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Legend
AI companions
AI companions are one of the biggest trends to emerge from the show this year. Loona — a $380 dog-like companion robot — has generated buzz for being the world’s first robot with built-in ChatGPT technology, allowing users to have conversations and interact with the device.People can play games with it, give it commands or use it as a moveable home monitor.
At the same time, LG’s two-legged companion robot Rosie is more like an AI assistant, with the ability to help out with chores around the house, by integrating with LG appliances and reminding people to take their medication.
Samsung’s buzzy Ballie robot, which was first shown off at CES in 2020, received a refresh. The device can follow users around the house to take phone calls, feed pets and project movies and video calls onto the floor or walls.
Meanwhile, startup Rabbit’s $199 R1 AI pocket-sized companion looks and acts differently from the rest: The walkie talkie-like gadget works alongside smartphone apps. By holding down a button, you can ask it to provide recipes, book flights and make calls.
Dipanjan Chatterjee, an analyst at Forrester Research, said while the simplicity of Rabbit’s gadget is reflective of the type of products that often gets a lot of attention at tech trade shows, it may be a challenge for it to resonate in everyday life.
“The idea of a natural language-driven single interface to manage life’s complexities is as endearing as it is impractical,” he said. “Getting consumers to carry one more device with yet another data plan is a big ask.”
AI task robots
Beyond companions, AI has made its way into nearly every appliance and gadget you could think of this year. There are robots that mow the lawn and plow the snow, and others such as Samsung’s latest lineup of AI-powered mops and vacuums that handle the indoor cleaning.AI has found its way into unlikely devices, too: Baracoda’s mental health mirror identifies your mood and gives daily affirmations to make you feel better. And the hyped Holobox allows people to talk to others in different parts of the world via an actual hologram, giving the impression you’re right there in the same room.
Apple accessories are getting AI, too. Belkin’s new Qi2 & DockKit Auto Tracking Stand is the first gadget to use Apple’s new DockKit framework, using the iPhone’s facial recognition technology to follow faces and body movements while filming videos (consider it a dream for TikTok influencers).
Generative AI hits more services
Beyond gadgets, companies shared their vision for an AI-powered future. Walmart said it is experimenting with a generative AI search tool for iOS users that will let them ask questions about what items to buy for certain occasions.Amazon gave updates on how some of its developers are integrating generative AI with their voice assistant, Alexa, including how users can now have conversations with different personas, including historical figures, via chatbot service Character.ai.
Chipmakers Nvidia and AMD also showed off new processors that focus on supporting advanced AI capabilities.
But perhaps some of the most impressive AI announcements came from automakers. Volkwagen said it will be adding ChatGPT to its lineup of cars later this year.
“This can be helpful on many levels during a car journey. Enriching conversations, clearing up questions, interacting in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information, and much more – purely hands-free,” the company said in a press release.
Mercedes Benz announced plans to upgrade their in-car voice experience using generative AI, too.
“Voice tech has struggled not because the idea was bad but because the capabilities were sorely lacking,” said Chatterjee. “Generative AI changes all of that. A no-brainer application for voice tech is in cars because there couldn’t be a worse occasion for using your hands for anything else but driving.”
, I do like the Jetsons reference giving us an optimistic vision of our future with AI. 
