Putting a shrimp on the barbie is going high tech with an AI-enhanced barbeque among a bevvy of artificial intelligence-enhanced products unveiled at the world’s biggest consumer tech trade show in Las Vegas.
The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2024 showcases new tech on the drawing board or coming to market, and this year, around 10 percent of the 8600 media releases counted by PR Newswire mention generative AI. Artificial intelligence is making its way into cars, especially electric vehicles, homes and even the bathroom, with Kohler’s latest smart toilet incorporating the Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice assistants. You can use voice commands to activate various functions such as the bidet spray or cleaning option.
Seergrill claims its Perfecta is the world’s first AI-powered grill and, if so, could radically upgrade the iconic experience of the great Australian barbeque. Seergrill’s video where a novice cook using the Perfecta plays off against an experienced manual barbeque master looks impressive with cooking times cut by 90 percent, but beware, it’s unclear what AI achieves here? Until Seergrill reveals all, the Perfecta could be just an upmarket air fryer variant that’s capable of cooking at incredibly hot temperature. You need to carefully assess whether any AI claim here is a genuine advancement or just marketing hype.
Nevertheless AI has replaced Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse and even the pressing issue of cybersecurity as the coolest new factor at CES and it’s everywhere. One of the most important of these is AI and cars. A few years ago, the Detroit Car Show was the preeminent reveal for news cars and innovation in north America, however CES has taken on some of this role with the advent of electric vehicles, whether they be EVs, boats, flying machines or even tractors. The Metaverse and extended reality will get some traction with manufacturers showcasing next generation VR/AR glasses that are lightweight compared to their predecessors yet offering high resolution viewing.
The car displays at CES are usually accompanied by the chip makers who are designing the next generation processors for future vehicles. Their displays are of prime importance as you can get a feel for the future innovations in EVs to come. Indeed the likes of Qualcomm and Nvidia showcase these new wares to grab the attention of the car manufacturers at the event. Car-to-car communication and smart traffic control networks are among their specialties. In 2024 we expect the emphasis will be on the development of EV’s including their infotainment systems and integration with smart homes rather than autonomous vehicles where there is now less market interest. New EV charging infrastructure and more efficient EV powertrains that supply power to EVs are expected to be on display.
Mercedez-Benz is tipped to preview an AI-powered infotainment system, its MBUX Virtual Assistant, that offers a human-like interaction between drivers, passengers and the car. Samsung is partnering with Tesla and Hyundai to integrate their EVs with its home services. “The key consumer benefit of Samsung’s collaboration with Tesla allows SmartThings Energy to connect to Tesla Powerwall, Solar Inverter, Wall Connector charging and EVs, allowing SmartThings Energy to display information relating to users’ energy production, storage and usage,” says Samsung in a statement.
Hyundai Mobis
Hyundai is expected to showcase its Hyundai Mobis ICCU (integrated charging control unit) which combines an onboard charger and DC-AC converter as one unit which it says can radically cut EV charging times. Japan car maker Honda says it will debut it’s first EV series car at CES as part of a plan to introduce 30 new EVs globally by 2030 with a global sales volume of 2 million units in North America alone. The plan includes both battery electric and fuel cell electric technology.
We’re also starting to see phone makers creep into the EV market. For years, we’ve been talking about Apple’s car in the wings but it’s China’s Xiaomi that’s actually just unveiled an EV, a sedan called the SU7 (Speed Ultra). It’s a difficult time for a new China EV maker to enter the market, given the major oversupply of EVs, evidence being the tens of thousands of abandoned new EVs rusting in paddocks around the country, but Xiaomi’s CEO is undeterred. Gizmochina this week has reported that Xiaomi has patented hidden car door handles. Certainly the innovation will flow.
There will be the usual electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles that have been at CES for several years but yet to take-off as major alternative transport.
