CES Tech Talk

It wasn’t magic that allowed Moderna to launch its COVID-19 vaccine in less than a year. In fact, the company successfully designed its coronavirus vaccine with dizzying speed thanks to artificial intelligence. According to Moderna CIO Brad Miller, once the company attained the sequence of the virus, it completed the design for its highly effective vaccine in a mere two hours. Miller has a lot more to say about AI, machine learning and other technologies as pharmaceutical businesses race to save lives threatened by cancer and scores of other critical illnesses. In this episode of CES Tech Talk, key takeaways include these: Developing medicines is like building software; for example, both employ platforms as the foundational operating system. Because Moderna is a platform company, it used the mRNA platform built for earlier research to speed delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. The highly efficient approach is also used for investigational mRNA medicines that could treat diseases ranging from flu to cancer. AI is programmed into Moderna platforms, and is used extensively across the company. Because the tech is so central to Moderna’s work, Miller offers best practices gleaned from long experience. Check out his comments on the company’s “AI Academy” and Moderna's AI application, mChat, for improving employees’ understanding of AI. Moderna is ALL ON for CES 2024. Stephen Hoge, Moderna president, will discuss AI in a speaking engagement on Thursday, January 11. Don’t miss his session, “The Future of Medicine: Individualized Treatments,” at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Think of high-speed gaming and esports with almost imperceptible latency levels of about .5 milliseconds. Then, remove the wires and add virtually impregnable security. That’s what Li-Fi, or light fidelity, delivers. Now, PhotonFi is making the tech available in the U.S. With a host of applications and performance advantages over Wi-Fi and wired options, PhotonFi and Li-Fi are poised to change the gaming, esports and streaming landscape. Find out how it works in this episode of CES Tech Talk with PhotonFi COO Mike Fasulo and Gamer World News CEO Gayle Dickie. Here’s a sneak peek: To gauge the market opportunity for PhotonFi and the Li-Fi tech, consider that: Some 3.2 billion gamers around the world are growing the sector to about $4 billion in revenue. The U.S. has more than 45 million esports viewers with total prize money in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Li-Fi is deployed primarily in Europe for mostly military, aerospace, financial and transportation purposes but is moving to gaming markets. PhotonFi’s Mike Fasulo notes that the tech is ideal for larger-scale IT, enterprise and gaming organizations. It’s not yet feasible for at-home or individual use. Good news for when the tech is more consumer-ready for gamers and esports athletes: Activating it will be as simple as inserting a dongle into any standard gaming device and selecting Li-Fi for the network connection.

The waves, the spray, the exhilaration that typify the boating lifestyle are within reach with technology Brunswick is applying to maritime experiences. The company has leveraged a range of innovations to become the largest recreational marine company in the world. CEO David Foulkes explains how Brunswick’s systems, sensors, joystick controls, GPS and more give boaters what they want, whether they’re beginners, seasoned seafarers or weekend water warriors. For example: Brunswick’s autonomous tech uses sensors and controls familiar to gamers to head off, among other issues, docking complexities that can plague even experienced boaters. That’s important when the docking site is a tight fit or located in choppy water. The connected and electric components of the ACES (autonomous, connected, electric and shared) framework mean, respectively, that boats can be monitored and secured remotely, and propelled more sustainably with electric outboard motors. Through Brunswick’s Freedom Boat Club, which is the largest of its type in the world, membership affords access to some 400 boating locations and 5000 vessels across the U.S., Europe and beyond. With more than 100,000 members, club participants benefit from variety, convenience and carefree maintenance. Look for the marina of the future by Brunswick at CES 2024. The exhibit will demonstrate the diversity of Brunswick boats, as well as the accompanying technology, and new formats including e-foils and e-surfboards.

Can investing in technology for the good of humankind really pay off? Discover how companies that embrace human security principles not only contribute to a better world but also thrive in their markets. In this episode of CES Tech Talk, great minds from the worlds of diplomacy, finance, education and technology discuss how the aims of the UN-supported Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign can be tangibly realized. Hear from former New Zealand Ambassador to the U.S. Amanda Ellis and Jonathan (Jon) Miller, former chairman and CEO of AOL and News Corp Digital Media, as they detail how the tech industry can measurably improve sustainable development goals (SDGs) specified by the United Nations. Highlights include these points: Human security plays a crucial role in how well lives are lived, globally. CES 2024 will demonstrate solutions that show how tech can counter climate, healthcare, economic and other challenges. As the Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign extends into another year, look for its themes across CES 2024. When businesses invest in the types of human security initiatives that reflect the HS4A mission, they can compete more powerfully. The guests explain how. Regarding competitive advantage, Ambassador Ellis discusses research showing that millennials prefer to work for companies that are purpose-driven, and whose brands are associated with a cause. She points out that HS4A is the next big idea that can inspire this and other generations.

