CES gadget fest a showcase for AI-infused lifestyle
From self-driving baby carriages to ChatGPT in Volkswagen cars, artificial intelligence is expected to be centre stage at the CES gadget extravaganza that formally opens on Tuesday in Las Vegas in the United States. The annual Consumer Electronics Show gathering boasts more than 3,500 exhibitors and is expecting some 130,000 visitors. Companies big and small hosted previews for the press through Monday, with AI an oft repeated mantra as they pitched products promising better lives. LG chief executive William Cho said the world is at "a historical turning point" due to AI. His company aims to be part of that transformation, tapping into data gathered by sensors in hundreds of millions of smart devices in use around the world to detect patterns of behaviour and provide insights, Cho said. "We have a unique opportunity to leverage the real-life data gathered across devices in real-time. Of course, with your permission," Cho said. LG, Samsung and other TV titans also showcased AI enhancements to vastly improve images, help viewers find shows they will like, and more. "We will watch as TVs become the command centre for the home beyond just streaming entertainment," said Jessica Boothe, a research director at the Consumer Technology Association, which organises CES. Televisions will advance to a "smart command hub" connecting appliances, security cameras, and even incorporating thermal scanning for health insights, she added. US chipmaker Nvidia said at the CES technology conference that four Chinese electric vehicle brands will use its technology as the brains for automated driving systems, underscoring their determination to expand in the mainland despite Washington's tighter export rules.  Chinese automakers Li Auto, Great Wall Motor , Zeekr and the new EV unit of Chinese telecommunications company Xiaomi will use Nvidia's Drive technology to power automated driving, the firm said.  Volkswagen, meanwhile, presented what it described as the first vehicles built with a chatbot powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT technology. The "Cerence Chat Pro" digital assistant made in a partnership with Cerence will be standard in many Volkswagen vehicles starting in the second quarter of this year, according to the carmaker. (AFP/Reuters)