Howdy👋🏾. I got into Vegas for CES 2025 on Tuesday, sadly missing some great keynotes from execs like Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian. But I still managed to have three wonderful days at the Expo with friends. There’s something about starting my year off with CES—as I have for the last six or seven years—that sets the tone for what’s ahead. It’s a huge shot of excitement about the bleeding edge of tech and a reminder of just how much is possible. Where else can you see flying cars, transparent TVs, brain-reading AI devices, or glasses that translate languages in real- time? The tech of tomorrow is on display every day at CES.

To set the stage, let’s start with the keynotes I missed. Jensen Huang kicked things off on Monday, and while I couldn’t make it, Nvidia’s presentation was about cementing its status as the leader in AI and GPUs (watch here). On Tuesday, I had tickets to Delta’s keynote at the Sphere (watch here), which included a performance by Lenny Kravitz. But between jet lag and getting my bearings, I missed that one too. Delta seemed determined to remind us they’ve moved past last year’s catastrophic tech meltdown, which grounded flights longer than any other airline after a Crowdstrike-related failure. While their keynote framed them as tech leaders, it’s hard not to see the irony when my friend flying to CES on Delta faced constant tech issues trying to rebook flights during a winter storm.

For me, the action began on Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Day 1 was all about exploring the North, West, and Central Halls (we skipped the South Hall this time). From AI and IoT to mobility ecosystems and home tech, the LVCC showcases the breadth of what CES has to offer. Check out my day one hightlights 📼 here.

On Thursday, I made my way to The Venetian, covering its entire exhibit space, including the international pavilions and Eureka Park. This startup hub is always one of my favorite spots, where nearly 1,400 companies showcase innovations ranging from brilliant to bizarre. Here’s what stood out at The Venetian and Eureka Park.

By Friday morning, I was on an early flight home, having broke out even at the blackjack and craps tables. Maybe my odds will be better next year, but here are some thoughts:

Transparent TVs: From Futuristic to Functional

Last year, I was mesmerized by transparent TVs, calling them futuristic marvels that felt like something out of a sci-fi movie (read my CES 2024 thoughts here). This year, the focus shifted from their “why” to their “wow.” LG’s Signature Transparent OLED TV leaned heavily on its color depth and richness, delivering a display that could stand alone as a cool TV you’d buy simply because it’s stunning.

Beyond TVs, the advancements in display technology were fascinating, with flexible and shape-changing screens teasing a future where displays might not be confined to walls at all.

AI Oh My: Four Wild Innovations

AI dominated CES, infiltrating nearly every product imaginable. Some of the wildest applications included:

1. The $170K AI Girlfriend (Read more) – because who doesn’t need a virtual partner with a hefty price tag?
2. Spicerr AI Chef (TechCrunch coverage) – an AI that promises the perfect spice blend for your recipes.
3. 20-Second Toothbrush (More details) – a toothbrush that cleans your teeth in record time.
4. Bird Buddy AI Bird Feeder (Ars Technica coverage) – a camera-equipped bird feeder that uses AI to identify your feathered visitors.

AI continues to blur the line between meaningful innovation and clever marketing. Maybe I should buy the AI Powered Motion Pillow before I knock the AI of everything trend.

Robots: Cheaper, Smarter, and Making Great Coffee

Robots stole the show this year, with prices continuing to drop. Unitree unveiled its humanoid G1 robot for $16K, while its dog-like Go2 bot is now just $1.6K. These bots demonstrate how robotics is becoming more accessible for both personal and professional use.

One standout was the Artly coffee bot, a $60K robot that brews some of the best coffee you’ll find—complete with latte art. My crew and I sampled it, and it was hands down one of the best cups of coffee we had at CES.

Smart Glasses: Everyone’s in the Game

The smart glasses category exploded this year. XREAL continued to impress with its XREAL One Pro model, while Meta’s Orion AR glasses made waves and Meta’s AR-powered Ray-Bans outsold traditional Ray-Bans in some stores (TechCrunch analysis). Google and Samsung also entered the XR race late last year, signaling that competition in this space is just heating up.

Other notable innovations included glasses with bone-conducting microphones, making it easier for users to hear in noisy environments, and models with built-in real-time translation, bridging language barriers with seamless efficiency. Companies are also exploring more interactive interfaces, including 3D pens for controlling displays and gesture-based controls. Some designs are experimenting with how and where screens are mounted, from heads-up displays embedded in lenses to external clip-on screens that expand functionality without compromising style. These advances hint at a future where glasses become not just a tool for seeing but a complete interface for interacting with the world.

Brain Hacks and Tattoos

Brain-hacking tech was a standout trend this year. The OMI device lets users control devices with brainwaves, while an electric salt spoon tricked taste buds into sensing more sodium (read about it here).

And, of course, I had to visit the Prinker tattoo printer booth again. It seems like they haven’t updated their model in years, but I still love the concept. One day, I’ll bring one home.

Now my thoughts on tech & things:

🏆 My Proud Papa Moment in Mobile App Development – Seeing the PECO app, a project I oversaw as CTO of Mindgrub, mentioned on Daring Fireball was a proud moment. Built for reliability during outages and storms, this app serves millions across cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Philly. It’s a testament to the incredible teams that made it all happen.

🤖 If I Only Had a Brain – Seeing all those Unitree bots at CES made me think—maybe these machines just need a brain. OpenAI’s rumored robotics plans might be the spark that finally brings intelligent, adaptive robots into reality.

💡 Sonos and the Cost of Courage in Tech Missteps – Sonos finally said goodbye to its CEO after years of controversy over the disastrous app redesign. What followed were missed targets, layoffs, and frustrated users. Even with a new CEO, the journey ahead for Sonos users remains uncertain.

🌐 Mastodon and the Future of Open Source Ownership – Mastodon’s move to a nonprofit structure ensures its independence and highlights a key lesson for open-source projects: ownership matters. It’s a timely contrast to the ongoing WordPress drama, where centralized control over domains and governance has sparked debate about the future of open-source communities.

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January is shaping up to be a busy month, and I’m excited to kick it off with some incredible events!

First, I’m thrilled to speak at Social Media Summit 2025, a one-day digital marketing summit in Kinston, NC, on January 31st. I’ll be presenting a session inspired by my upcoming book, AI Evolution, now available for pre-order and set to ship in Q1 2025. (Beta readers, stay tuned for updates soon!)

That same week I’m in New Orleans to kick off the first of five hands-on AI workshops in partnership with Southern University’s Small Business Development & Management Institute. These workshops are hybrid and designed for entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals who want to unlock the potential of AI. These beginner-level workshops are perfect for anyone looking to get started:

January 28, 2025 Unlocking AI for Business Growth
February 11, 2025 Automating Business Tasks with Custom AI Agents

In February, WTCI’s AGILE series returns with its first event of the year at the Hopkins Carey Business School on February 19th. I’m working to finalize the panelists and am looking forward to diving into the global tech innovation landscape.

I hope to see you at one of these events. Here’s to a fantastic start to 2025!

-jason

P.S. What better way to end a newsletter so optimistic about technology and the future than with a reminder that the road to transformation can be slow—sometimes hilariously so. Case in point: a Waymo car was caught driving in endless circles, trapping its rider inside. Luckily, he turned on his camera to capture the moment, a perfect metaphor for the growing pains of innovation. Who needs roller coasters when we’ve got cool tech like this?