Nvidia Keynote

Nvidia’s founder/CEO Jensen Huang closed out press day at CES 2025 with a number of massive announcements focused around the company’s physical AI and spatial AI, third industrial revolution mission across multiple sectors. Huang highlighted the company's commitment to advancing AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and computer graphics. The technologies and partnerships revealed are poised to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI and hardware in the physical world.

Project Digits

Nvidia introduced Project Digits, a new AI supercomputer in a box, powered by the GB110, the smallest Grace Blackwell chip Nvidia has made. It is designed to be either a personal workstation, or usable alongside existing PCs as a cloud supercomputer. This is big because of its potential to make powerful AI computing accessible to individual engineers and developers. This could accelerate the pace of AI development across various industries. It is expected to be available around May.

Cosmos World Foundation Models

Huang also unveiled the Cosmos World Foundation Models, a set of three "world foundation models" designed to understand the physical world. This model uses physics-based simulation and synthetic data generation to train AI. Cosmos aims to enable robots to learn about their environments and accomplish basic tasks by understanding physical surroundings. It is designed to be open source and is now on Github. This has the potential to greatly enhance robotic capabilities.

Robotics

Huang claims the chatgpt moment for robotics is just around the corner. Nvidia's Isaac GROOT system will enable robot training, testing, and simulation before being deployed to the robot. Huang claims it could accelerate the development of practical robotics solutions. A demo showed how individuals can use an Apple Vision Pro to teach robots how to perform tasks through the Blueprint modality.

Digital Twins

Huang also announced Mega, an Omniverse Blueprint for robotic fleet management, targeting warehouses. This tech allows for the development and testing of digital twins of robotic systems. The significance is that it aims to optimize routes and workflows for robotics systems, which could lead to more efficient warehouse operations and accelerate the adoption of robotics in logistics. 

"In the future every factory will have a digital twin, and every digital twin will operate exactly like a real factory," 

• Jensen Huang

Autonomous Vehicles

Nvidia announced a partnership with Toyota to produce next-gen autonomous vehicles, using Nvidia’s Drive AGX Orin supercomputer and DriveOS. Nvidia also mentioned its partnerships with Tesla, BYD, Lucid, Aurora and Xiaomi. This is significant as it demonstrates Nvidia’s strong focus on the automotive industry and its commitment to making autonomous vehicles a reality.

It is using its Omniverse and Cosmos platforms to generate an AI world model factory-powered training system with billions of miles of training data from thousands of drives. This will speed up the development of autonomous driving technologies. 

RTX Blackwell Family of GPUs

Nvidia revealed all this will be powered by its RTX Blackwell family of GPUs, with the RTX 5090 as its centerpiece, boasting 92 billion transistors, 4,000 AI TOPs, 380 ray-tracing TFLOPs, and 1.8 TB/s bandwidth. The significance of this announcement is that the new GPUs will bring advancements in AI and computer graphics for both consumers and professionals, and this technology will also accelerate real time graphics rendering. The RTX 5090 is priced at $1,999, the RTX 5080 at $999 and the RTX 5070 at $1,299.

AI-Driven Graphics and Training Data

Nvidia is also applying AI to enhance computer graphics and to create training data for autonomous vehicles. It will also use AI to create neural textures and neural faces to enhance realism in graphics.

Software Coding and AI Agents

Nvidia also predicts that software coding and AI agents will be major future AI markets. It is working to provide AI libraries to large-scale customers as it looks beyond hardware to focus on software and AI services as a core growth area.

Sony Keynote

Sony's headline announcement at CES was the Afeela EV, a collaboration with Honda, with a starting price of $89,900 and a higher trim at $102,900. Reservations are open now in California for a $200 refundable fee. The Afeela aims to combine Honda's manufacturing expertise with Sony's infotainment and software capabilities. 

Additionally, Sony introduced the XR Head-Mounted Display SRH-S1, a 4K per eye display designed for interaction with 3D objects, featuring the Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 Platform and mixed reality creation with video see-through. 

They also unveiled the BRAVIA Theater Quad Wireless Speaker System, which creates 12 phantom speakers with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and supports the latest audio formats.

