For the first time in two years, WiFi HiFi will be in attendance at CES in person. Taking place January 5-8, 2023, the massive technology trade show will see some changes this year, including an increased focus on different product categories, new exhibits, and plenty of new thought leadership programs, conference sessions, and keynote speakers.
The State to Date of CES 2023
During a CES media preview virtual event, Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) was joined by John Kelly, Vice President of CES and Kinsey Fabrizio, Senior Vice President of Membership and CES Sales, to discuss what to expect next year.
The overarching theme, says Shapiro, is innovation and purpose, including a new partnership with the Academy of Art and Science to show how technology can support human securities and rights, ranging from health care to food and clean water.
The show is already 50% bigger than 2022, says Shapiro, with 2,200 exhibitors already booked (since the event, that number has jumped to 2,400) and 1,000 new companies in areas like the Eureka Park start-up pavilions. The show will currently take place over 2 million square feet of space, with the potential to grow in the final weeks leading up to the big event.
What’s New at CES 2023?
While we can expect all the same usual exhibits, including the major brands showcasing TV and home entertainment products in Central Hall, along with innovations like wearables and smart home in the Sands Expo, there will be some new and expanded areas.
The metaverse was a big focus in 2022, and in 2023, the concept of Web3 will also be added. Web3 is defined as a new version of the world wide web that includes decentralization, blockchain, and more. The show will touch on how Web3 will impact not just areas like cryptocurrency and gaming but also medical training, beauty, and the automotive space. CoinDesk will serve as the title sponsor and producer of the “CES Web3 Studio Presented by CoinDesk,” and will offer a half-day conference program about Web3 covering cryptocurrency and blockchain news and innovations at the show.
Speaking of automotive, the new West Hall area of the show, which was introduced in 2022, has already sold out. There, show-goers will find innovations in automotive tech, not only from the car manufacturers but other brands as well like Bosch and Amazon with their car-related technologies. There will be more than 300 automotive exhibits in all, both in this hall as well as outdoors.
Additionally, new for 2023 will be a livestream from the international space station along with new conference sessions, including a fireside chat with the NASDAQ CEO and the return of the Extreme Tech Challenge, supported by Sir Richard Branson. There is also a featured keynote on The Future of Care in America: A New Hybrid Model. Other confirmed keynoters include representatives from John Deere, AMD, BMW, and Delta Air Lines. The most recent addition to the line-up is Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis who will unveil the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle Concept and the Peugeot Inception Concept and discuss the company’s vision for clean, safe, and affordable mobility.
Other areas of growth will include digital health, with products and technologies aimed at improving our overall health and wellness, and food tech. The C Space area, meanwhile, will serve as a storyteller stage for brands like TikTok, Snap, and Roku.
“We are thrilled with the show’s momentum and look forward to opening the halls of innovation in January,” adds Shapiro. “We’ll learn about emerging global economic trends, what’s next in healthcare, automotive, Web3/metaverse and see the nexus of technology for good.”
How to Prepare for CES 2023
The trio offers some solid tips on preparing for CES, including the usual advice such as to make sure you get enough sleep, wear comfortable shoes, bring chapstick, keep hydrated, and use the tools that are at your disposal on site to help navigate the overwhelming show. One of the most useful tools, they say, is the CES app, which will be launching soon.
A virtual version of the show will also be available to those who can’t make it in person, with all conferences available to watch online through to the end of February for those who wish to revisit them as well or who want to watch ones they couldn’t attend in person (or view them again).
For travel around Las Vegas and to and from the convention centres, they recommend using the free buses or finding people in taxi lines who are going to the same space to share rides.
After COVID, we have “learned how much we need other people to be with,” says Shapiro, noting that it’s also important to interact with others, whether it’s for a meeting, booth tour, or going for coffee or drinks.
But most important, use CES 2023 as a place to discover new and exciting things and explore opportunities. It’s in person, after all, where business is often conducted. And while technology helps us stay connected from virtually anywhere, nothing compares to in-person interaction.
Stay tuned for live updates from the show.