January is always a bit of a gloomy month. That is unless you are at the biggest consumer electronics show in the world in the middle of the Nevada desert. Every year CES kicks off the tech year with a showcase of the future – or at least the future the tech companies are hoping you will buy into.
Many of the products demonstrated at CES will never make it to the shelves. For some, that fate is warranted. The world would not be a better place had the iSmell hit the shelves, allowing us to “smell” the internet as we browse. Nor would many of us have the funds to spend on a very expensive smart belt that tightens itself.
But the event is useful in predicting the industry trends we are likely to see in the coming year. And for 2025, the focus is firmly on artificial intelligence (AI). From our PCs to our garden equipment, AI is set to invade every aspect of our lives and there is little we can do to stop it.
From Nvidia’s mini personal AI supercomputer to an AI-powered vacuum that can clear its path of obstacles, the technology is everywhere at CES.
And there are plenty of AI products edging on the “weird CES” category. There is the Mirumi companion robot whose sole function seems to be to imitate a shy child – albeit a fluffy one. If you have less of a green thumb and more of a death touch when it comes to plants, the LeafyPod might appeal. No more guessing what your plants need; sensors combined with smart software will let them tell you directly. “Feed me, water me, move me away from the window” – your plants can become as demanding as humans.
[ CES 2025: Nvidia unveils gaming chips, desktop computer to protect AI leadOpens in new window ]
And not to forget the deeply unsettling humanoid Realbotix robot dubbed Aria who not only has a vacant stare that could chill you to the bone, but can have her magnetic face peeled off and swapped for a new look in mere minutes.
The real applications for AI are a little less attention grabbing. In 2025, expect to see the workforce edge closer to true virtual employees – AI agents that can act independently of people and take over the repetitive tasks that are mind-numbingly dull. That is where Nvidia and companies such as Old World Labs are focusing their efforts.
Either way, prepare for 2025 to be the year that AI goes mainstream.
