CES 2024 ideas and methods: A information to tech’s greatest commerce present

CES 2024 is coming again to Las Vegas the week of January 7, and it ought to be one of many greatest tech occasions on the earth once more.

This yr, the organizers of CES 2024 anticipate greater than 130,000 attendees by January 12, with lots of of audio system, 3,500-plus exhibitors and a pair of.4 million sq. ft of exhibit area to. Amongst this yr’s options: The Goodyear blimp will present up.

I attended the Shopper Electronics Present again within the Nineteen Nineties when then-Microsoft CEO Invoice Gates gave the opening keynote speeches yearly. Las Vegas has modified quite a bit since then, however a few of my recommendation in regards to the present goes again to these good outdated days.

“We’re very excited. All the symptoms and indicators are pointing in an excellent route. We focus CES on innovation, mentioned Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Shopper Expertise Affiliation (CTA), in an interview with GamesBeat. “The items are coming collectively larger than they ever have. We’ve extra improvements entries by about 40%. It looks like extra pleasure. Extremely robust pre-registration. A variety of numbers are up from final yr. We really feel nice.”

My No. 1 tip is to all the time put on comfy sneakers. I discovered that lesson after some blisters throughout a CES years in the past. As for a masks, I don’t know. I’ll put on one myself. However issues have modified because the present was canceled outright in January 2021 and severely restricted in January 2022, with solely 45,000 displaying up. A yr in the past, CES 2023 turned out to be an excellent present with 118,000 attendees.

A lot of my recommendation shouldn’t be rocket science. However I renew this story yearly since there are new individuals attending the present and lots of going again for the primary time. I take no duty for unhealthy recommendation. I even have new ideas, like pointing you to the CES 2024 app on iOS and Android.

Attendance shouldn’t be fairly the place it as soon as was. Again in 2019, the present drew 175,212 in 2019 and 171,268 in 2020. CES 2020 had about 4,500 exhibitors throughout 2.9 million sq. ft of area. Fortuitously, the celebrities aligned so the occasion is within the second week of January, slightly than the primary week. That ought to enhance attendance, mentioned Shapiro on the CTA, which runs the present.

Must you go?

It’s an enormous present, and, in contrast to the gaming trade’s canceled E3 present, it’s nonetheless related. Final yr, there have been 4,800 media attending CES 2023, up from 3,100 media at CES 2022. About 1,600 of the media had been from abroad. There have been additionally 14,013 presidents and founders, or 11.8% of all attendees, in accordance with an audited report.

Of the 41,869 worldwide guests from 151 nations final yr, 5,232 had been from Canada, 11,314 from Europe, 23,521 from the Center East/Asia, 1,104 from South America, 508 from Oceania and 190 from Africa. There have been 1,472 enterprise capitalists.

The highest areas of curiosity had been AI, IoT/sensors, car know-how, AR/VR/XR, smarthomes and home equipment, 5G, robotics, startups, power/energy, health and wearables and advertising and promoting.

I nonetheless view CES as a bellwether for the tech financial system, as no different occasion spans the whole tech world prefer it does. Firms need to create a buzz at CES, which is designed to sign merchandise coming within the subsequent yr. I discover the present a helpful solution to keep on top of things on the newest know-how. If you happen to discover the well being threat acceptable, then it could actually nonetheless be a useful solution to keep in contact.

Apple doesn’t attend the present, however nearly each different tech large does. It’s the place the tech trade shall be subsequent week, although it’s not a lot of a recreation occasion today. Sony, nevertheless, shall be displaying up and you’ll wager they’ll speak extra about their Afeela electrical automotive on the present.

This yr, CES advises you to get a flu shot, get vaccinated in opposition to COVID or replace your booster, and take a look at for COVID (and different infectious ailments particular to your area) and isolate if contaminated.

The CTA mentioned that since 2020, the venues have been geared up with improved air flow and contemporary air circulate.

The Las Vegas Conference Heart, Mandalay Bay and the Venetian Expo have been awarded International Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR certification by ISSA. This accreditation means the properties are observing cleansing protocols and work practices that decrease dangers related to the unfold of infectious ailments. 

This yr, CES will work to attenuate floor contact factors and enhance contemporary airflow at high-traffic areas.  Hand sanitization stations shall be positioned all through CES venues.  Masks can be found onsite. If you happen to select to not put on one, please respect these round you who do, the CTA says.

As of Could 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant guests to the U.S. arriving by air, or arriving by land or sea, not want to indicate proof of full vaccination in opposition to COVID-19.  Final yr, such proof of vaccination was required for worldwide vacationers, and CES offered fast antigen checks as effectively.

The CTA mentioned it can proceed to observe well being developments throughout the globe and can observe well being security tips from the WHO and CDC, in addition to relevant federal, state and native legal guidelines.

