The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, kicked off for invite-only media keynotes on Monday, but the showroom will be open to paid attendees January 7-10 in Las Vegas. This annual trade show is held every year in January and showcases the latest innovations in the consumer electronics market. CES brings a sneak peak into the consumer technology trends that will shape companies and the market in the coming year.
Here are five consumer categories expected to see new tech this week:
Services: Subscriptions and services have been an explosively growing margin in the technology sector, with big names like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) leading the pack. Tech-enabled companies like GrubHub (NYSE: GRUB), Uber (NYSE: UBER), Blue Apron (NYSE: APRN), and plenty of other companies have cropped up in recent year to offer consumers convenient services, with many delivered to their home. Because services like these are easier to create and market than other products, the tech industry can expect to see many more.
Streaming: On top of services and subscriptions, the heart of CES over the years has been new TV tech and entertainment products. Companies that have revolutionized the video entertainment market in recent years include Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Hulu, Disney (NYSE: DIS), Apple as well as streaming boxes like Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU), Amazon Fire Stick, and Apple TV. Two of the eight keynotes at CES 2020 are being headlines by streaming services: Quibi and NBC Universal (NASDAQ: CMCSA), so it is safe to predict that streaming will be one of the innovation leaders in 2020.
Computers: A major part of the trade show is giving big chip companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (NASDAQ: AMD) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), as well as internet giants like Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), a chance to showcase new software. For 2020, trends in artificial intelligence and robotics may also steal the spotlight, as well as more smart-home, car, and office connected technology compatible with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.
Health: The fastest-expanding category at CES in the past few year has been innovations in health, fitness and wellness. New companies and technology that caters to accessibility, digital health, fitness, and wearables are expected to be present on the showroom floor.
5G: 2019 was a buzz of 5G announcements hitting the tech world, with mobile companies vying for the spotlight. Companies like AT&T (NYSE: T), T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been working towards becoming nation-wide providers of the service and CES 2020 may showcase more 5G compatible technology. Once 5G networks become more widespread, compatible devices will be able to access significantly higher data speeds and offer a more responsive service.