Samsung Keynote 

Here is a summary of Samsung's key announcements on day one of CES 2025:

• New TVs: Samsung unveiled a new Neo 8K flagship TV and a Frame Pro TV. The Frame Pro has improved brightness and contrast and includes a wireless connect box that allows for more flexible placement of devices such as Apple TVs, consoles, and sound bars.

• AI in TVs: Samsung is incorporating AI into its TVs with features such as Live Translate, which provides real-time translations as subtitles, even when they aren't built into the content. AI is also being used for generating wallpapers and other personalization features. Samsung's Vision AI also includes a click-to-search feature for identifying actors and a generative wallpaper feature.

• OLED Smart Monitor: The new OLED Smart Monitor M9 is a competitor to the Apple Studio Display, with a sleek design, an AI Picture Optimizer, and 4K AI upscaling.

• Gaming Monitors: Samsung introduced a new OLED display with a 500Hz refresh rate and a 27-inch 4K OLED display.

• Transparent Displays: Samsung showed off new transparent displays in different form factors, including a music frame transparent display.

• Holo Display: A new Holo display was introduced, which projects interactive holographic ads, but is not intended for consumer use.

• Odyssey Monitors: Updates to the Odyssey OLED G6 and G8 monitors include a 27-inch 4K OLED monitor and an update to the Odyssey 3D monitor, which uses a lenticular lens and a front stereo C camera to provide a 3D experience without glasses, and can now convert 2D video to 3D.

• Premiere 5 Projector: Samsung introduced the Premiere 5, an interactive triple laser ultra-short throw projector that allows users to engage with the screen using touch features.

• Home AI: Samsung is focusing on Home AI, which includes making devices work together, and a priority on safety and security. Samsung Knox security is expanding to home appliances. Home AI aims to personalize experiences, save time and energy, and enhance home security. Samsung's SmartThings platform allows users to control and optimize energy usage, and its Flex Connect program incentivizes users to decrease strain on electricity grids.

• Galaxy Book 5 Pro and 360: These new AI PCs feature AI Select, which makes it easier to search for content with a click, and are powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors.

• Samsung Health: Samsung Health is using AI and connected devices to create a more end-to-end health experience. They are partnering with Dexcom to integrate glucose tracking, and the system uses data from Galaxy watches and rings to provide sleep and nutrition recommendations.

• Samsung Food: Samsung Food uses AI to recognize food on the screen and provide recipes, and can track grocery and takeout orders.

• SmartThings Pro: A B2B solution, SmartThings Pro, can customize spaces like hotel rooms and retail stores, as well as help businesses manage energy usage and identify maintenance needs. It is also being integrated into ships and Hyundai EVs.

• Accessibility: Samsung is enhancing accessibility features using AI, including syncing settings from mobile phones to appliances, Bixby recognizing household members' voices, and improved audio subtitles.

• Ballie Robot: The Ballie AI home companion robot is set to be available in the first half of 2025.

• One UI: Samsung's One UI, originally introduced on smartphones, has been expanded to TVs and home appliances to create a consistent user experience, and provides up to seven years of software updates.

• Bespoke AI Laundry Combo: The Bespoke AI laundry combo completes cycles without needing to switch from washing to drying and includes a 7-inch screen.

One thing it didn’t announce was the Galaxy S25, but it revealed January 22 as the date for its next Unpacked event, which will almost certainly serve as a launching pad for the company’s latest flagship phone.

LG Keynote 

LG’s day one keynote focused on its "Affectionate Intelligence" strategy to integrate AI into living spaces, aiming to make AI feel more human. LG's AI is intended to understand user context and proactively handle tasks.

• FURION: The company's AI agent is designed to be personalized for each user and home. It can perform tasks like adjusting temperature and lighting, suggesting an umbrella when leaving the house, and recommending a coffee stop if it detects a missing coffee tumbler.
  

• Home OS: LG's Home Appliance OS is designed to provide personalized experiences that adapt to the customer's lifestyle and environment, eliminating guesswork.
  

