CES 2023 preview: 4 big questions that will shape the week

CES stays the largest week of the yr in tech. Each January, the present connects the world’s largest tech firms, the following technology of startups chasing disruptive concepts, tech reporters and influencers, massive field retailers in search of merchandise to fill their cabinets, and tens of hundreds of tech lovers making an attempt to get a glimpse of what is subsequent. 

Additionally: CES 2023 tech you can actually buy now

Whereas it will not attain the heyday of a decade in the past, this yr’s present can have exhibitors, the worldwide press, and attendee numbers that look much more just like the pre-pandemic tech trade. There will even be plenty of facets of the present that can be live-streamed to a world viewers — a welcome remnant from the pandemic-dominated exhibits of the previous two years.

This yr’s 2023 model will look much more just like the flashy CES you have seen in numerous information reviews and web movies over the previous couple many years. 

However, there can be 4 massive questions that loom massive. Control these themes as reviews roll on this week.

1. Will the massive tech firms give us greater than gimmicks?

At CES, massive tech firms are infamous for displaying off ideas nobody will ever purchase comparable to 100-inch TVs, roll-up shows, foolish robots, and single-rider helicopters parading as flying vehicles. Whereas stingy customers hit arduous by inflation may definitely use some leisure, it might be a welcome growth at this yr’s CES if the massive tech firms did not depend on their outdated parlor methods however put the highlight on helpful improvements with extra substance.

2. Can anybody persuade us to care in regards to the metaverse?

Proper now, the metaverse is rather a lot like a misplaced pet wandering round and smelling every part. There are sure to be plenty of firms — from {hardware} makers to NFT peddlers — angling for a spot within the metaverse ecosystem, simply in case it does pan out.

We have got our eye on Thursday, January 5 for HTC Vive’s subsequent massive unveil. Will HTC’s new headset make the metaverse extra interesting? We’ll see. Apple’s long-expected headset looms massive over 2023, after all, however Apple will not be on the present and nobody is aware of how lengthy we’ll have to attend to see what they’ve put collectively.

3. Will AI begin to automate helpful issues?

AI burst into the patron consciousness in 2022 with Lensa, Dall-E, ChatGPT and different instruments. It wowed us with its capabilities to supply human-like work and it raised troubling moral questions on mental property and truthful attribution.

These moral considerations will solely deepen in 2023. However AI’s larger wins are prone to come from the way in which smarter AI and machine studying are going to attach the dots behind the scenes to automate work and make life easier. That is the place plenty of most impactful alternatives await and now we have to hope this yr’s CES will floor some thrilling initiatives and startups that may make people smarter and extra environment friendly.

Additionally: CES 2023 tech I’m watching: Metaverse, ER of the future, food tech, NFTs

4. Will the very best stuff come from sudden locations?

Over 3,000 firms can be exhibiting at CES 2023 and a 3rd of them are coming to the present for the primary time. Whereas the massive TV distributors, PC firms, and automakers will hog plenty of the highlight, it is lots of the smaller startups and entrepreneurs who can have essentially the most disruptive tech on the present. In years previous, I’ve seen tiny startups with tech years forward of the massive firms – together with stuff that later confirmed up as options in mainstream merchandise.

The underside line is that essentially the most progressive stuff at CES 2023 will possible come from firms you have by no means heard of. ZDNET is on a mission to search out them. So keep tuned.

You possibly can watch our brief video summing the 4 massive themes of CES 2023 as a YouTube Short (embedded under), Instagram Reel, or on TikTok.