CES 2024: What is the real “hope” behind the AI hardware “carnival”?

At the beginning of 2024, we ushered in the first real CES after the epidemic was controlled. The number of Chinese exhibiting companies and visitors this year is a small peak in recent years. Official data released by CES shows that among the more than 4,000 exhibiting companies at this exhibition, more than 1,100 Chinese companies and their overseas branches are participating.

One year after the rapid development of large models, many media have predicted that AI will become the protagonist of consumer electronics at CES, a consumer electronics show, with many interesting AI hardware appearing to integrate large model technology into our common scenarios.

This is also true. In the Las Vegas exhibition hall, AI is everywhere from toothbrushes to mattresses to bicycles. It’s not an exaggeration to use Samsung’s advertising slogan “AIForAll” to describe this year’s CES.

At the same time, screen technology, automobiles and computers are still the "basics" of CES and are also the main battlefield for giants to compete for new products. The lively CES “Technology Temple Fair” also seems to indicate the gradual recovery of the consumer electronics industry.

AI hardware:

Good Guys, Bad Guys and Weird Guys

The concept of AIPC has been very popular since the second half of last year. Because of its productivity tools and high computing power, PCs are considered to be the first wave of consumer electronics products that can run end-side AI.

What drives AIPC is the launch of a large wave of AI chips. In addition to the previously released Qualcomm's SnapdragonXElite and Intel's CoreUltra, AMD also launched RyzenAI at CES this time, introducing a dedicated AI neural processing unit (NPU) to desktop computer processors for the first time. The GeForceRTX40SUPER series products released by Nvidia at CES claim that they can enable computers to support end-side AI without the need for a dedicated AI neural processing unit.

How about the actual AIPC products on display?

The day before the opening of CES, Intel invited executives from Dell, Lenovo, HP and Microsoft to demonstrate AIPC products equipped with Intel chips, which can already perform preliminary functions including generating images, videos and presentations, and providing real-time translation of sign language and speech.

Lenovo, which has always placed great emphasis on the AIPC concept, demonstrated AIPC with the AINow assistant supported by on-device AI for the first time at CES. According to Geek Park, in addition to using end-side computing power to communicate with AI,The AIPC launched by Lenovo this time can create a local database. When users use the assistant for the first time, they can add documents to the local database., making the document a vector database available to the local model. It can better use documents to improve productivity without risking privacy security.

Lenovo PC with AI function | Lenovo

Perhaps what is more gimmick than practicality is that many AIPCs now emphasize having a physical key that can summon the AI assistant on the PC with one click. For example, Acer announced that it will equip its new Extraordinary Go product with a separate physical AcerSense key. Just before CES, Microsoft announced that the Windows 11 computer keyboard will add Copilot keys. This is the first time Microsoft has added new keys to the keyboard since 1995.

Many people believe that AI assistants may subvert the operating system and become a new entrance in the future. On AIPC, all parties are rushing to add new physical buttons to AIPC, which is the epitome of some tensions between operating system and hardware manufacturers.

In November, Geek Park introduced the product AIPin to everyone. AIPin attempts to use a large language model to take over all user interactions. In addition to simple camera recognition and projection interaction, any user task can theoretically be completed through natural language interaction with AIPin, including summarizing emails, sending text messages, playing songs, taking photos, making calls, etc.

Before CES started, many media were looking forward to more similar products appearing at CES. However, not only was AIPin not exhibited at CES, a new generation of AI hardware that claimed to replace mobile phones also did not appear. This is why when the startup Rabbit launched the R1 device, it attracted the attention of global media.

Size comparison between RabbitR1 and iPhone｜CNETYoutube video

The R1 does not claim to replace mobile phones. It's like a smart speaker that can reversely control your phone. Usually, we use smart speakers and say "help me make a call" to the voice assistant in the speaker, and the speaker will also operate the mobile phone to make the call. The functions of R1 are even more expanded.

Tasks shown in the video include controlling music (using Sportify), ordering a car, buying groceries, sending messages, and more. R1 further claims that it has designed a training mode to teach artificial intelligence how to handle tasks it has not learned before. For example, the user first demonstrates how to delete the watermark. After 30 seconds, RabbitOS can learn this operation. Next time, the user can directly talk to R1 and ask R1 to help complete the task.

However, whether all this can be successfully realized is still a matter of theory. Rabbit did not set up a booth at CES, and the media seemed to have only captured a very simple hands-on video. But CES is CES after all. Leveraging the influence of CES,The R1, priced at US$199, was sold out in 24 hours and 10,000 units were in stock. Another 10,000 units were sold in pre-order within 48 hours..