• AI in Vehicles: LG's AI is also being integrated into vehicles to offer personalized convenience, productivity, and safety. Their in-cabin AI solutions can detect changes in routines and suggest alternatives. LG's vehicles are equipped with 5G connectivity, premium audio and video, and web conferencing apps, transforming them into mobile offices.
  

• AI Sound Recommendation: LG's AI can enhance audio experiences by allowing users to adjust voice tones when watching content.
  

• Content Recommendations: LG TVs use AI to recommend content based on user interests and preferences. LG's TVs combine natural language processing and large language models to provide accurate responses without the need for specific prompts, enhanced by Microsoft Copilot for additional results.
  

• Voice ID: LG TVs feature voice ID, a biometric feature that distinguishes users and switches accounts based on individual preferences using voice commands.
  

• Xbox Game Pass: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now play cloud-based games directly on supported LG TVs via the Xbox app.
  

• LG Xoom Series: The new LG Xoom series is a lifestyle audio brand, that is the result of collaboration with audio industry entrepreneur will.i.am.
  

• LG gram AI: The new LG gram AI combines on-device and web-based cloud services to improve productivity using hybrid AI solutions. It includes an on-device "time travel" function that searches for specific words in recorded video files.
  

• New Evo OLED TV: LG's new Evo OLED TV is much brighter than previous models and comes with a connect box for peripherals.
  

Robotics Announcements: Stepping into the Physical World

Key announcements in Robotics at CES 2025 include

• NVIDIA: Announced the Isaac GROOT system for robot training, testing and simulation, along with Project Digits a portable supercomputer for AI engineers, and also revealed the Thor AV robotics computer with sensors for use in robots and autonomous vehicles.

• Roborock Saros Z70: This new robot vacuum-mop hybrid features a jointed, twisting "OmniGrip" robotic arm that can pick up and move small objects. It's designed for more autonomous cleaning, shifting from object avoidance to object removal.
  

  • The Saros Z70 can identify, pick up, and move items like socks, paper, small towels, and sandals.

  • The robotic arm is housed under a door on the device's surface and has a two-pronged claw at the end with five axes that can twist.

  • It uses "Starsight" sensors and cameras for navigation, rather than a LiDAR tower, allowing it to clean under more spaces.

  • The robot has a new anti-tangle FreeFlow brush, wheels that can elevate to overcome obstacles, and retractable mopping pads.

  • The Saros Z70 has a three-part cleaning cycle where it first sweeps the room, marks liftable objects, returns to its dock, moves the objects, and then cleans the spots where the objects were.

  • It has a powerful 22,000 Pa suction.

  • The robotic arm is enabled through a companion app, where users can choose what objects the robot picks up and where it places them.

  • The Saros Z70 is slated for an April release and is estimated to cost around $2,000.

• OpenDroids R2D3: This multi-tasking domestic robot is designed to revolutionize household chores.
  

  • It's described as a "Roomba on crack," with enhanced capabilities over the company's first model, the R1D1.

  • The R2D3 can handle tasks from folding laundry to washing dishes.

  • It uses self-charging, real-time depth perception, and nimble movement.

  • Currently, the R2D3 is being tested in rehab centers but is also being considered for restaurant kitchens.

  • The R2D3 is estimated to retail for around $60,000, while the earlier R1D1 model is priced at $18,500.

• Samsung Ballie: This ball shaped AI home companion robot is expected to launch in the first half of 2025.
  

  • Ballie acts as a personal home assistant, moving autonomously around the home to complete various tasks.

  • It connects to a user's home appliances.

  • Ballie learns and evolves over time to provide personalized experiences.

• John Deere Robotic Landscaping Vehicles: John Deere introduced an electric robot lawnmower and autonomous vehicles designed for commercial-grade landscaping.
  

  • It is powered by a 21.4kWh battery that allows it to operate for up to 10 hours.

  • The mower uses four pairs of stereo cameras to provide 360-degree vision.

  • It is much quieter than gas-powered mowers, allowing for earlier start times.

  • The company expects this mower to potentially replace human labor due to a shortage of qualified workers.

  • It also announced an autonomous 5ML orchard tractor, a larger 9RX tractor for tilling fields, and an autonomous articulated dump truck for quarry operations.

