Kembali ke CES setelah istirahat sepuluh tahun adalah sebuah perjalanan

Twelve years ago, I could have recounted the details of my first and third CES experiences with clarity. Each one felt like a distinct chapter in my life, with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. But now, 15 years since my first CES, the memories have become fuzzy. I remember missing my flight home from that first show and seeing a decreasing number of cameras over the years. There were team dinners and early meetings, but the timeline is hazy.

What stands out about my early CES experiences is how clueless I was. I had borrowed a Pentax DSLR from a colleague and insisted on wearing fancy dresses and impractical shoes to evening events. The lack of Uber meant long waits for cabs at the airport, and staying at the MGM Grand, complete with live lions. Breaking an 11-year streak, I returned to CES this year with a fresh perspective.

My role at CES 2025 is to explore the show floor, discover cool products, and share them on the site. I took this task seriously, minimizing meetings, accessing The Verge’s CMS on my phone, and opting for comfortable shoes for the miles of walking ahead. The journey began in the West Hall, where I encountered unexpected sights like giant tractors that weren’t there in 2014.

Robots were a highlight of this year’s CES, both in physical form and as AI technology embedded in various products. The show’s theme seemed to revolve around robots that could actually assist us in different ways, though some demonstrations had their mishaps. Despite the advancement in technology, navigating Las Vegas during the event remained a challenge.

Outside the convention center, I noticed both the changes and similarities in Vegas over the past decade. The new addition of the Sphere on the strip was hard to miss, and it played a significant role in Delta’s keynote presentation. The showmanship and spectacle of CES, reminiscent of a Vegas performance, struck me during this year’s event.

After 15 years of attending CES, I finally experienced a truly impressive 3D demo that left me in awe. The show’s ability to captivate and entertain, much like a theatrical production, was evident. Despite the behind-the-scenes coordination, CES still managed to evoke emotions and create lasting memories.