In addition to such small devices, another hardware direction that attempts to use large models to further assist humans in task operations is companion robots that can control smart homes.

Robots and controlling a complete smart home ecosystem are areas that large companies are good at. This year, LG and Samsung have chosen this direction.

Although there are some differences, the robots launched by the two companies have built-in cameras and other sensors, which can move autonomously, talk to users, and help users control indoor smart homes.

The products of the two companies also have a common feature: no price or shipping time has been announced. Companion robots supported by large models are a good offline AI carrier, but they are still far from commercialization.

In addition to companion robots, we observed many small hardware teams at this CES.I’m also trying to give the big model “a face”.

These products are usually a cute robot that can talk to people by connecting to a large model in the cloud. Their products are easier to implement, but their functionality is more limited than those from LG and Samsung. For productization, we will also enter some more subdivided areas. For example, MoxieAI helps children socialize and learn through AI; IntuitionRobotics' ElliQ focuses on companionship for the elderly.

WeHead’s innovative display products｜YoutubeShortCircuit account

Throughout CES, we saw more AI products that were still based on generative AI applications such as visual recognition, personalized recommendations based on data, and simple image generation. There was no media prediction that all consumer electronics products would be redone with large models.

One reason may be that the hardware really isn't ready yet. For example, Geek Park communicates with a translation headset company called Timekettle. Even though translation is a scenario that lends itself well to large models, the company has not chosen to use large models to deploy into its own headsets.

One of the reasons is the product: the company believes that the translation effect of large models is not good, and it tends to please people too much, causing deviations in communication information. Smaller models give you better control over this.

There are also hardware reasons: with large models, cloud computing feedback is too slow to translate the headset scene, while with local computing, computing chips and power are not yet mature.

CES from a first-person perspective

The development of AI hardware is lower than expected. This is the common feeling we interviewed several frontline colleagues at Geek Park and exhibitors in the industry. In addition, what did everyone observe at CES? We collected everyone’s real on-site experiences, and several points were mentioned by many visitors:

CES is generally lively but the number of people is not as good as before the epidemic

Su Guanhua, the founder of Cuby.fun, a start-up company that makes AI interactive entertainment products, came to CES to participate in the exhibition in 2020. This time he participated again. He said that "the number of people was actually smaller than that time."

The data also shows this. CES in 2020 attracted 170,000 visitors, while CES in 2024 attracted about 130,000 visitors. However, the total number of people is still higher than in 2023, with approximately 115,000 people participating in the 2023 CES show.

"It feels like the Russians have disappeared, but there are particularly many Koreans." Su Guanhua said.

Korean companies are very popular at CES

In addition to the large number of Koreans visiting the exhibition, there are also many Korean companies participating in the exhibition.

As for large companies, a reporter in front of Geek Park said that several large companies in South Korea had long queues for their booths this time. For example, if you make a reservation in advance at the Hyundai booth of South Korea, you still have to queue for half an hour before you can enter.

Zhang Zifeng ARK, who is working on an AI application project, was also deeply impressed by the booths of major Korean companies: "The booth planning of Korean chaebol-level companies such as Samsung, LG, and SK is very innovative. Samsung's booth creates the feeling of a Samsung kingdom, displaying various smart homes. SK's booth layout is also very thoughtful, with some amusement park feel inside."

Many Korean startups also performed positively this time.

"There is an area called the National Pavilion, where entrepreneurial teams from different countries will bring their own products. I personally feel that maybe 1/5 of the National Pavilion may be Korean companies. There are so many products, ranging from visual recognition to gesture recognition to robots. There are everything."

“There are also a lot of intelligent health products participating in this exhibition, but we mainly see more companies from South Korea and Japan.” A reporter from Geek Park said. "Although Chinese companies have doubled their exhibitors this time, except for TCL's standout booth, the overall momentum is not as big as that of Korean companies."

There are still many XR products on display

But the product has not made much progress

Several visitors mentioned that there were many XR products and games at this CES. "The drone booths seem to have been replaced by AR and VR booths, and there are more AR booths than VR ones." A colleague from Geek Park said.

Source: reporter from Geek Park

"From personal observation, there are more VR, AR and game projects than AI projects. Maybe because they are relatively more mature and more demonstrable." Zhang Zifeng ARK said.

Only for XR products, CES did not show any major breakthroughs in hardware. Basically, there was linear progress, improving the interaction efficiency, fluency, clarity, and FOV of the camera. An exhibitor interviewed by Geek Park also said that he had seen a certain manufacturer's products a few years ago. This year's exhibition is the same, but it has entered mass production.