• RoboForce: RoboForce is developing hyper-accurate robot workers that can do tedious and potentially dangerous tasks like solar panel installation.
  

  • The robot can achieve one millimeter accuracy, allowing it to do fine motor tasks like solar power farm assembly and maintenance.

  • The company is planning to launch one to two pilot solar farm projects with its robots this year.

  • Roboforce also announced $10 million in early stage funding to build out its robot worker dream.

It's not quite an autonomous vehicle, but Atmos Gear also demoed electric roller skates that can go up to 18 mph, and Japanese company Kirin unveiled a clever salt spoon that zaps your tongue in a specific area to make you taste salt without actually adding salt to your dish.

These announcements highlight a trend towards more sophisticated and autonomous robots for both home and commercial use, with a focus on AI and practical applications to make tasks more efficient, convenient, and safe.

Toyota’s Woven City Utopian Urbansim Experiment 

Toyota's Keynote on day 1 focused on its Woven City initiative:

• Open for Business: Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda announced that a prototype city at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, is now open for business and is looking for inventors and startups from around the world to join. The city will launch in fall 2025 and is intended to be a living laboratory for testing new technologies.

• The original vision was to create a utopian city where up to 2,000 people would live and work alongside Toyota’s projects like autonomous shuttles and robots. However, the vision has expanded to include US company Joby’s electric air taxis, autonomous vehicle tech, and even rockets, yes rockets!! 

• The rocket technology will enable it to build a robust telecommunications infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles. Woven City has invested $44 million into the startup Interstellar Technologies to support the mass production of rockets.

• Robotics Development: Toyota also revealed it has taught robot arms to fold T-shirts Japanese-style, showcasing its dexterity and the capacity to learn skills quickly.

• Toyota is launching a pitch competition this summer and will offer scholarships for startups and individuals who need financial support to develop their ideas at Woven City.
  

Chip News From Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD

Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD all announced major chip updates as expected. They all shared a strong emphasis on AI integration, power efficiency, and catering to diverse device categories from gaming PCs to mobile devices to next-gen edge device use cases like vehicles. 

Intel

Intel introduced its new Core Ultra 200H processors, with a focus on power efficiency, which they claim is enhanced by AI. The company emphasized that AI is fundamentally transforming the PC experience. Intel revealed it is partnering with Samsung on the new Galaxy Book 5 Pro. 

Qualcomm

Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon X chip, targeting the mid-range market with a focus on providing multiple days of battery life at a more affordable price point. The Snapdragon X chips will be powering some of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, set to launch in Q1 2025 at around $600. Qualcomm also addressed the mini and tiny desktop PC markets.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon QWM2290 system-on-a-chip (SoC) will be integrated into Flying Flea electric motorcycles, bringing connected capabilities such as voice assistance, smartphone-enabled keys, and customizable ride modes.

AMD

AMD announced a new series of processors including the 9950X3D, designed for gamers and creators, which is said to be 8% faster than the 7950X3D in games like Starfield.

AMD is also launching the Ryzen AI 300 series and Ryzen AI Max series to power the next generation of Copilot+ PCs, with a launch date in Q2 2025.

The company announced new processors in its Ryzen Z2 series for lightweight and gaming-focused devices like Valve’s Steam Deck, set to be available in Q1 2025.

Wellness Tech Highlights

Several wellness-focused devices and updates were announced. 

Therabody is launching a digital recovery platform called Coach, which uses AI to build personalized wellbeing recovery plans. 

Elvie introduced the Rise, an app-controlled baby bouncer that can convert into a bassinet.

In safety tech, Amazon and Kidde are partnering to incorporate Ring technology into smoke detectors, launching new devices along with a persistent monitoring service. 

Circular unveiled its next-generation Ring 2, which includes ECG functionality and AFib detection. 

Additionally, Withings showcased a luxurious smartwatch with 360 deep health screening capabilities.

