This year’s CES showcased the rise of AI solutions, marking the beginning of a new era. According to the Korea International Trade Association, AI-related fields accounted for the largest portion of CES Innovation Award winners, with 11.6 percent of all awards. South Korean companies demonstrated their technological prowess, winning 47.8 percent of the total awards. BMW also grabbed attention by unveiling the next-generation "BMW Panoramic iDrive" for the first time globally.
Park Sae-jin, a reporter at Aju Business Daily's English team, shared his thoughts: "I realized the gap between the AI I imagined and its real-life applications. AI is already deeply embedded in our lives, and the technologies showcased at CES seem poised to become part of our daily lives in the near future."
The Eureka Park exhibition, where startups from around the world present their innovative technologies, featured integrated pavilions not only from South Korea but also from local governments like Gwangju, Seongnam, Daejeon, and Seoul. The Seoul pavilion showcased innovations from 104 companies, including AFS's AI-based hair loss diagnosis solution and Caique Tech's modular PI speed gun.
Healthcare stood out as a dominant theme at this year's exhibition. With the aging population in focus, many AI-powered medical devices designed for convenient home health management were unveiled.
Nuance Audio's smart hearing glasses, developed for early-stage hearing loss patients, gained significant attention. Unlike traditional hearing aids, the device features directional speakers that amplify sounds from the direction the wearer is facing. Mateo Dondrao, a representative from the company, explained, "This product is not only for hearing-impaired individuals but also for general users."
The booth of Japan's Kirin Holdings Company, showcasing the "Electric Salt Spoon," also drew large crowds. The spoon uses a mild electric current to stimulate sodium ions in food, allowing users to perceive the same salty flavor with 30% less salt. Despite its price of 20,000 yen (approximately $150), the product has gained attention as a practical solution for patients requiring low-sodium diets, such as those with hypertension or obesity.
Candice Kim, another reporter for Aju Business Daily's English team, commented, "This year’s CES demonstrated how AI technologies are becoming even more accessible in daily life. Innovations in the healthcare sector, in particular, are expected to significantly transform consumers’ lives in the near future."
[The Korea Press Foundation has contributed to the production of this article content.]
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