In this regard, Zhang Zifeng ARK also made an interesting observation: "Regarding VR and AR, I feel that domestic manufacturers are mainly focusing on hardware development, and the overall content direction is watching movies and playing games. And I found that several Korean companies have very clear tracks in VR and AR, such as medical care."

Interesting screen products

Before CES started, some foreign media said that the progress of TV may be a point worthy of attention at this CES. Several exhibitors interviewed by Geek Park this time were all impressed by the transparent TVs displayed at the LG booth.

LG spliced multiple transparent TVs together to form a large promotional sign. A reporter from Geek Park said the effect was very shocking.

In addition to the shocking exhibition itself, LG also further extended the display in the booth. "LG's booth tightly grasps the various applications that transparent screens can extend, including hotels, subways, camping, etc. It really makes people feel that they have seen the future and can actually implement it." Su Guanhua said.

In addition to transparent TV,Zeiss also demonstrated its developed transparent camera at CES.

You thought it was glass, but it was actually a camera｜Youtube channel 9민선생

In the future, what we see may be a piece of transparent glass, but it may be a screen, and it may also be capturing your picture at the same time.

There are few concept cars that are eye-catching

At this CES, the overall voice of automakers was relatively low. Most domestic automakers in the United States did not participate, and there were fewer concept cars that stood out.

In the display of concept cars, one of the important trends is to apply large-model technology to cars to carry out intelligent human-vehicle interaction.

Among concept cars, Xiaopeng’s flying car has attracted a lot of attention. "The flying car simulated taking off on site, which was really shocking." Alan, a frontline reporter interviewed by Geek Park, said. "The size feels much larger than when I swipe it on my mobile phone. It's not like a traditional car, but more like a land aircraft. I feel like foreigners were also shocked when they saw it."

Tesla's boring tunnel was also demonstrated at CES again this time. "Although Tesla drives very slowly in a cave, it is still a highlight of the experience. At least it is not boring." Zhang Zifeng ARK said.

In addition to passenger cars, an obvious trend this time is that autonomous driving is being implemented in more engineering machinery and household robots for autonomous walking. Colleagues in front of Geek Park saw a lot of related equipment on display.

A boat capable of autonomous driving｜Geek Park

Ebikes and smart glasses are new products on the rise

Su Guanhua said that at CES this time, it was obvious that Ebike had many more products.

According to a foreign media survey, at this CES, the sales of electric bicycles are surpassing the sales of electric cars.

Ebike is becoming an accelerating field that deserves more attention. About 44 million "e-bikes" were sold globally last year, and that number is expected to reach 77 million by 2030, according to market tracker Statista.

Another new product that has a clear rise in somatosensory experience at CES is smart glasses.

"The open sound system on smart glasses should be a new advancement compared to previous technology, and it is doing very well now. The product shape is like ordinary glasses, but the sound produced by the temples is very effective." A colleague from Geek Park said after experiencing it, "It sells for about US$200. The market demand is huge, the booth is well set up, and it is quite popular."

Su Guanhua also mentioned that he was deeply impressed by a similar product made by a European team: "The sound quality is really three-dimensional, and there is a matching device. When worn around the neck, it really feels like the entire sound feeling has changed, and there is a noise reduction effect."

Behind the "brain hole" products

The CES exhibition has always been famous for its large and comprehensive exhibition. For example, Alan, a frontline technology media reporter interviewed by Geek Park, took 40,000 steps per day during the exhibition. The watch kept alarming to indicate whether the user was running. "I'm not, I'm just catching up." Alan smiled.

CES has always been famous for immature and weird early products. For example, this time Kohler exhibited a smart toilet that cost more than $8,000. After experiencing it, a foreign media reporter said: "You can really only see such a product at CES."

At the same time, you can see a series of products such as AI toothbrushes, AI running shoes with wheels, AI pillows, AI mattresses, etc. at CES. It is very curious to see how the golden finger of the large model can produce different effects on these daily necessities. You can say that these products are hype concepts, or even complete "bullshit".

But in fact, it is precisely behind those "nonsense" products and those 3x3 booths that there may be real possibilities for large-scale model landing hardware.

Because, at this time when everyone is exploring the possibility of implementing large-scale models, those products that are truly "fun" and make people want to try them out are the ones that consumers are really willing to pay for. Those "makers" with a lot of imagination think about big words like "scale", "profit margin" and "return on investment". When there is still a long waiting period before large models enter people's lives, these "imagination" products are the things that ordinary people can most accept.

Just like CES, a "technology temple fair", it is always more fun to visit the exhibition and experience various novelty gadgets than to listen to strategic speeches by executives of large companies.

Author|LiYuan