CES is one of the most powerful tech events in the world, introducing us to new technologies and innovations that will change our everyday lives. At this year’s event, we were blown away by some of the new products and services on display…
Highlight technologies
Let’s start with the showstopper – Hyundai’s Air Taxi. The concept of flying cars has been around for decades, but this year it felt like it might actually become a reality. It has been reported that Hyundai’s air taxi division (Supernal) is aiming to complete a test flight by the end of 2024 and assemble a production prototype by 2026 – a huge indication that confidence is building in connected technologies.
Also in the works for Hyundai is a partnership with Samsung to develop “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services. Through the SmartThings platform, users will be able to perform a variety of actions pertaining to their cars while at home – starting them, controlling smart air conditioning, opening and closing windows and checking their charging status. And from cars, the control of home appliances such as TVs, air conditioners and EV chargers will also be possible.
Beyond this, we saw some incredible advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) – from robot companions to home cleaning systems. However, we cannot overlook the fact that the widespread adoption of such advanced technologies hinges on consumers’ trust in their safety and security. The road to mass acceptance involves addressing these concerns and ensuring a seamless integration into our daily lives.
An honourable mention must also go to artificial intelligence, which was ever present at this year’s CES. While no singular breakthrough dominated the event, we saw a range of AI-infused products, from pillows to mirrors and dog collars, demonstrating the growing integration of artificial intelligence into our daily lives. Clearly, there’s huge potential for artificial intelligence to transform the everyday, however we need to stay focused on developing trusted AI systems that provide the foundation for future innovation.
Innovative connectivity solutions
The technology underpinning these innovations is becoming increasingly integral to the CES narrative. As we explored the event, it became clear that our future lives are going to be more connected than ever before, and attendees wanted to know as much as they could about how to build products in a secure and scalable way.
We were proud to be on the ground, showcasing our solutions for massive IoT deployments. This year, IoT demos stole the show, as attendees came to realise the crucial role eSIM plays in future connectivity.
With the IoT market set to experience significant growth, eSIM technologies will open the door to new ways of managing millions of objects, securely and remotely. This will provide enhanced flexibility over the entire device lifecycle – enabling rapid service transformation and opening the door to new, eSIM based services. Some of the technologies showcased at the event included:
- Thales IoT SAFE: This can be summarised as scalable security for robust IoT infrastructure. The GSMA introduced the IoT SAFE Initiative, with SAFE standing for IoT Sim SIM Applet For Secure End-to-End Communication. These specifications were launched to address the cyber security of the IoT devices and IoT cloud security, and results are achieved through leveraging the IoT SIM card.
- Thales Adaptive Connect: This solution provides flexible eSIM remote management for consumer, M2M and massive IoT. Relying on the GSMA consumer specifications, Thales Adaptive Connect (TAC) enables remote connectivity management of an entire fleet of IoT devices. This will be crucial for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and global Connectivity Service Providers (CSPs) to take advantage of the consumer and IoT growth opportunities.
- Thales eSIM as a Service for Private Networks: This is an end-to-end solution for issuing and managing subscriptions remotely. Relying on the eSIM/SIM framework, these solutions provide excellent benefits for Private Network use cases. This includes an out-of-the-box connectivity experience for private network users, based on our bootstrap service, and Private Network adaptation in line with changing regulatory, technology and business conditions.
Until next time, CES
CES has become far more than a gadget show. At this year’s event we got to see a glimpse of the future, but we also got a deep dive into the work that is happening behind the scenes to help consumers enjoy all these new products and services safely and securely. Building confidence in this foundational technology is what will really help to accelerate innovation and adoption in the real world.
