Do you need a $500 noise-reducing ice cube maker? What about a giant hologram machine, or a lolly that makes music while you eat it?
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas offers a glimpse into the gadgets of the future. The week-long annual trade event, organised by the Consumer Technology Association, stretches the definition of consumer goods. Walk into one of many exhibition centres — a furious cacophony of screens and thumping music — and you’ll find full-sized personal aircraft and manufacturing robots alongside gaming devices and smart watches. Anything that fits into the “futuristic” category can find a space in the millions of square feet of exhibition space.
Unsurprisingly, the focus is heavily towards artificial intelligence this year — with AI infused in everything from toothbrushes to cuddly toys. At the booth of Chinese tech company Tuya, a row of pandas, puppies and Labubu dolls lie motionless, having already been petted to death by the hundreds of visitors who have played with them throughout the day.