Smart Homes Highlights

The smart home space is also heating up. With the foundation of Matter, a unified connectivity standard, devices are about to get a whole lot smarter and more interconnected. We expect major new product announcements from companies like Aqara, Nanoleaf, and Samsung, which is pushing its “screens everywhere” initiative to bring touchscreen interfaces to all its appliances. Additionally, Samsung is using AI in its TVs with real-time translation features, personalized wallpapers, and a new OLED Smart Monitor. And Google is adding a "News Brief" feature to its TVs using Gemini AI to summarize the day's news, a sign of the growing importance of AI even in media consumption. Roborock’s new vacuum-mop hybrid, the Saros Z70, features a robot arm, demonstrating just how far robotics has come and what is now possible with household devices.

Google’s AI World Models 

Google wasn’t even presenting today but it crashed the headlines with news it is forming a new team to work on AI models that can simulate the physical world. Tim Brooks, a co-lead on OpenAI's video generator, Sora, will lead the team at Google DeepMind. It will build on work from Google’s Gemini, Veo, and Genie teams to tackle critical new problems and scale models to the highest levels of compute. Google’s Genie model is a take on a world model, which can simulate games and 3D environments in real-time. Like Nvidia, Google believes that scaling AI training on video and multimodal data is critical to achieving artificial general intelligence, and that world models will power domains such as visual reasoning, simulation, planning for embodied agents, and real-time interactive entertainment.

Google also unveiled an updated TV operating system using its Gemini AI assistant to provide news summaries called "News Brief". This feature compiles news stories from the internet and YouTube, creating a brief summary of the day's events. Google also intends to incorporate sensors so that the TV will respond when users enter the room and allow users to search and summarize movies and shows using natural language. These features will be released for new and existing Google TV devices toward the end of 2025 in a notable step from Google into AI news summaries and makes Tech journalists everywhere shake in their boots.

AGI Is Coming

Sam Altman has his own ideas about AGI to share yesterday too…The CEO of OpenAI, is keeping everyone on their toes, kicking off 2025 with a cryptic tweet and blogpost suggesting we're either nearing or already past the singularity, that point where AI surpasses human intelligence. He later clarified his cryptic message, which could be interpreted through either a simulation lens, or as commentary on identifying the exact moment of AI takeoff. Altman's tweet followed the announcement of OpenAI’s o3 model, which reached new highs across math, reasoning, and coding benchmarks.

It seems that after repeatedly stating that its foundational goal is to develop an artificial general intelligence (AGI) system that "benefits all of humanity", OpenAI is now aiming for "superintelligence," which they describe as tools that could "massively accelerate scientific discovery and innovation". It's a bit like they've moved the goalposts, but hey, at least we're having fun watching them chase the shiny new prize while losing money on their $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscriptions. It seems as though Jensen Huang is equally optimistic about AGI from his comments as well.

Geopolitics and 5 Dimensional Chess

But amidst all the excitement, there’s an undercurrent of reflection. The potential for job losses due to automation and the ethical considerations of AI are very much at the forefront of discussion. There’s also some uncertainty with new Trump tariffs and the potential impact to the tech industry, alongside optimism regarding reindustrialization in the US, which will be powered by a re-prioritization of military and high tech towards AI. As one observer noted, “it is an odd limbo feeling tinged with hope and anticipation, even uncertainty”.

Automation (de-humanization?) of industry and the possible related job losses from AI are also at the forefront of discussion around the water coolers. Trump Tariffs are casting a shadow for some tech industry pundits and leaving others optimistic about the obvious potential of benefits to reindustrialization of the homeland and scaling up of the sub-standard US manufacturing industry on turbocharge. With a stated Trump goal of maintaining a strong US dollar and local high tech manufacturing sector. This will likely be mostly powered by a continued reprioritization of military and High Tech ecosystems towards AI over the coming year. 

Gaming Levels Up 

The gaming sector continues to push boundaries, with new chips from AMD promising improved performance for both handhelds and desktop PCs. The gaming world is also getting a serious upgrade as AMD is launching its Ryzen 9 9950X3D, designed for both gamers and creators, which is 8% faster on average in popular games like Starfield. The new AMD Ryzen Z2 series processors for handhelds were also announced and are set to power the next generation of portable gaming devices, starting with new versions of the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. For serious gamers, LG unveiled a new G5 OLED TV with a native refresh rate of 165Hz.

