Electrification, AI, and Autonomy: Tech Takeaways from CES 2024

AI-created, human-edited.

The future is electric, autonomous, and AI-powered. At least according to the trends on display at CES 2024, the coveted global stage for tech innovation.

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ took to the show floor to give his breakdown of the themes shaping the future of consumer tech. He highlighted four major trends: the explosion of off-grid and portable power solutions, the prevalence of electric vehicles, the ubiquity of AI integration, and the emergence of autonomous resource extraction ecosystems.

On the electrification front, Fr. Robert noted the plethora of battery packs, solar power units, and other portable power products aimed at powering everything from tiny homes to gardening tools. Interesting startups like Runhood display the potential for modular, flexible home energy systems through their interchangeable battery packs.

The range of electric vehicles stretched far and wide, from cars to planes to boats and everything in between. Fr. Robert called out Kia's modular PBV electric van concept, allowing customized configurations as an indicator of the creativity electrification has spurred.

AI was unsurprisingly everywhere, sometimes in gimmicky implementations like AI-powered trash cans. But Fr. Robert highlighted innovations like Baliston's AI smart shoes analyzing gait and suggesting improvements as positive examples of AI's assistance potential.

Capping it off was Hyundai's vision of an autonomous resource extraction ecosystem with AI/telepresence-controlled power generation, mining, and transport. This demonstrates the culmination of electrification, autonomy, and AI in action.

While amusing AI products may fall to the wayside, Fr. Robert sees the staying power in electrification and AI as trends continuing to shape CES innovations for years to come. The future is electric and intelligent.
 

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