“The resurgence of CES proves that face-to-face conversations and meetings are a necessity for the technology industry,” said Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “For more than 20 years, I’ve said that every company must become a tech company, and the diversity of exhibitors at CES 2024 proves it. The CES footprint and conference programming span the entire tech ecosystem.”

Every year, CES transforms ‘The Entertainment Capital of the World’ into ‘The Tech Capital of the World’, bringing some of the biggest players in the industry, as well as the most innovative startups, all to one city. In terms of exhibition space, the 2024 iteration of the event was 15% bigger than the year before, including over 4,300 exhibitors, with over 1,400 of those startups within Eureka Park.

“CES 2024 brought the ALL ON experience for media, executives and industry thought leaders. Across the show and on CES conference stages, thousands of global brands announced new visions, products, investments and partnerships,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA Sr. VP, CES and membership. “Technology is solving global challenges, and we’re excited to see so many collaborations and partnerships start here in Las Vegas, and produce a show where attendees come to meet, dream and solve.”

Startups and Emerging Technologies

The startups in attendance were what we here at Startups Magazine were the most interested in. CES always provides a platform, in the form of an entire section of the show called Eureka Park, for startups and emerging technologies. This segment of the show highlighted the innovative ideas and products that are highly likely to disrupt the market in the near future.

Walking around Eureka Park at CES allows you to identify the emerging trends in the market and see the brand new technologies that are soon to take the world by storm. This year, amongst many other sectors that seemed to be gaining momentum, was of course AI, but as well as this, haptics and robotics seemed to be all the rage. Whilst there were themes that were seen throughout the park, it seemed like startups innovating in these fields were in abundance. The robotics startups included robots that are to be used in the medtech field, as well as in construction, and hospitality, and the startups showcasing haptics weren’t boxed in by just ‘gaming’, they had other uses such as stroke rehabilitation, and use in fitness. Usually, the trends that are seen at CES predict the general startup landscape for the rest of the year, so maybe this will be the year that startups working in these fields are due to take off.

There wasn’t only Eureka Park for startups. There were plenty of pitching stages and days for startups of all kinds to get involved in. One of these was The CTA Foundation pitch contest. The CTA Foundation pitch contest invited eight startups to pitch their healthtech to a standing-room-only audience. Augmental was crowned the Grand Prize winner, and Proxy Health, the winner of the audience choice and patient safety prizes.

The highlights and takeaways

Artificial Intelligence – It’s no surprise that AI and machine learning continued to be at the forefront of technological advancement and led the conversation at CES 2024. Exhibitors showcased applications ranging from intelligent personal assistants to advanced data analytics tools, demonstrating AI's expanding role in various aspects of life and business.

Human Security for All - CES established access to technology as the eighth pillar of the Human Security for All (HS4A) global campaign, which focuses on the critical role technology plays in improving every aspect of the human experience. Technology is recognised as a driving force for the future, fuelling solutions to global challenges. At CES, Force for Good unveiled a new report during the CES Research Summit, focusing on the impact of technology on human security. In line with the Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA) CES 2024 Tech Trends to Watch, the report highlighted that universal connectivity and the application of AI across various aspects of human securities can significantly improve our world.

Innovation Policy Summit - During a period marked by global unpredictability and swift advancements in technology, government leaders expressed a hopeful perspective on regulation aimed at fostering technological innovation, particularly in AI. Over 160 international, federal, state, and local government officials and staff took part in the Leaders in Technology Programme and IPS. These forums brought together innovators and policymakers to engage in discussions about the future of critical technology policy issues. Key topics included privacy, health innovation, trade policy, competition, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles.

Accessibility and Innovation for All - CES 2024 provided a platform focused on universal design, bringing together the diverse technology industry to discuss the upcoming wave of innovation. The event included sessions on diversity within the tech sector, highlighting a range of new technologies poised to enhance lives, as well as developments in accessible gaming. Additionally, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced a new investment partnership with TFX Capital, aimed at supporting veteran entrepreneurs in the technology field.

In conclusion, CES 2024 was a vibrant showcase of the latest and most exciting developments in the world of technology. The event not only provided a glimpse into the future of technology but also demonstrated how these advancements are becoming increasingly integral to our daily lives and businesses. As the technology landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, CES remains a key indicator of the trends and transformations to anticipate in the coming years.