Getting your badge and entering into the present

You must work within the tech trade to get into the present. It’s a spot for professionals, not vacationers, and registration is designed to display screen the vacationers out.

With 130,000 individuals on the present, you don’t need to get caught in lengthy strains. You possibly can keep away from the primary huge line by choosing up your badge by displaying your ID and present registration early — as early as January 5. You may get your CES badge on the baggage declare areas of the airport and a lot of the venues.

The CTA mentioned its safety measures imply attendees will face a bag search on the entrance to all present venues. All baggage are topic to go looking and steel wand screening. As well as, attendees might carry two small baggage, every smaller than 12”x17”x6” into present venues.

Attendees are inspired to think about their bag sort and use clear baggage (mesh, plastic, vinyl, and so forth.) to expedite entry. Rolling baggage of any dimension are prohibited together with baggage, carry-ons, laptop computer and pc baggage, and rolling baggage carts.

Media with an official media badge are permitted to hand-carry tools onto present premises in extra of our two-bag restriction. This tools is topic to go looking and tagged as permitted for entry.

If you happen to do have heavier baggage, you’ll be able to examine them at locations just like the Las Vegas Conference Heart Central Plaza and West Corridor exterior areas.

Peak instances for CES crowds

The press occasions begin late on January 7 and proceed all day on January 8.

Siemens CEO Roland Busch will kick off the present at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time on the Venetian Palazzo Ballroom on Monday January 8. The massive keynotes are often attended by crowds of 1000’s.

Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal, will give a keynote on January 9 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific the subsequent morning, adopted by the CTA’s opening phrases from Shapiro. Such a non-traditional, non-tech firm giving a keynote suits with a pattern at CES, the place know-how is fading into the woodwork.

Different huge audio system embody Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap; Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart; Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel; Gail Boudreaux, CEO of Elevance Well being; Kisun Chung, CEO of HD Hyundai; Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm; Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq; and Corie Barry, CEO of Greatest Purchase.

Press days

As I discussed, the press day will begin on Sunday January 7 with a chat (solely press allowed) by the CTA’s Jessica Boothe and Brian Comiskey on tech developments to look at. That may result in the press-only occasion, CES Unveiled, at 5 p.m. on the Mandalay Bay. That’s the place we get a primary have a look at the award winners for the CTA innovation contest.

Then comes (for the media) a baptism of fireside beginning on Monday at 8 a.m. Pacific with LG’s press convention. It peaks with Samsung’s press occasion at 2 p.m. and continues on to Sony’s 5 p.m. press occasion on the Las Vegas Conference Heart. These press occasions occur in fast hearth and it’s an actual problem to maintain up with the information. Fortuitously, most of the occasions are livestreamed for non-press to look at.

That is the day once I want the laptop computer with the longest battery life. (Sure, that’s nonetheless a problem). If you happen to’re into leisure and tech points, you could need to get to the Aria. Over on the Aria, there’s a a panel on the AI menace with SAG-AFTRA’s Danielle Van Lier at 2 p.m., the identical time as Samsung’s press occasion.

There may be additionally an enormous press-only social gathering at Pepcom’s Digital Expertise on the Mirage (RSVPs required) on January 8, and the rival Showstoppers press-only social gathering takes place on the Bellagio on the night of January 9.

This yr, Tuesday is when the actual crowds present up, and also you’ll discover it in eating places, transportation strains, conference halls, on line casino flooring, and on the airport. Let’s hope the climate shall be good, in distinction to the torrential rains we noticed in 2018, when blackouts took out the primary present ground.

If you happen to’re leaving the conference focus on 6 p.m., you’ll be able to catch a bus to a lot of the main inns. That’s a good way to get off your ft and the strains can transfer quick. However that’s additionally the busiest site visitors time. You’ll must stroll (maybe a great distance) to designated areas for Uber/Lyft ride-sharing pickup zones. And there’s the monorail to think about as effectively for some inns.

Getting misplaced within the maze

The two.4 million-plus sq. ft of exhibition area will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday January 9.

The venues embody Tech East, which incorporates the Las Vegas Conference and World Commerce Heart (LVCC), Westgate Las Vegas, and Renaissance Las Vegas.

Tech West consists of the Venetian Expo, The Venetian, The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn.

Tech South consists of the Aria, Cosmopolitan, Park MGM and Vdara.

If you happen to’re actually formidable, you may be strolling 30,000 steps a day, about three to 6 instances as a lot as traditional. For me, exhaustion units in round 20,000 steps. If you happen to can minimize some pointless strolling out of your day, that may be smart to do.

You can begin by attending to know the areas. The LVCC Central Corridor is the place a variety of the massive corporations are, comparable to LG, Panasonic, Canon, Samsung, Sony, Razer, Nikon, TCL, Hisense, Sharp, RCA, and one in every of my favorites, Stern Pinball.

