CES opens today, the protagonist is an AI virtual man

Presentation in which a virtual human with artificial brain appears as a speaker, a rollable phone in which the screen curls and spreads, and an AI screen system for vehicles that the driver can operate with only voice… .

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

Although it is an online fair, 340 companies, similar to last year (390), attend Korea. 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.

Technologies to be showcased at CES 2021. The picture is Samsung Electronics’ Bespoke refrigerator. [연합뉴스]

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics unveiled a new concept home appliance under the theme of’everyday’. Samsung Electronics introduced Micro LED TV, Bespoke refrigerator, and Grande AI dryer and washing machine. Prior to this, Sebastian Seung, head of Samsung Research (President), said in an article in the newsroom of Samsung Electronics on the 6th, “In an era when offices, fitness centers, and entertainment spaces all melt into’home’, Samsung Electronics is creating a better everyday life with advanced technology I will present it.”

As the time spent at home increases, LG Electronics is introducing a number of premium household appliances that find new lifestyle solutions through AI. In particular, robots that take on repetitive and dangerous tasks such as robots that sterilize themselves while moving around a designated space (sterilization bot) and chef bots that can cook simple are revealed. ‘LG Rollable’, the world’s first rollable smartphone, will also be unveiled at CES 2021 for the first time. LG Electronics released a teaser video for LG Rollables last year.

Kim Rae-ah, a virtual man made by LG Electronics. [연합뉴스]

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 plans to present a three-minute presentation with a virtual human’Raeah Kim’ appearing as a speaker at the press conference at 8 am on the 11th, the opening day of the event. LG Electronics explained that movement and voice were implemented with AI technology.

Mercedes-Benz MBUX Hyperscreen. [사진 각 사]

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, will not attend this CES due to the aftermath of Corona 19.

A large number of domestic SMEs and startups will also attend CES 2021. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, “97 domestic startups will open individual online booths at the’K Startup Pavilion’ in the CES 2021 online exhibition site and publish digital contents such as company introductions and videos.”

Loople’s Smart Light Olly. [사진 각 사]

Among them, three companies, Ruple, M2S, and Softfiv, were selected for the CES Innovation Award. At CES 2021, Ruple, which has AI lighting-related technology, will introduce a lighting product’Oly’ that suppresses or promotes melatonin secretion using the wavelength of light. It is a product developed through joint research and experimentation with KAIST, and is said to have the effect of inducing a good night’s sleep by giving an arousal effect during the day to increase concentration and by relaxing the body at night.

M2S, a digital healthcare company based on virtual reality (VR), is launching’VROR Eye Doctor’, which measures the health of users’ eyes using a VR terminal equipped with an AI solution and eye tracking device. It is explained that eye diseases can be prevented by measuring visual acuity, color blindness, astigmatism, and double vision.

Startup SoftPV’s 1.3mm ultra-small spherical solar cell’soft cell’. [사진 각 사]

SoftPV will exhibit the world’s first 1.3mm ultra-small spherical solar cell’Soft Cell’. It has more power generation than existing solar modules, and it is characterized by its efficient and wide utilization, such as being able to generate power by itself when placed on a printed circuit board. “CES is a great opportunity to show the innovativeness of Korean start-ups in the United States, the world’s largest market,” said Min-gyu Kim, head of the Technology Startup Division. I will do my best to make it.”

CES 2021, which will be held under the theme of’Digital to keep everyday’, will be held for four days from the 11th. Hyung-nam Moon, a professor at Sookmyung Women’s University Graduate School of Business, said, “Companies participating in CES 2021 mobilize advanced technologies such as 5G mobile communications, Internet of Things (IoT), AI, etc. I will present it.”

Reporters Park Hyung-soo and Lee Byung-jun [email protected]