Sony Is working on adaptations of their Playstation gaming content for film and television, including The Last of Us season 2, a Horizon Zero Dawn movie, and a Ghost of Tsushima anime.

Autonomous Cars are even getting inbuilt Playstation and XBox consoles.

Other Top News on Monday: 

Other standout reveals from CES Day 1 include:

Anker’s first solar-powered beach umbrella, which is part of its SOLIX lineup of energy-efficient products. This umbrella utilizes perovskite solar cells, which Anker claims are 30% more efficient in bright light and double the efficiency in low light, compared to traditional silicon solar cells. The umbrella is designed to charge devices via USB-C, delivering 80 watts of power, and can also power devices such as the Anker EverFrost 2 cooler through an XT-60 connection. Anker hopes this will be a complementary accessory to their electric coolers.

Timekettle: Timekettle introduced the W4 Pro earbuds, which provide real-time two-way translation for phone and video calls. The earbuds automatically translate calls in 40 languages, though there is a latency of three to five seconds. The translated audio is louder than the original, and the earbuds use AI to summarize conversations. The W4 Pro is powered by Timekettle's new Babel OS and will be available for $449.

Soliddd: Soliddd is one of a number of startups exploring smart glasses for accessibility. The Brooklyn-based startup is developing smart glasses specifically for people with macular degeneration, a degenerative eye disease affecting 30% of the population. The SolidddVision glasses use a unique lens array that projects multiple separate images to the undamaged areas of the retina. This technology allows the brain to create a 3D image with good acuity, simulating normal, in-focus vision. Soliddd is showcasing a prototype version of the glasses at CES 2025. 

Dell PCs: In a move to streamline its branding, Dell is dropping its iconic XPS, Inspiron, and Latitude brands, replacing them with simpler names: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. This change is intended to create unified branding across the Dell portfolio. However, the move has been met with public backlash, with some expressing concern over the generic nature of the new names. Dell states that the streamlining is to simplify the PC buying experience.

Key Trends From Day One

• AI is Everywhere: AI is the dominant trend, driving advancements in chips, robotics, and even home appliances.

  • Expect to see AI integrated into almost every device.

  • New Neural Processing Units (NPUs) in chips from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm enable more on-device AI processing.

• Robotics Revolution: Robots are becoming more sophisticated and autonomous.

• Autonomous Vehicles: AI is powering advances in autonomous driving. Nvidia is partnering with major automakers like Toyota and others, and using its Omniverse and Cosmos platforms to develop AI world models for training. and John Deere is producing autonomous tractors and dump trucks.

• Chip Innovations: New chips emphasize AI and power efficiency.

  • AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D are designed for gaming.

  • Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chip aims for multi-day battery life.

  • Intel is focusing on AI-enhanced power efficiency with its new Core Ultra 200H processors.

• Display Tech: Expect dazzling new displays with higher refresh rates.

  • Samsung has unveiled an OLED display with a 500Hz refresh rate.

  • LG’s new OLED TVs come with gaming-focused features.

• Smart Home: AI is making its way into smart home devices. New touchscreen interfaces and home energy management systems are here and focus on device integration and security and personalized home automation.

• Wellness Tech: New devices and services are geared toward personal well-being.

• AI in TVs: Google, Samsung and LG are all incorporating AI into their TV products.

Wrapping Up Day One

The energy here in Vegas is palpable, and we're just getting started. The Tech Buzz team will be on the ground all week to bring you the latest as it unfolds. Stay tuned; you won’t want to miss what’s coming next!

CES 2025 has shown that the tech landscape is rapidly evolving, with AI as the driving force across multiple sectors. The integration of AI agents into various applications and devices suggests a move towards more autonomous systems that are seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. As the industry continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI and related technologies, investors, founders, and technology enthusiasts should expect new opportunities as well as challenges.

The TechBuzz CES 2025 HQ 

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• DeepBuzz Highlight of news and insights from CES 2025 

• **Save our Virtual HQ here for all the items we publish as it happens (Bookmark it and come back to it once the dust settles)

Quote of Day One