Houses talk and tables walk at the AI-dominated Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS —

Appliances that do household chores, cars that know your favorite coffee and robot animals aiming to please are among the artificial intelligence-infused offerings at the Consumer Electronics Show that opens Tuesday.

All of these will compete for attention at the annual CES show in Las Vegas, as behind-the-scenes vendors look for ways to deal with tariffs threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

AI is once again a major theme at the show, alongside autonomous vehicles ranging from tractors and boats to lawn mowers and golf club carts.

South Korean consumer electronics giant LG kicked off a media day Monday by outlining a vision of “loving intelligence” in which home appliances monitor people – from tracking their sleep to making sure that they remember the umbrellas when rain is forecast.

“At LG, we are seamlessly integrating AI into the physical living spaces around us,” said CEO William Cho.

“We view space not only as a physical location, but also as an environment in which holistic experiences come to life – across domestic, mobility, commercial and even virtual spaces.”

Before the show even opened, vendors lured visitors with electric roller skates, hologram booths for life-size remote collaboration, and even a robot that looked like a lamp attached to the top of a moving table.

Most of the offerings boasted of being AI-enhanced.

“Everyone is going to talk about AI… whether it exists or not,” Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, told AFP.

AI in motion

CES will also be a massive auto show, where automakers and those that supply software and parts will showcase autonomous driving and automated safety capabilities.

“CES has been an auto show for a while now, and it’s even more so this year,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techsponential.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s close relationship with Trump is expected to reduce regulatory hurdles regarding autonomous vehicles.

And although they’re still a long way from becoming part of everyday life, flying cars will be part of the CES scene, according to independent technology analyst Rob Enderle.

“You should start seeing flying vehicles that you can buy,” Enderle said. “Getting permission to fly them is a completely different matter.”

Robots designed to perform work tasks or be comforting companions – and even adorable pets – are part of CES exhibits.

Gadgets to calm the mind, beautify the body or help get a good night’s sleep are on display as technology continues to infiltrate every aspect of existence.

“Digital health is going to be huge,” Greengart said.

“We’re seeing a lot more technology being worn or used to track your health markers.”

AI-enhanced technology will also be found in homes, from a spice dispenser that “learns” a cook’s tastes to robotic pool cleaners.

Price anxiety?

The tariffs discussed by Trump would increase the costs of imported items, and that will likely be on the minds of CES attendees targeting the U.S. market, analysts say.

Many products at the show contain imported components, and if Trump imposes tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, it will cause prices to spike, analyst Enderle said.

“There will be a lot of concerned sellers at CES,” Enderle said of the concern over pricing.

Discussions at CES will include how to manage supply chain constraints that could be caused by tariffs, according to Greengart.

“But a large part of the discussions will take place behind closed doors so as not to irritate the next administration,” he added.

Chinese companies with a significant presence in the United States, such as their smart TV competitors TCL and Hisense, are present at CES.

But Greengart warns of an “increasing market bifurcation between China and the rest of the world” as trade frictions arise.