Last week was the biggest technology trade show in North America, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Predictably, AI was one of the major themes of the show. A wide range of companies announced product integrations with large language models like GPT. Show-goers saw smart cars from Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW, smart glasses, e-bikes, robots (of course!), and even a talking toilet. But what does it all mean for marketers? Greg and Geoff discuss.
Volkswagon got a ton of attention, but not the other automakers. It seems that simply announcing an integration with an AI model is becoming commonplace and will lose impact over time.
Electronics manufacturers touted their “AI agents” — household robots meant to actively assist their owners, and AI device startup Rabbit won the hype prize (and sold millions of dollars worth of product as a result). But the question remains: Are agents actually capable of doing very much at all, right now? Finally, Greg and Geoff focused on the proliferation of AI capabilities on consumer edge devices, an indicator that AI will become ubiquitous in just about every area of our lives.
Putting all of this into perspective, the guys roll everything into four broad CES storylines:
- Integration of generative AI into various consumer products
- AI-driven automotive — from smarter cars to AI-enabled design and manufacturing
- AI agents, from chatbots to robots — AI that “does things” beyond assisting users in doing things for themselves
- Proliferation of AI into many edge consumer devices, like appliances, toys, tools, etc.
Episode Links and Resources
- Geoff and Greg merge their consulting practices to form CognitivePath, a new research and advisory firm focused on the intersection between marketing and AI – https://cognitivepath.com/
- Volkswagon integrates ChatGPT – https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/08/volkswagen-is-bringing-chatgpt-into-its-cars-and-suvs
- Mercedes adds chatbots to its car –
https://www.pcmag.com/news/ces-2024-mercedes-ai-assistant-has-4-emotions-access-to-chatgpt-maybe
- Solos integrates ChatGPT into its sunglasses – https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/headsets-microphones/these-chatgpt-powered-solos-smart-glasses-just-eliminated-the-language-barrier-at-ces-2024
- Urtopia brings ChatGPT to eBikes –
- https://www.bike-eu.com/46680/urtopia-to-show-next-level-chatgpt-e-bike-at-ces-las-vegas
- Sony, Honda, and Microsoft team on an AI car – https://venturebeat.com/ai/sony-honda-mobility-teams-with-microsoft-on-ai-for-afeela-car/
- Bosch integrates eye tracking for rearview mirrors – https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/08/ces-2024-everything-you-need-to-know/
- NVIDA launches its automotive initiative https://venturebeat.com/ai/nvidia-showcases-automotive-partners-and-generatie-ai-for-robotics/
- The super-hyped Rabbit R1 pocket AI device – https://venturebeat.com/ai/rabbit-unveils-r1-ai-pocket-companion-to-handle-tasks-for-you
- Samsung relaunches Ballie/AI for all – https://venturebeat.com/ai/samsung-forges-ahead-with-ai-for-all-message
- LG also launched an AI agent robot – https://mashable.com/article/ces-2024-lg-announcement-ai-agent-smart-home-robot
- Not to be left out, Amazon adds generative AI to Alexa – https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/09/amazons-alexa-gets-new-generative-ai-powered-experiences/
- NVIDIA also unveiled how its chips would empower AI on the Edge –https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/08/nvidia-rtx-4060-super-rtx-4070-ti-super-rtx-4080-super-announced.html
- Walmart AI unveiled a pragmatic shop-by-use-case AI to their mobile app – https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/09/walmart-debuts-generative-ai-search-and-ai-replenishment-features-at-ces/
- Just when we thought we’d seen it all, CES included the launch of the $3500 Perfecta AI grill, which promises chef level results in as little as 90 seconds. https://seergrills.com/
- A more niche use case included AI-powered birding binoculars – https://www.swarovskioptik.com/us/en/outdoor/products/binoculars/ax-visio/ax-visio-binoculars/ax-visio
- Finally, Kohler debuted a smart-a$$ toilet. https://www.engadget.com/kohlers-voice-controlled-bidet-seat-turns-your-dumb-toilet-into-a-luxurious-smart-throne-174934904.h
