[CES 2021] This year’s’virtual man’ confrontation… Samsung’Neon’ vs LG’Kim Rae-ah’ who will be the same

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Presentation in which virtual humans appear as speakers, rollable phones that roll up and open the screen, and AI screen system for vehicles that the driver can operate with only voice… .

These are new technologies to be introduced at’Consumer Electronics (CES) 2021′, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, which opens on the 11th (local time). CES, which has been held in Las Vegas every January, will be held for four days from 11 to 14 this year in a non-face-to-face manner in the aftermath of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). This is the first time since CES began in 1967.

The scale of online CES has decreased from previous years. Last year, about 4,500 companies installed booths in a large exhibition hall with about 30 soccer fields, but this year, about 1,900 companies, less than half of that, will participate. In particular, only 204 Chinese companies will participate, which is a fifth of the last year’s (1,100 companies).

In Korea, 340 companies, similar to last year (390), attend. It is the second largest after the United States (570). Participating companies post their own product and technology related videos on each company page prepared on the CES homepage, or implement the exhibition hall in a three-dimensional (3D) format. Online real-time meetings are also held.

The method has changed and the scale has been reduced, but the fact that it is a feast of new technologies remains the same. This year, in particular, due to the Corona 19 situation,’digital that can keep the everyday’ appeared as the main theme. Hyung-nam Moon, a professor at the Graduate School of Policy and Industry at Sookmyung Women’s University, said, “Companies participating in CES 2021 mobilize advanced technologies such as 5G mobile communication, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI to help them continue their daily lives in a pandemic shock. I will present it.”

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, who are the guest members, also unveiled new concept home appliances under the theme of’everyday’. Earlier, Sebastian Seung, head of Samsung Research, said in a newsroom article on Samsung Electronics on the 6th, “(Last year) everything seemed to stop, but I was able to live a life of commemorating precious moments by working, studying and using technology.” “In an era when offices, fitness centers, and entertainment spaces all melt into’home’, Samsung Electronics will present a better everyday life with advanced technology at CES 2021.” He then emphasized, “I want to show the daily life made easier with AI robots that provide a personalized experience by intuitively connecting all home appliances, and prepare meals and organize and organize items.”

As the time spent at home increases, LG Electronics is introducing a large number of household appliances that find new lifestyle solutions through AI. It introduces a lineup of premium household appliances, such as refrigerators with enhanced design and hygiene, customized appliances that complete the interior of the entire house, and wireless vacuum cleaners that solve charging and emptying and storage of dust bins at once. Robots that take on repetitive and dangerous tasks, such as a robot that sterilizes by moving around a designated space (sterilization bot), and a chef bot that can cook simple, are revealed.

‘LG Rollable’, the world’s first rollable smartphone, will also be unveiled for the first time at CES 2021. LG Electronics released a teaser video for LG Rollables last year. The display is rolled up, and when the user pulls the screen, it expands and expands, so it is called’Sangsomun Phone’. At this CES, there is high expectation that a video containing the real thing of LG Rollable will be released.

The two companies will also show AI virtual humans side by side. Samsung Electronics first unveiled the artificial human project’Neon’ at CES last year. Neon, which was at the level of a prototype at the time, is expected to be upgraded this year. Samsung Electronics explained that it is possible to interact naturally with humans by learning emotions and memories beyond simply imitating human shapes.

LG Electronics announced that the virtual human’Raeah Kim’ appeared as a speaker at a press conference at 10 am on the 11th, the opening day of the event, and gave a three-minute presentation. The company explained that movement and voice were implemented with AI technology.

Automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz (Benz), BMW, Audi, and General Motors (GM), are introducing advanced autonomous driving technology. Benz installs a’MBUX Hyperscreen’ equipped with an AI function on the vehicle dashboard, and through this, the technology enables passengers to freely enjoy infotainment such as music and navigation. Hyundai Motor Company, which has been participating every year since 2009, does not appear at this CES. The company said that “we decided to absent due to the aftermath of Corona 19”.

A large number of domestic SMEs and startups attend CES 2021. Mostly, online publicity and marketing are held at the Korea Pavilion and K-Startup Pavilion prepared by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of SMEs and Ventures.

Reporter Park Hyung-soo [email protected]