The North Corridor has a variety of auto tech, well being demos and authorities businesses. They embody the likes of Withings, Abbot Labs, Amazon, NSA, TSA, Honda, EssilorLuxottiaca, which has the Ray-Ban Meta good glasses.

The West Corridor consists of a variety of car know-how. You’ll see flying automobiles, levitating boats, all-electric automobiles, autonomous autos and John Deere tractors. The corridor consists of the likes of Hyundai, Brunswick, Mobileye, Qualcomm, Garmin and Bridgestone.

Over on the Venetian, there are greater than 1,000 startups that shall be at Eureka Park. Tech West is a bunch of pavilions on the Venetian. There are tons of startups on Degree 1. You will discover regional cubicles comparable to these from France, India, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and extra. On Degree 2, yow will discover AARP AgeTech, Kohler, Hyundai, Narwal, and extra.

Probably the most regularly visited halls at LVCC was the South Corridor, however this yr the multi-level corridor is closed.

In Tech South, at Aria Lodge, yow will discover C House, which is the place there are a variety of talks about Hollywood and know-how. The Cosmopolitan has Cosmo exhibitors that embody Nvidia, Disney, Paramount, NBC Common, Netflix, Reddit, Roku, Samsung, T-Cellular, and Snap.

What’s trending and what’s not

Whereas blockchain and the metaverse had been huge themes the yr earlier than, they’re not as modern right this moment. This time, AI goes to command a variety of consideration.

“[AI is] the highest of the checklist when it comes to dialogue,” mentioned Shapiro in our interview. “How corporations will exhibit that, we’ll uncover after we get there. However it’s undoubtedly enjoying a serious function. It’s a key ingredient in nearly every little thing from well being care to mobility. That’s necessary.”

Shapiro additionally highlighted the presence of the United Nations, which was additionally on the present a yr in the past with a concentrate on seven human securities or human rights. That features issues like the correct to well being care, to meals, to wash air and water, to group. The UN additionally added the correct to know-how.

Requested about AI’s affect on society, Shapiro mentioned, ” Just a little over a yr in the past OpenAI was launched to the general public. However since then, clearly, Google and others have come ahead. Microsoft simply introduced that they’re going to be working with AFL-CIO, I consider, on AI and its impact on jobs. There are a variety of points to unravel. One is the affect on jobs. One other is how it may be used ethically and safely. One other is how we may gain advantage as a society. We’ll discuss a variety of these points at CES.”

Past AI, transportation is huge, and it accounts for greater than 500,000 sq. ft of the present, up from 300,000 in 2020. There’s a 61% enhance in car tech displays since 2020, with most of it in a packed West Corridor. There are additionally electrical scooters and drones that carry individuals.

Innovation is of course an enormous theme, with a 40% enhance in entrants for the innovation contest. One other huge theme is sustainability. And there are extra applied sciences aimed toward older individuals and folks with disabilities. The top of AARP will converse. And accessibility of know-how to all individuals shall be in style as a subject, Shapiro mentioned.

Regulators shall be current, and Shapiro mentioned he’s involved that the U.S. has change into too aggressive in blocking mergers for antitrust causes. He worries that the Biden administration is anti-innovation. Among the many coverage discussions, Shapiro expects the rise of geopolitics shall be a subject of dialog, as wars and different obstacles are halting commerce in additional components of the world. Shapiro stays involved about international conflicts and the potential to disrupt the world financial system.

Will cryptocurrency and blockchain be on the present ground? Or the metaverse. These ideas will little doubt be current, however they is probably not as sizzling as they had been in years previous, given rising skepticism in regards to the classes.

I requested the CTA if the metaverse and blockchain had been overhyped, and in the event that they’re nonetheless sizzling developments on the present ground.

Brian Comiskey, CTA director of thematic applications (and one of many two CTA employees who shall be presenting Tech Traits on the upcoming CES 2024) weighed in on the reply.

“A great way to consider tech development for later stage hype-cycle applied sciences like metaverse and blockchain is as a balancing act between customers and enterprise. These teams usually have completely different units of expectations round know-how,” Comiskey mentioned in an e-mail to GamesBeat. “Whereas metaverse and blockchain might have fallen out of reports headlines after enormous preliminary client hype, we’re seeing innovation in each from enterprises, and also you’ll see these improvements driving a variety of sectors ahead at CES 2024.”

Comiskey added, “For blockchain, nice examples at CES 2024 embody a safe voting system from Zkrypto, Lordystem’s Journey. PASS cellular passport and tech from Galeon designed to assist hospitals and caregivers securely share medical information. For metaverse, anticipate improvements like Dassault Systemes’ Residing Coronary heart, which opens new doorways to R&D centered on the human coronary heart, improvements from Siemens my within the industrial metaverse and a variety of auxiliary {hardware} designed to help a extra immersive metaverse expertise.”

