FUTURE TECH: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang would give the keynote speech at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which is also expected to highlight autonomous vehicles

• AFP, LAS VEGAS
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Gadgets, robots and vehicles imbued with artificial intelligence (AI) would once again vie for attention at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, as vendors behind the scenes would seek ways to deal with tariffs threatened by US president-elect Donald Trump.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show opens formally in Las Vegas tomorrow, but preceding days are packed with product announcements.

AI would be a major theme of the show, along with autonomous vehicles ranging from tractors and boats to lawn mowers and golf club trollies.

“Everybody is going to be talking about AI,” Creative Strategies Inc analyst Carolina Milanesi said.

“From fridges to ovens to whatever, everybody is going to be mentioning AI whether it is there or not,” she said.

Nvidia Corp chief executive Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) would give a “do-not-miss” keynote speech on the eve of the CES show floor opening, touting innovations at the AI computer chip powerhouse, independent tech industry analyst Rob Enderle said.

Chip industry rivals Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Qualcomm Inc are expected to counter with news of their own.

CES would also be a gigantic auto show, with carmakers and those supplying components showing off self-driving and automated safety capabilities.

“CES has been an auto show for a while now and if anything, it is more so this year,” Techsponential LLC analyst Avi Greengart said.

While still far from being a part of everyday life, flying cars would be part of the CES scene, Enderle said.

“You should start seeing flying vehicles you can buy,” Enderle said. “Getting approval to fly them is a whole other matter.”

Robots designed to handle work tasks or be comforting companions — and even adorable pets — are among the promised CES exhibits.

Gadgets for calming the mind, beautifying the body or helping get a sound night’s sleep would also be on the show floor as tech continues to seep into every aspect of existence.

“Digital health is going to be huge,” Greengart said. “We are seeing a lot more tech being worn or used to track your health markers.”

Tariffs talked about by Trump would raise costs for imported items, and that would likely be on the minds of CES attendees targeting the US market, analysts said.

A lot of the products at the show have imported content, and if Trump hits Canada, China and Mexico with tariffs, it would mean a spike in prices, Enderle said.

“There would be a lot of concerned vendors at CES,” he said. “But a lot of the talk will happen behind closed doors to not anger the coming administration”

Discreet talk at CES would include how to navigate supply chain constraints that could be caused by tariffs, Greengart said.

Milanesi is keen to see whether China-based companies shun CES due to Trump’s trade rhetoric or flock to the show, because it might be years before they return.

“It will be interesting talking to the little guys from outside the US to get a feel for how they see the impact of four years of Trump and Musk on tech,” Milanesi said.

Chinese companies with significant US presences, such as smart television rivals TCL Corp and Hisense Electric Co (海信), would be at CES.

“They are going to be back, probably bigger and brighter than ever,” Greengart said of the TV makers.

“But there is also a growing bifurcation of market between China and the rest of the world that is most acute in the mobile market and the auto market with electric vehicles,” he added.

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