By Barbara Smith, Contributing Writer
AI’s role in tech industries was a central theme at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas, showcasing how this pervasive technology is now embedded in the simplest and most complex technologies that are part of today’s world. Heralded as the world’s largest trade show, CES delivered groundbreaking innovations in technology, ranging from an auto-flying aircraft that packs up into the trunk of a car to TCL’s massive 115-inch television, reputed to be the world’s largest, to humanoid handshaking and somersaulting robots. Tech executives, inventors, and consumers from over 150 countries, all with a passion for how advances in technology are transforming industries and our lives, gathered for the 4-day confab where 45,000 exhibitors showcased their wares.
Product launches of AI-controlled devices with special appeal included a robotic window cleaner for home and business; a fold-up home projector, the size of a deck of cards, that can project 90 minutes on one charge; and smart glasses that project textual information, such as translations, notifications, and incoming messages. With the U.S. pet industry spending projected to surpass $150 billion this year, pet lovers came in droves for demos of AI-controlled devices used for health monitoring, disease diagnosis and treatment, dog and cat multifunctional grooming tools and even a self-flushing smart cat toilet. Some of the cool debuts in robotics included the Mirokai robot designed for elderly care and Tombot’s realistic puppy robot, endearing in its scientifically based work with dementia patients.
Educational displays promoted the San Diego Festival of Science, scheduled for March 1 at Petco Park, as part of the innovative Curiosity Cube, a mobile interactive science lab that aims to increase access to science education for diverse youth, exposing them to real-life scientists to explore STEM careers.
CES always offers center stage to celebrities and this year was no exception. Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis spoke of the promise of technology bringing diverse populations together at Delta Airlines’ 100-year celebration at the spectacular Sphere venue, where CEO Ed Bastian unveiled groundbreaking aviation milestones and the airline’s commitment to innovation. Musician and tech entrepreneur Will.i.am headlined a conversation on AI’s impact on music.
First-time CES attendee Samantha Johson was excited to learn about new technologies in the area of communication. A graduate of San Diego’s O’Farrell Charter School, the CSU San Marcos student was excited to see a revolutionary AI-powered sign language translation device that bridges communication barriers for the deaf and hearing impaired. “It was a huge thing for my career goal of working with American Sign Language,” she said. Johnson was accompanied by her mother Tammy Johnson and grandmother Kalinda Hart. Johnson was impressed with Delta Airlines’ many personalized customer service innovations, which she saw as possible additions to her own work as a small business owner. For Hart, a retired LVN, of special interest was a new non-invasive glucose monitoring device.
With DEI programs being rolled back in the federal government, CES maintains its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the stated mission that “different voices, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and perspectives must be blended into the workforce.”
Aisha Bond, President of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, participated in a panel discussing ways to leverage AI to address skill gaps and prepare employees for emerging roles in the AI-driven economy. Studies estimate that by the end of 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, necessitating the need for businesses to adapt while ensuring equitable opportunities for all workers. Recognizing that bias awareness must be part of the AI revolution, potentially affecting Black workers with job displacement, Bond looked at ways to create new career paths. “We need to consider what this is going to do for us rather than to us,” she said, “and help redefine what AI can mean for our future in positive ways.”
While there is still room for growth, the African American presence appeared slightly higher than in past years. Raytheon engineer Curtiss Miller, with a special interest in gaming, found NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote fascinating in the tech exec’s vision for how his company’s products will drive gaming, robotics, personal computing, and even self-driving vehicles forward. “But even if you’re not interested in technology,” he said, “it’s great to be here because it makes you a more educated shopper. Seeing all the exhibits gives you a more knowledgeable perspective for TVs, cameras, computers and all that is part of our daily life.”
