CES 2024 is here! The TechCrunch team is in Las Vegas this week to take in all of the action and decipher what it means to you. You already know what we’re expecting, so sit back, relax and stay tuned throughout the week as we bring you the products, announcements and startup news that you need to know.
Kicking off the first day are some bigger announcements from companies, including Nvidia, LG and Samsung. Here are all the ways you can watch live.
And here’s how you can follow along with our team’s coverage.
Kia’s new modular EV van lineup
Kia PBV Concept Lineup
Kia’s new EV vans come with a modular twist. In addition to using a modular powertrain, the vehicles will also have modular tops that allow for many different cabin options. But they remained vague on pricing, specs and expected launch dates for this new fleet of commercial EVs. Read more.
Samsung brings back Ballie; renews green initiative
Image Credits: Samsung
Meet the new and improved Ballie, Samsung Electronic’s home robot, which it previewed today. It’s around the size of a bowling ball with a battery designed to last two to three hours. Ballie sports a spatial lidar sensor to help it navigate rooms and obstacles, as well as 1080p projector with two lenses that allows the robot to project movies and video calls even act as a second PC monitor. Learn more.
Expanding beyond cute, rolling robots, Samsung showcased its wider initiatives for connected homes. Aside from expected UI and feature updates for its existing SmartThings home automation platform, Samsung showed off a “map view” for users, that creates an interactive home map that even includes animated avatars of residents and pets. Learn more.
Also, Samsung devoted some of its keynote speech to its commitment of sustainability. “We start by incorporating recycled materials into some of our most loved products, such as recycled fishing nets in our Galaxy,” said Inhee Chung, VP of corporate sustainability at Samsung. “Smartphones, recycled plastic in our TVs, and recycled aluminum in our bespoke refrigerators. Recycled plastic accounted for 14% of the total plastic used in our products in 2022. And we’re working towards increasing this amount.” Read more.
X1 Interpreter Hub: A new real-time translator
Image Credits: Timekettle
Timekettle announced the X1 Interpreter Hub, a more robust solution, designed for meetings. Timekettle calls it “the world’s first multi-language simultaneous interpretation system.” The system works out of the box, without having to download a separate app. For in-person meetings, two devices are touched together to initiate conversation translation. The handheld devices house earbuds, similar to past Timekettle products. All told, the X1 is capable of supporting up to 20 people at once in five different languages. Read more.
LG’s transparent television
LG Signature OLED T. Image Credits: LG
Televisions aren’t naturally pretty or used as a design feature, but LG Electronics is out to change that perception. Today, consumer technology giant unveiled what it touts is “the world’s first” wireless transparent OLED TV. The LG Signature OLED T combines a transparent 4K OLED screen with LG’s wireless video and audio transmission technology.
Breathe easy with bio-engineered houseplants
Neoplants at CES 2024. Image Credits: Haje Kamps / TechCrunch
French startup Neoplants is showing off its progress with its houseplants that work as air purifiers designed for the home. The bio-engineered plants can, according to the company, replace 20 “regular” houseplants, as measured by how many pollutants the plants can remove from the air.
More from Samsung: bigger, foldier, more rollable displays
Image Credits: Samsung
Ahead of Samsung Electronics’ press conference later today, we look at some of its product plans that include a “new generation of products that can be folded inward and outward,” along with “monitor-sized” folding and sliding OLEDs. Samsung also unveiled a “Transparent MICRO LED” display for the first time.
Nvidia gets its game on
GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. Image Credits: Nvidia
Today, Nvidia gets into artificial intelligence in a big way with the unveiling of its GeForce RTX, including the GeForce RTX 40 Super series of desktop graphics cards. Much of these are meant for gaming, and Nvidia said 14 titles will get the RTX upgrade treatment, including Horizon Forbidden West, Pax Dei, and Diablo IV. The RTX 4080 Super starts at $999.
More chip updates from AMD
Speaking of chips, AMD debuted its new Ryzen 8000G processors for the desktop, with a big focus on their AI capabilities.
Bosch’s in-car eye-tracking
Image Credits: Bosch
Bosch is showing off two technologies this week in eye-tracking while driving: One will see that you have tired eyes and ask if you need an espresso when you arrive home. If yes, its connect technology will tell your fancy machine to have one ready. The other is a bit more complicated in that it’s developed to track what you’re looking at as you drive.
Smart cooking
Image Credits: Haje Kamps (opens in a new window) / TechCrunch (opens in a new window)
We have a collection of small home appliances for the kitchen, from grills to smart microwaves and everything in between, that is sure to get you cooking this year, if you aren’t already.
ChatGPT in Volkswagen
Image Credits: Volkswagen
The German automaker plans to add an AI-powered chatbot into all Volkswagen models equipped with its IDA voice assistant. For now, it’s not available in the U.S.
Apple Vision Pro to go on sale February 2
Image Credits: Apple
And Apple, in a surprise announcement preempting CES, stole some of the show’s thunder by announcing the Vision Pro will be available in the U.S. The consumer electronics giant confirmed that the Vision Pro will be available in the U.S. starting February 2. Pre-orders for the $3,500 spatial computing device open Friday, January 19.
Some companies made announcements ahead of the big event. Check out what’s already made headlines:
Withings’ new multiscope device checks vitals for telehealth visits
Invoxia has a new smart collar suitable for both cats and dogs
This app lets restaurants and coffee shops charge to use the bathroom
Aurora and Continental pass first major hurdle in commercial self-driving trucks deal
This startup is bringing a ‘voice frequency absorber’ to CES 2024
For just $139, this startup turns your iPhone into a BlackBerry-era relic
Qualcomm next-gen XR chip promises up to 4.3K resolution per eye
Urbanista integrates Powerfoyle tech with solar-powered headphones
Moonwalker robotic shoes get lighter and smarter