With America’s 330 million farmed acres faced with climate and resource challenges, every seed is precious. Fortunately for Earth and its crops, John Deere is the champion heavyweight for sustainable and highly productive agriculture. Using robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced connectivity and automation, this company is constantly inventing new ways to maximize yields as economically and sustainably as possible. The tech is necessary to help farmers coax as much return as possible from the land they also must nourish and preserve. Discover in this episode of CES Tech Talk how John Deere, a 186-year-old enterprise, innovates futuristically for an ancient profession. John Deere’s manager for tech stack architecture Crystal Wells explains that: Farmers, who are overwhelmingly 55-plus years old, are among the most tech-forward professionals in the U.S. They have to be, given their daily struggles with weather and other variables. John Deere prioritizes AI and robotics in its advanced-tech arsenal. AI underpins sensors that track conditions to constantly adjust machine settings. Robotics counter a shrinking labor force by automating equipment. With 500,000 machines connected today, John Deere intends to connect 1 million more. The data gathered will be used to further improve productivity. For those interested in a tech career, agriculture is a gold mine of opportunity. The sector’s challenge is surpassed only by the importance of its mission, and success depends on diverse perspectives.

What’s a beauty company doing at CES, the most powerful tech event in the world? Find out from the expert, L’Oréal’s augmented beauty and tech leader, Guive Balooch. He explains how the best beauty outcomes are far more than skin deep. Advanced engineering and chemistry underpin L’Oréal products so that consumers of all types can look and feel their best. From biotech and synthetic biology to AI and augmented reality, L’Oréal is helping individuals customize how they show themselves to the world. In this episode of CES Tech Talk, you’ll discover that: L'Oréal was founded 110 years ago by a chemist. Today, it’s the largest beauty company in the world with 35 well-known brands. As the dominant player in beauty-sector accessibility, L’Oréal has applied AI to deliver HAPTA and Brow Magic as counters to limited mobility; these devices, respectively, allow users to expertly apply lipstick and shape eye brows. With six years of AI experience, L’Oréal is now poised to explore generative AI as it continues to develop the future of beauty through science and technology. Moving to the metaverse, L’Oréal recently launched a Microsoft Teams collaboration with its Maybelline brand to explore virtual makeup during conference calls. No physical product needed.

First announced at CES 2022, the Samsung Gaming Hub has taken gaming to greater heights in the cloud. Today, it’s a 3000-plus game platform where consoles and controllers no longer separate players from their their favorite interactive adventures. Now with partners including Blacknut and its 700-game library, Samsung has enjoyed a 13-fold increase in the hub’s user base since its launch. In this episode of CES Tech Talk, experts from Samsung, Blacknut and CTA discuss how new audiences are playing games from anywhere, on any device, without worrying about hardware or storage. Listen to Samsung’s Mike Lucero, Blacknut’s Daphné Parot and CTA’s Brian Comiskey as they explore: Gaming’s evolution from a strictly entertainment activity to one that powers deeper social connections The merits of the “virtual console” for creating an interface that’s comfortable for, and accessible to, new players looking for alternatives to traditional consoles and controllers Samsung streaming partners, like Blacknut, that enable lightning-fast access to games that can be accessed instantaneously Advantages the platform provides to producers and content creators seeking new audiences The untapped potential of generative AI in reshaping the gaming industry

The TV streaming business is booming, but its future is in question. With two strikes in the broadcast content world, and forecasts of streaming spends north of $45 billion, what’s really happening behind the scenes of America’s top entertainment medium? Untangling the opposing forces behind our favorite shows are two experts on industry intel and research: Andrew Wallenstein, Variety’s Intelligence Platform lead, and Jessica Boothe, CTA research director. They discuss the factors that are shaping streaming experiences, among them the cost to consumers. Episode topics include: Prospects of growth – good, or not so much - in streaming services The content-quantity sweet spot for the streaming consumer Meghan Markle and the revenue potential of old shows that are new to you Ads, sports content and deciphering what audiences want Emerging trends in Millennial and Gen Z content consumption

It’s coming your way, and to the highway. It’s an autonomous vehicle (AV) platform that will change the driving experience as we know it. AV tech company Mobileye is completing a platform that dramatically simplifies transitioning regular cars to operate autonomously. Hear from Mobileye SVP Nimrod Nehushtan as he discusses how far the tech has come in making autonomous driving reliable and feasible. Companies like Volkswagen and Porsche have aligned with Mobileye and the AV-driving future. Should you? Find out.  In this episode, you’ll:  Get a drivers-seat view of the Mobileye platform as its road tested   Find out what’s in the platform, and how it can be integrated into essentially any car   Better appreciate the technical sophistication involved in bringing safe autonomous driving to consumers 

Disproving the assumption that spaceflight is only for the wealthy, this episode of CES Tech Talk tells the story of spaceflight experiences for the general public. Imagine seeing the world from the heavens, free of borders and boundaries, then returning to Earth with a renewed appreciation for our shared global ecosystem. Watch to learn how two companies, Space Perspectives and Base Ventures, are making this a more accessible reality. In this episode, you’ll:  Discover new heights in the travel experience with Space Perspective's unique approach to space tourism   Learn how space travel has the potential to alter quality of life through new adventures   Better appreciate the vital role diverse voices play in sparking innovation, underscored by the Base Ventures dedication to empowering underrepresented communities to become tomorrow’s leaders