CES 2025 was marked by two major themes: the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (XR), but the show’s execution fell short. The event, which drew over 141,000 attendees, showcased numerous smart gadgets, predictive algorithms, and personalized assistants, but most failed to impress.
The AI segment was heavily promoted, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivering a sweeping keynote that painted a picture of AI’s role in various industries. However, the exhibition floor offered little evidence of anything groundbreaking. Exhibitors relied on last year’s devices, repackaged as “AI-enabled,” and struggled with bandwidth limitations, making it difficult to demonstrate AI’s full potential.
Consumer AI robots were showcased, including auto vacuums, lawn mowers, and security bots. However, these products lacked innovation and instead offered incremental improvements over existing solutions. The lack of tangible examples from top companies like Meta and Amazon was jarring, leaving many wondering if AI is truly ready for consumer impact.
The XR segment fared no better. Smart glasses were abundant, but most relied on similar technology to Meta’s Ray-Bans. Xreal’s new 6 DOF model offered some innovation, but the question remains: do people really want all-day smart glasses with an integrated display? The answer seems uncertain, as consumers already have high-resolution devices in their pockets.
There was a glimmer of hope for the blind and partially sighted, however. Ocutrx showcased two new devices that utilize computer vision to provide vision correction and 3D holographic images. These innovations offer real potential for those with limited mobility or visual impairments.
The overall message from CES 2025 is clear: AI is poised to change everything, but its presence at the show was more theoretical than tangible. XR continues to struggle for relevance, and the next year will be critical in determining its future. As one attendee noted, “CES 2025 was a show of promises, not breakthroughs.” The answers to these questions remain unclear.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/charliefink/2025/01/10/ces-2025-a-year-of-ai-hype-and-quiet-evolution