The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) of 2025 became a pivotal event, particularly notable for the dominant presence of Nvidia among the so-called "Seven Sisters" of the U.S. stock marketFrom the enthusiastic crowd queuing for keynote speeches to the buzz around their latest graphics card releases and the highly anticipated Project Digits set for a mid-2025 launch, Nvidia's founder Jensen Huang left a lasting impact with his candid remarksIn a competitive environment where companies continuously strive to outshine one another, his statement regarding the timeline for quantum computing became a talking point that reverberated throughout the show.

Huang's assertion that, "If we can create a truly useful quantum computer within 15 years, it might be considered early," sent shockwaves through the marketFollowing these words, stocks in quantum computing companies such as Rigetti Computing, IonQ Inc., and D-Wave Quantum Inc. saw immediate downturns, marking a memorable moment for attendees of CES 2025 who closely followed the developments in technology and finance.

This year, major players like Tesla and Apple notably abstained from establishing their presence in the exhibition hallsThe visitor registration data revealed that only a handful of attendees claimed to be Tesla employees, whereas Apple had a more substantial representationJust a few days into the event, market responses reflected the absence of these tech giants: as of January 9th, Nvidia, Google, and Meta experienced declines over three consecutive days, while Tesla and Apple, despite their absence, only registered minor downturnsMicrosoft, on the other hand, managed to recover from its slight dip after making an appearance.

The vibe on the exhibition floor showcased intense competition among several firmsCompanies like Google and Amazon were heavily entrenched in a battle for dominance in enhancing voice interaction capabilities through their large language models, particularly aiming at the home environment

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Google unveiled plans to integrate its Gemini AI technology into third-party televisions operating on Google TV, allowing for improved functionality through voice commands and better content discovery, especially involving YouTube.

In a similar vein, Amazon's Alexa and Echo product lines highlighted their advancementsThe next generation of Alexa will leverage Anthropic's Claude AI model, enhancing its functionality significantlyAt the event, Amazon showcased their Fire TV with integrated Alexa capabilities, offering users a personalized experienceAdditionally, they introduced high-tech features in BMW vehicles and collaborated with Kidde for smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, further blending smart home solutions with automotive technology.

A competition also transpired between Amazon and Meta in the realm of AI glassesHowever, the customer experience at Amazon's booth was less than stellarReportedly, the sound quality from the AI glasses was overwhelmingly loud, and attempts by attendees to use the wake phrase "Hey Alexa" to lower the volume failed repeatedlyUnlike Meta, whose collaboration with EssilorLuxottica on the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses generated a buzz due to its integrated micro-display for notifications, Amazon's offering did not stand out and lacked a display feature, limiting its appeal.

This year, AI glasses and augmented reality (AR) devices emerged as hot topics, although many of the exhibited products did not necessarily introduce noveltyCompared to their predecessors from five years ago, the glasses have become noticeably lighter with a wider field of view, yet issues regarding brightness in varying lighting conditions and battery life still need resolution.

Microsoft took the stage at CES to proclaim that 2025 will be recognized as the "Year of Windows 11 PC Updates." With the phase-out of support for Windows 10, the company anticipates a shift towards upgrades for usersMicrosoft’s emphasis extended into the automotive arena, where they showcased innovations integrating generative AI and autonomous systems within vehicle design and customer experiences

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