Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking center stage at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, United States, with companies exhibiting the latest advancements in everything from hair-drying robots to self-watering gardens, showcasing the future of technology.
The 2025 CES, which takes place from Tuesday to Friday, has attracted a record number of exhibitors, with over 4,500 companies from more than 160 countries and regions participating, including approximately 1,400 startups, according to the U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the event's organizer.
At CES, creating efficiencies in daily life is also the focus of numerous Chinese companies such as Laifen, which demonstrates the power of its hi-tech hair dryer that can blow dry this woman's hair in just a few minutes. Chinese company Yarbo shows of its autonomous snow blower that can help clear driveway without the owner lifting a finger.
Robots at the show are increasingly ubiquitous, often blending into the background until they're noticed in unexpected places. A notable illustration is Mi-Mo, a cutting-edge AI robot capable of thought, action, and adaptation.
"We want to use it to have this robot inside the house, and we are proud of it. So, we made this kind of design," said Yuki Ishikawa, CEO of Jizai.
Mi-Mo has AI built into the device, so that the moving piece of furniture can even talk. Other startups are also using AI in different ways to drive efficiency. Gardyn is a complete indoor hydroponic garden where the gardeners hardly have to do anything to make sure their crop grows.
"You just select what you want to grow and the system grows it for you. The system actually has cameras, sees the plants growing in your garden and is going to be able to detect what type of plant it is, how fast it's growing, and this way it's going to optimize the growth of your plants for you," said FX Rouxel, Founder and CEO of Gardyn.
While the AI-driven system can certainly help people with a busy lifestyle, Rouxel hopes his tech will go beyond that, helping communities around the world become more efficient in the way they grow healthy food.
AI-powered innovations grab limelight at CES 2025
Beijing has stepped up efforts to provide support to international travelers with enhanced service centers and assistance points being set up at airports in the Chinese capital, as the expansion of visa-free policies in China sees the arrival of more people from overseas.
One-stop service counters have been operational in the international arrival areas of the Beijing Capital International Airport and the city's Daxing International Airport since the start of the year.
The counters offer over 20 types of essential services in areas such as finance, communication, transportation, culture and tourism, ensuring foreign visitors can find convenient information to help their travel go smoothly.
Foreign travelers can visit the counters to make cash withdrawals with their bank cards, exchange currency, and get help with downloading local mobile payment apps.
In the Mobile Services area, services such as the issuance of SIM cards for mobile phones and airport Wi-Fi access are provided.
Wang Shuo, an employee from China Unicom, one of the country's largest telecoms companies, introduced a special SIM card which is being offered to international travelers.
"It basically has three basic functions. First, it works like a regular SIM card, which means you can make phone calls and go on the Internet. Another one is you can make a payment with it without download any apps. You don't need Alipay, you don't need to download WeChat. The last function will be [for] taking public transportation, which means you can take buses or the subway," he said.
Additionally, travelers can buy a 'Beijing Pass' -- a versatile card designed to simplify transportation, sightseeing and shopping payments.
The counters also offer help and advice on how to buy subway tickets or airport shuttle bus passes, while a selection of brochures featuring cultural, sports and business activities are also available.
Staff say they are on-hand around the clock to offer assistance to all arrivals.
"We are here 24 hours a day and seven days a week. And if you have any questions, just come to this counter. We will try our best to help you and we always provide information about the terminal facilities and transportation and how to use the mobile payments and the common applications in China," said Cai Pengcheng, a staff member at a service center at the Beijing Capital International Airport.
Beijing continues to enhance services, assistance for int'l visitors
