuberance of the 2020 and 2021 has subsided and consumers and companies alike are watching their pennies very carefully.
This could play into the presentation and announcement style of many of the new tech on display.
Virtual and Augmented Reality
This sector isn’t going anywhere, but we’re unlikely to see the same level of hype and excitement over the metaverse, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) that we saw in the previous couple of years. Companies like Meta have frustrated shareholders with the billions being poured in, particularly as they’ve got little to show for it in terms of adoption, let alone revenue.
One of the biggest challenges to adoption is in the hardware that’s needed to access VR and AR software. Who wants to sit with a massive headset on their face for 8 hours a day? With that in mind, there are sure to be companies putting a huge level of resources towards glasses that make more sense.
This is particularly likely for AR, which is the concept of overlying digital information into the real world, rather than a full virtual environment. Remember Pokemon GO? It’s like that.
Computers and Gaming Hardware
This is the heart of CES and you can always expect to see the latest in consumer computing on show. Obviously this is synonymous with gaming, which continues to grow in popularity every single year.
This sector is more about refinement than revolution, and that’s staying true to form in the teasers we’ve seen so far. They include a new 27 inch OLED gaming monitor from LG and an 18 inch gaming laptop from Alienware, new microchips from companies like AMD, Intel and Nvidia and laptops from the likes of HP, Dell and Asus.
TV’s
Like computers, TV’s are an absolute staple of the CES diet. So what can we expect to see on the TV front? Honestly, probably not anything groundbreaking. Tech geeks will likely disagree, but there’s not really been any major step change in the technology for a number of years now.
Sure, we’re almost certain to see bigger TVs than we’ve ever seen before. They’ll probably also be brighter, have more smart tech built in or offer better sound. But let’s be honest, top of the range TVs are already pretty damn awesome.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
Here’s where we could see some exciting and innovative announcements. There’s now a connectivity standard for all connected devices, opening up the possibilities for all our connected speakers, doorbells, vacuums and thermostats to talk to each other.
It’s known as Matter, and it means your Alexa smart speaker will theoretically be able to speak to your Apple TV or your HP printer.
This is a massive opportunity, particularly for smaller companies, who will be able to leverage the existing tech in people’s homes to offer new and interesting solutions, without requiring buy-in to a totally new tech ecosystem.
Electric Vehicles
It might not be an auto show, but these days cars are closer to tech products than machinery. Just look at the delays in auto productions caused by the microchip shortage over recent years. That’s particularly true for electric vehicles.
One of the biggest reveals this year is expected to be the electric RAM 1500. It’s due to be announced tomorrow and joins a number of electric trucks including offerings from GM and Ford. It’s rumored to have a 500 mile-range, which, if true, is significantly higher than its competition.
We’re also likely to see a variety of other concept cars in various stages of development.
More outlandish transportation options will also be on show, with Aska, Ryse Aero Technologies and Maca all expected to demonstrate their ‘carcopters’. As the name might suggest, these are vehicles that drive on the roads, but can also take to the sky.
That’s one way to beat traffic.
What we’ve seen so far
Even though the show doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, the exhibition floor is already showing a number of interesting (and sometimes pretty weird) technologies.
Examples include a smart ring designed for women, to help track menstrual tracking in addition to more common metrics like heart rate and calories, a Samsung oven with a camera inside that allows chefs to livestream their meals cooking and even a urine scanner which sits in your toilet and sends health information it gathers from your pee, directly to your phone.
What does CES mean for investors?
For investors, CES is a chance to get a glimpse into the future for some of the biggest companies on the stock markets. By previewing innovations on the horizon, investors can analyze how they think they’re likely to impact the company’s bottom line.
Of course, you need to look much deeper than just the glossy, perfected presentation on stage in Las Vegas.
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