Returning to CES after a decade was quite an experience.
Everything remains the same as always.
I attended my first CES 15 years ago, and while I could clearly describe every detail back then, my memory has become more vague now. I remember that I missed my return flight during that first edition, and at the beginning, the presence of cameras was overwhelming, but over time, that trend diminished. The team dinners and the early meetings are part of my memories, although I can't recall the order of the events. What I do know is that, at those first CES events, I really had no idea what I was doing. The same feeling accompanied me on my subsequent visits, to varying degrees. My equipment consisted of a borrowed DSLR camera and a work BlackBerry, while I tried to wear elegant dresses and uncomfortable shoes for the evening events. Back then, Uber didn’t even exist, which meant waiting long hours in the taxi line at the airport.
This year, I broke an 11-year streak of not attending CES, which gave me a unique opportunity. It’s not common to observe something that has become routine from a renewed perspective. My task at CES 2025 is simple: stroll the exhibition hall, find interesting things, and post about them. I have taken this mission very seriously, limiting my meetings and wearing comfortable shoes to navigate the extensive aisles.
On the first day, I started in the West Hall. I found a Dunkin’ with a quickly moving line, many seating areas, and power outlets integrated into the booths. All of this contrasts with my memories of worn-out and crowded rest areas where I used to eat lunch on the floor. I eventually realized that this area simply didn’t exist during my last visit to the Vatican City. I planned to take a quick round and then head to the Central Hall, but I was drawn to some gigantic tractors.
These types of displays were not present in 2014. They were colossal, and only a few of them were typical tractors. One of the first ones I saw was an autonomous dump truck, as explained to me by a representative from John Deere. There was no particular reason for it to be there, but it was fascinating. After 40 minutes of taking pictures with the tractors, a garbage truck, and an electric fire truck, I returned to the starting point to look for robots.
Each edition of CES usually presents "the theme of the year." I remember when 3D televisions were showcased. This year, the focus is on robots: both physical ones and those integrated into software. Robots that pick up shoelaces, climb stairs, or are simply adorable. Additionally, they all seem to incorporate some form of artificial intelligence, from televisions to glasses, regardless of their necessity. Although robots are not a novelty at CES, those this year seem truly useful, although their reliability may vary. I observed one of those small robots fall off a table just as it was running towards my colleague. Its caretaker picked it up, assuring us it was "durable." I’m convinced we don’t need to worry about them as potential "lords of evil."
Navigating through Las Vegas during the show, which gathers around 140,000 attendees, remains a challenge. Despite the transportation innovations of the past decade, the situation hasn’t improved. I found myself needing to walk between different venues to avoid traffic. At one point, I opted to share a Tesla with other attendees, and we descended the Vegas Loop, a brief and slightly futuristic experience that saved me a long walk. However, remaining on a bus that slowly moved through cycles of red lights was frustrating.
Outside the convention center, I noticed changes in Las Vegas over the last decade, although some things remained the same. Tourists still line up along the gondola route, and men continue to hand out cards for questionable entertainment. As I walked, I heard a woman mention my name, which would have made me stop in the past, but now I realize she had merely read my ID. In Las Vegas, your attention is a valuable currency.
Nonetheless, there is a new attraction on the Strip that becomes impossible to ignore: the Sphere. During one of my meetings in a suite overlooking the Sphere, we paused our conversation to watch an animation where it seemed like an alien was breaking through the glass to get out. One of the highlights of my second day at the show was attending Delta's keynote at the Sphere (it’s "Sphere," not "the Sphere," Delta clarifies). It’s not the first time it has been used as a CES venue, but it is the first main presentation in this location. The show was impressive, utilizing the Sphere's large interior screen and special effects. An airplane approached the audience, and as it turned, a wind effect simulated the engines. A hazelnut coffee aroma was also released during the presentation, adding a sensory dimension.
Finally, as the lights dimmed, the screen displayed an image of planet Earth as a huge floating crystal sphere. Although it was merely a visual effect, my mind was tricked into believing in the real presence of that object. While I’m aware that details from this CES will fade away over time, I will remember the feeling it left me with. Sometimes, no matter how experienced one is at these fairs, there’s always room for wonder. However, I don’t have high hopes that those concept cars will ever materialize.