The holiday season may be behind us, but there’s one winter tradition yet to unfold – CES, returning to transform Las Vegas into a haven for tech enthusiasts. Samsung is set to kick off the event with its annual CES press conference on January 8 at 2PM PT / 5PM ET, a day prior to the official opening of exhibitions. Engadget will have a dedicated team of a dozen staffers on-site at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, providing coverage for those eager to follow the latest developments. The livestream can be accessed on Samsung’s Global Newsroom site or via the provided YouTube video.
Given Samsung’s vast reach across various industries, you might be curious about the conference’s focus. In true Samsung fashion, the spotlight will be on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The press conference is aptly titled “AI for All: Connectivity in the Age of AI,” emphasizing the company’s commitment to the role of AI in shaping connectivity in our technological landscape. It’s a promising start to what is bound to be an exciting CES, with AI poised to take center stage in the company’s vision for the future.
What we expect
The upcoming CES event will be spearheaded by Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO, and Head of Samsung’s DX (Device eXperience) Division. While Samsung has maintained a level of secrecy regarding specific details, the overarching theme of “AI for all” suggests a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence. There’s speculation that the conference might shed more light on the anticipated chatbot Gauss, capable of tasks like email composition and coding, along with the unique ability to upscale low-resolution images.
Rumors suggest that Gauss is slated to launch with the forthcoming Galaxy S24 devices, making CES 2024 an opportune time for an official announcement. With the S24 line expected to release in mid-January, the unveiling could be just around the corner.
Considering Samsung’s primary focus on hardware, it’s unlikely that the entire keynote will revolve around AI. Last year’s press conference featured a diverse array of announcements, ranging from a smart oven with an interior camera to MicroLED and 8K televisions. As the countdown to CES continues, the anticipation builds, and we’re poised to witness the unveiling of Samsung’s latest innovations in both AI and hardware.
What Samsung announced
If you missed Samsung’s CES news conference, here’s a quick summary: they introduced the world’s first transparent MicroLED screen, a groundbreaking highlight. Additionally, the surprise return of the Ballie robot was announced, now equipped with a built-in projector and a revamped appearance. On the soon-to-be-available hardware front, Samsung presented new TVs, projectors, an HDMI 2.1 soundbar, a Music Frame speaker designed for Frame TVs (which we also had hands-on experience with), a smart monitor that operates independently of a PC, and a new TV interface that turns your television into a smart home hub.
During the event, we had a close look at Ballie. Engadget’s Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham observed that, despite its cuteness, it still lacks significant functionality.
