3 Trends From CES That Could Blow Up in 2024

More than 100,000 people descended on Las Vegas this week for the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, where they got a glimpse at the future of business and technology. While artificial intelligence predictably dominated the conversation for a second year in a row, other developments, including solar cells capable of capturing power from indoor light, also made a splash. 

Here’s what to be on the lookout for in 2024. 

1. AI for Everything 

Artificial intelligence was impossible to ignore at CES, with hundreds of companies showing off their efforts to automate everything from financial analysis to grilling steaks. One of the most unique AI uses we saw at the show included Moonwalkers, a line of robotic wheeled shoes from Austin-based startup Shift Robotics. The Moonwalkers measure a user’s walking gait and use that information to adjust the speed of the wheels in real-time. Company reps say the Moonwalkers are currently being used by warehouse workers in Sweden and Florida. 

2. The End of Disposable Batteries 

Several businesses at CES debuted new solar cell technology, which they hope could put the final nail in the coffin of disposable batteries. Swedish company Exeger showed off Powerfoyle, its proprietary flexible solar cell technology, capable of powering consumer electronics like TV remotes and headphones using nothing but light, indoor or outdoor. In addition to the obvious marketing hook of never having to charge your device or buy batteries again, solar cells could solve a major societal problem: According to battery recycling services provider Cibra Solutions, around three billion batteries are improperly disposed of each year in America. 

3. AI on the Edge 

While large language models like ChatGPT have captured the imagination of entrepreneurs around the world, many AI use cases don’t actually require such powerful and high-expense solutions. And for products like internet-of-things devices or self-driving vehicles, users often can’t afford to wait for data to be processed in the cloud. That’s where edge AI, or the process of deploying an AI system directly on a device, comes in. Dutch startup Axelera was at CES showing off Metis, its video analytics platform that can analyze visual information in real time without using the cloud.