The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) wrapped up in Las Vegas on January 10, 2025. What began as an event centered on high expectations for AI transformation (AX) concluded with AI robots as the key theme. While CES 2024 focused on AX, CES 2025 demonstrated how deeply and rapidly AI is integrating into everyday life and improving business efficiency, effectively debunking the "AI bubble" theory.
South Korean tech giants reveal future household standards
According to ET News, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics showcased AI-powered ecosystems with themes of "AI Home" and "Empathetic Intelligence." Samsung's Vice Chairman Jong-hee Han emphasized that "Home AI" will be a pivotal direction for development, stating that the company had successfully integrated new technologies and smart functionalities into home appliances, setting a standard for future living space.
Both tech giants showcased how AI could seamlessly connect Internet of Things (IoT) devices across multiple brands, including their own, revolutionizing the traditional home environment. Their collaborations with global tech leaders like Microsoft and Google are pushing the boundaries of voice recognition, making it more natural, advanced, and competitive.
"One robot per household" could soon become a reality
Across CES 2025, AI-powered robots were consistently featured as the next driving force for technological evolution. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, stated in his keynote that the ultimate future of AI lies in "Physical AI." Samsung's Vice Chairman Han also underlined the company's focus on robotics as a key growth area, actively pursuing mergers, acquisitions, and investment opportunities in this field.
The event revealed several commercial blueprints for AI companion robots, signaling that the era of "one robot per household" is fast approaching. After LG, Samsung announced it would release its own AI companion robot in 2025. Chinese manufacturer TCL also made waves by debuting its AI robot "Ai Me," setting the stage for intense competition in the AI companion robot market.
Robots were a major highlight at CES 2025, with robotics-related exhibits drawing considerable attention. According to reports, Unitree, a Chinese robotics partner of Nvidia, attracted crowds with its booth, where robots demonstrated impressive capabilities like rising from the ground, walking toward people, and even shaking hands, captivating audiences with their lifelike interactions.
In addition, CES 2025 showcased humanoid robots capable of conversing and responding to humans, beverage delivery robots, coffee-making robots that could engage with customers, and pool-cleaning robots that can collect items and place them in baskets.
Credit: AFP
The AI Race: A matter of national strategy
With both individuals and enterprises accelerating their AI transformations, South Korean industry experts predict that developing differentiated national AI competitiveness strategies will become increasingly critical. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won remarked at CES 2025 that AI is an unavoidable field for all, asserting that failing to stay competitive in AI would erode the competitiveness of entire industries.
South Korean experts noted that achieving large-scale commercialization of AI is challenging, particularly given the difficulty of competing with China or the United States in terms of volume. Instead, they advise South Korea to concentrate on areas where it excels. For instance, given South Korea's manufacturing focus, leveraging AI to enhance productivity in this sector could yield significant benefits.
Credit: AFP