AI agents, healthcare technology shine at CES pre-event

(Yonhap)

Cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) agents and advanced healthcare technologies took center stage at Unveiled, a pre-show event of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas.

Japanese company Mixi Inc. introduced Romi, a droplet-shaped conversational robot with over 150 facial expressions and movements.

Designed for older adults lacking companions and families unable to raise pets, Romi can sing 30 songs and express emotions when petted, mimicking a pet-like interaction.

U.S.-based Open Droids unveiled R2D3, a home robot equipped with wheels and height-adjustable robotic arms.

Demonstrating its utility, the robot opened a beverage can at the event and is capable of assisting with chores like dishwashing and folding laundry.

Smart glasses featuring AI agents also gained attention, with five companies debuting their products.

China’s Moody Holdings Inc. unveiled Halliday, proactive smart glasses that answer questions during meetings, generate meeting notes, and display user-specific information on a small screen.

Other offerings included Loomos with GPT-4o integration, Rokid’s AR-powered Rokid Max 2, and lightweight Mustard Glasses.

The digital healthcare sector introduced cutting-edge products.

Canadian company Eli Health debuted a saliva monitoring kit that analyzes hormone levels in under a minute when placed in the mouth. Resembling a Covid-19 test kit, the device delivers results via an app. Current offerings include cortisol and progesterone test kits, with plans to expand to additional hormones.

Japanese food and beverage giant Kirin Holdings Co. introduced an electric spoon that enhances salty flavors by emitting microcurrents to amplify sodium ions, enabling users to perceive food as saltier. Designed to support low-sodium diets, the spoon offers adjustable saltiness across four levels.

Other innovations included a healthcare mat measuring body weight and balance, and an AI wireless stethoscope for diagnosing asthma in children.

Several unique devices were also on display, such as the Hagamo Sphere, a spherical drone developed by Japan’s DIC Corp., capable of stable ground movement and multi-directional flight without rotation.

China’s Speediance debuted the Gym Monster 2, a multifunctional smart fitness machine featuring a large display for guided workouts and AI-driven personalized exercise recommendations.

Aurzen showcased its compact Aurzen Zip foldable projector, while FaceHeart unveiled CardioMirror, a health-monitoring mirror.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organizer of CES 2025, projected a 3.2 percent increase in global consumer electronics revenue to $537 billion for 2025.

Hardware sales are expected to grow by 2.6 percent to $353 billion, while software and services are forecasted to rise 4.6 percent to $184 billion.

However, the CTA warned of potential setbacks from a trade war under the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump, which could severely impact laptop and gaming console sales.

CTA highlighted AI‘s transformative role in driving upgrades across devices such as smartphones, laptops, TVs, smart glasses, and vehicles.

It also emphasized the growing importance of smart homes, with 80 percent of U.S. consumers considering them essential for aging populations.