The world’s tech spotlight turns to Las Vegas this week as CES 2025 opens its doors, promising groundbreaking innovations and the next big trends from industry giants and rising stars alike.
This year’s event, themed “Dive In,” will showcase a diverse range of technologies, from AI and mobility to digital health, home entertainment, robotics and more. For the first time, a dedicated session on quantum technology has been established in collaboration with the World Quantum Congress, nailing it down as the next promising sector to expedite the deployment of AI.
A total of 4,800 companies from about 160 countries are registered for this year’s show, including 1,031 from Korea — a record high. This follows 1,509 companies from the U.S. and 1,339 from China. Korean startups account for 641 participants, up from 512 in 2024 and 273 in 2023.
AI in Daily Life
This year, AI will focus on enhancing daily life, moving beyond what they are capable of, as they did at last year’s CES.
A dominant trend at CES 2024, AI will remain a major topic in 2025. While headlines often focus on what AI ‘could do,’ this technology is already making an impact through increased productivity, enhanced customer experiences, and life-saving medical advancements,” the Consumer Technology Association, the show’s organizer, stated on its website.
Samsung Electronics CEO Han Jong-hee will hold a news conference titled “AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere” on Monday, ahead of the official kickoff. Han, who showed off the robotic projector Ballie, may provide updates on its release this time.
Samsung’s booth will feature AI-enhanced home appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers equipped with touch screens. These connected devices, powered by the AI voice assistant Bixby, can answer calls, check the weather, and stream YouTube or Spotify.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics’ news conference, themed “Life’s Good 24/7 with Affectionate Intelligence,” will see CEO William Cho discuss the company’s AI vision and applications. LG will showcase premium appliances under its Signature brand, including the Smart InstaView Refrigerator with a transparent organic light-emitting diode panel. This AI-equipped fridge tracks fresh ingredients and transforms into a TV or art display when not in use — a feature similar to Samsung’s offerings from last year.
Companies like SK will focus on infrastructure development that enables the processing of AI. SK’s booth, themed “Innovative AI, Sustainable Tomorrow,” will be participated by its affiliates SK Telecom, SK hynix, SKC and SK Enmove. It will present the core technologies enabling its AI data centers such as AI processors, energy solutions, and security.
SK hynix will showcase 16-layered high bandwidth memory 3E (HBM3E) for the first time to global audiences while also presenting its advanced chip solutions like Compute Express Link (CXL) that will help it maintain leadership in the AI memory chip realm. With SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won confirmed to be participating in the show, it remains to be seen whether a meet-up between Chey and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will take place.
The two have had close business relations with SK hynix almost exclusively supplying its HBM chips to Nvidia’s AI GPUs. Huang will be making an opening keynote speech at the show on Monday.
Television Advancements
CES has long been a battleground for TV technology, with brands like Samsung and LG expected to spotlight 100-inch Mini LED TVs this year to counter advancements from competitors like TCL and Hisense. LG recently introduced a 100-inch QNED TV, its branded Mini LED line, addressing surging demand for ultralarge screens.
“It will deliver an overwhelming, unparalleled large-screen viewing experience that cannot be matched by other LCD [liquid crystal display] TVs,” said Park Hyung-se, head of LG’s Media Solution division.
Samsung is also likely to announce its plans for 100-inch TVs. Moreover, Samsung Electronics will premiere TVs topped with 3-D audio technology called Eclipsa Audio, which it co-developed with Google. This technology enables surrounding sound by optimizing sound data in accordance with the environment.
Mobility Innovations
This year’s CES is also witnessing a shift with tech companies driving mobility innovations, accompanied by traditional automakers. LG Electronics unveiled its Mobility eXperience (MX) platform, transforming vehicle interiors into customizable spaces equipped with AI-powered appliances and IoT devices.
Hyundai Mobis will showcase technologies like the holographic windshield display and human-centric interior lighting that adapts to the driver’s mood, despite Hyundai Motor skipping this year’s CES. Toyota also returns to CES, showcasing updates to its Woven City prototype.
Startups’ Contributions
C-Lab, an incubator run by Samsung, will have 15 startups showcasing their latest innovations at Eureka Park, committed to startups. Similarly, LG NOVA, an incubator run by LG Electronics, will present 10 startups, focusing on technology in fields like health and AI.
During the event, ten startups invested in by Naver D2SF will also participate, including Gaudio Lab, known for its AI-based sound analysis solutions.
CES 2025 not only highlights established companies but also emphasizes the significance of startups in driving technological innovation that reshapes the industry.
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