INTO THE FUTURE

Once again, high tech met with high expectations at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Visitors were suitably mesmerised by the wealth of cutting-edge gizmos and gadgets on display from both startups and major industry players alike.

- BRUCE SCOTT

While many of us were still recovering from New Year's Eve activities, those actively involved in the tech industry were busy converging on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which ran from Jan 5 to 8 this year. As always, the event confirmed two things that have remained constant for well over 50 years: the public's unquenchable thirst for new gadgets; and the industry's relentless desire to bring the latest must-have devices to market.

Billed as "the Super Bowl for global consumer technology", the 2023 edition of CES drew more than 3,200 exhibitors from over 170 countries and regions, and shattered organisers' expectations with a recorded 115,000 attendees. Clearly, the idea of being face-to-face once again appealed to many. And while top retailers and industry leaders took up the majority of the booths, the number of startups and first-time exhibitors clocked in at approximately 1,000.

Whether big or small, virtually every exhibitor was proudly showcasing their latest innovations and life-changing technologies; all sprawled over 2.2 million sqft of exhibition space, with over 40 product categories for visitors to choose from - including vehicle technology, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital health, mobility tech, home entertainment and smart home tech, food tech, space tech and NFTs.

One of this year's most memorable moments was when Hollywood megastar Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on stage during BMW's keynote address. During his speech, the actor and former governor of California joked: "In most of my movies, the machines were the enemy. But today, we found ways to use technology as an ally." He was later joined on stage by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, who unveiled the automaker's new i Vision Dee - a colour-changing car.