Palo Alto – January 9, 2025 – The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 has once again proven to be a hotbed of innovation and technological advancements. The show was back to pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 150,000 attendees. Despite being a hotbed, there was no single central theme apart from AI being embedded everywhere. AI was not the be-all and end-all, however – most exhibitors are treating it as an enabling technology that is radically accelerating product development. I’d say they are getting it right.

The crowds and congestion were frustrating. On Day Two, I finished a meeting at the Las Vegas Convention Center and had to go to the Venetian for my next meeting in 30 minutes. Happy days – there was Express Bus #10 running every 5 minutes. I took it. Then time slowed down. The total distance was 2.3 miles, and the transit time was 46 minutes. We waited over 17 minutes at a traffic light. Gridlock is back in Las Vegas. On Day Three, I took the monorail, and it worked.

On a more positive note, the service workers I interacted with (cab drivers, waiters, information desks, hotel staff, and convention workers) were genuinely appreciative, upbeat, and positive. I remember it being a little surly five or ten years ago. Don’t get me wrong—the security guys were surly, but it’s their job… Most service workers’ attitudes were a breath of fresh air. My theory is that they are happy we are back after enduring a ghost town during the pandemic.

It gets better. I don’t know if this is a “thing,” but service workers greeted me by name at least five times. In most cases, I wasn’t even talking to them – they were reading my CES badge and calling me out by name. In one encounter, an information desk person told a colleague they wanted to provide extra help providing directions to my colleague – because he was with me. I had never met this information desk person and will probably never see him again. But I left his station feeling like a visiting dignitary, and my colleague reached his destination on time.

The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles were a major highlight at CES 2025, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang delivering a keynote that underscored the sector’s progress. Huang emphasized the success of Waymo and Tesla in the autonomous vehicle space, declaring that “autonomous vehicles have finally arrived.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the event, with many attendees optimistic about the future of self-driving cars. The advancements in this field are transforming transportation and paving the way for broader applications of AI in robotics.

Mobileye’s Performance and Market Reaction

Mobileye, an autonomous driving assistance leader, faced a challenging reception at CES 2025. The company’s stock fell 13% following its appearance, as investors were disappointed by the lack of commercial updates. During a press conference, President and CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua showcased new technologies to make autonomous driving safer. However, analysts like J.P. Morgan’s Samik Chatterjee expressed concerns about the company’s future roadmap, noting that the upcoming Chauffeur product is not expected to launch until 2027. Despite this, Mobileye remains confident in its strategy and potential design wins, despite many designs only in pre-production.

Robotics and AI at CES

Robotics and AI were prominent themes at CES 2025, with numerous exhibits showcasing the latest innovations. Industrial robots have been a staple in factories for years, but AI is now enabling the development of humanoid robots. Huang’s keynote highlighted the potential of AI to revolutionize robotics, proclaiming that the “robotics era is just around the corner.” This sentiment was reflected in the various presentations and demonstrations, which showcased the potential for AI-driven robots to perform complex tasks and interact with humans in more intuitive ways.

Challenges in AR/VR

While autonomous vehicles and robotics generated much excitement, the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) sectors received a more subdued reception. Attendees at CES 2025 expressed concerns about the slow growth of AR/VR headsets, which continue to fall short of expectations. However, the self-driving car industry’s journey reminds us that technological advancements often take time. With continued innovation and investment, AR/VR could eventually achieve the same level of success.

Silicon Photonics Breakthrough by NVIDIA and TSMC

One of the more exciting announcements at CES 2025 was the development of a silicon photonics-based chip prototype by NVIDIA and TSMC. Silicon photonics is an emerging technology that integrates photonic circuits with traditional electronic circuits, addressing the physical limitations of semiconductor fabrication. According to a report from the Taiwanese press, this prototype was developed late last year. The companies are also working on optical packaging technologies to enhance AI chip performance. This work is likely to drive Nvidia’s system-level performance in significant ways.

Conclusion

CES 2025 showcased a plethora of innovations and a vibrant industry. From advancements in autonomous vehicles and robotics to silicon photonics from Nvidia, the event highlighted good technological progress and a rosy economic outlook. I am excited about the opportunities these developments will bring to the semiconductor and IoT industries. The future is bright. Next year, I plan to brave the crowds again at CES and expect to be surprised about unprecedented progress in 2025. Maybe I’ll feel like a visiting dignitary too.