Your CES survival ideas

A lot of the following pointers are recycled from previous years, however I’ve gone by and renewed them with my newest information. As I discussed, it’s laborious to get round at CES. You need to hold appointments to a half hour however notice that it takes time to stroll between venues. You might encounter delays as a result of different individuals are not on time. And you could even have hassle discovering individuals at massive cubicles. So, it’s good to pad your schedule to account for doable delays and isolate the actually necessary appointments.

The CES badges now have pictures on them, streamlining identification and making it more durable for individuals to share badges. Since they’re paper badges (plastic eradicated within the identify of sustainability), it’s a must to watch out to not lose them.

In your crowded flights, attempt to journey mild. For Southwest, I all the time examine in forward of boarding, setting an alarm for precisely 24 hours earlier than my flight. Test your baggage in the event you don’t must get wherever rapidly. Be ready for lengthy cab strains and rental automotive check-in strains. (Providers like Uber and Lyft had been very helpful at CES, significantly as parking shouldn’t be plentiful sufficient and the massive casinos/inns now cost a payment per go to at their self-parking garages). I don’t hire a automotive anymore.

I like to recommend sleep. If the events are what you care about, there are sometimes social gathering lists that flow into. Right here’s one which I’ve seen. These events usually require distinctive invites and RSVPs.  Amazon is internet hosting its After Darkish CES ’24 social gathering with Ludacris on January 9 at 8 p.m. Pacific. At 10 p.m., Steve Aoki will carry out at Caesars Omnia Nightclub, which can seemingly have an insane wall of wall-to-wall individuals. There are all the time plentiful movie star sightings at CES.

Bear in mind to swap telephone numbers with the individuals you’re assembly so you’ll be able to coordinate, significantly as somebody is often held up by the crowds. Incorporate driving and consuming instances into your calendar or use a calendar that does that robotically for you.

Smartphone reception is healthier than it was once, nevertheless it’s nonetheless most likely vulnerable to interference. Textual content message is often an honest solution to talk with coworkers. We all the time search out the Wi-Fi/5G havens within the press rooms or wherever we are able to discover them.

However carry a MiFi or activate a private hotspot in the event you can; even lodge web connections are more likely to be pressured to the restrict throughout the present. If you happen to’re chargeable for importing video, thanks for clogging the community for the remainder of us. By CES 2023, I hopefully gained’t must complain about this, as 5G networks ought to theoretically allow sooner connection speeds on mobile information.

If you happen to gather a variety of swag, you’ll be able to ship it house by way of delivery providers as a substitute of carting it on the aircraft. You need to print a map of the exhibit ground or rip one out of the present information. You also needs to print your tickets, schedule, and RSVPs for occasions — or make them simply accessible in your telephone. (If somebody steals your main bag, you need to have backups in a second bag).

You want battery backup to your laptop computer or smartphone, hand sanitizer, an excellent digital camera, ibuprofen, and nutritional vitamins. I’ve received a Dynabook laptop computer this yr, and presumably a Macbook if I determine to lug it alongside as a backup. Deliver a backup for every little thing, even when it’s a must to depart it in your lodge room this yr.

I used to advocate taking enterprise playing cards. However these can carry germs and who needs that now? Now you’ll be able to swap your LinkedIn credentials with individuals by way of your smartphone. If you happen to’re exhibiting, put on your organization model in your shirt. Strive very laborious to keep away from shedding your telephone. I put on a jacket with zippered pockets so I can put my telephone and pockets inside.

Make a while to stroll the present ground. If the cab/rideshare strains have you ever pissed off, don’t take into consideration strolling to a close-by lodge. Chances are high the cab line there may be additionally unhealthy, and the inns are so enormous {that a} mirage impact makes them look deceptively shut. When you’ve got a rental automotive, strive to not get caught in a site visitors jam in a 10-story parking storage. And all the time mark down the place you parked your automotive in your telephone map or paper.

Uber and Lyft automobiles are actually the way in which to journey now. However in previous years I discovered that the pickup on the LVCC (close to the Renaissance Lodge) was a site visitors logjam. So, it may be powerful it doesn’t matter what you do.

Schedule your appointments in areas which might be close to one another, and examine exhibitor areas on a CES map. Arrive early for keynotes as a result of the strains are lengthy. I don’t usually stray past LVCC/WestHall/TechWest/Venetian because of the time it takes to get different locations.

Drink numerous water. Get some sleep — you actually don’t must social gathering each night time. Don’t miss your flight on the way in which out. Pack up a bunch of snacks early on to keep away from getting caught in breakfast or lunch strains. Take a smartphone with an excellent digital camera as a result of what occurs in Vegas … will get shared on the web.

For more information, try Martine Paris’ CES preview.