A Physician Goes To CES 2025: My Top 10 Takeaways
The Top 10
Now that I have returned to reality and had a chance to catch my breath, here are my top 10 overall impressions—medically related and general. 1. First, the numbers: The final statistics, courtesy of CES, are themselves pretty staggering. 4500+ exhibitors and 141K+ attendees, including 6K+ media. No wonder I’m worn out. The number of exhibitors and attendees was slightly up over last year.
2. As expected, AI was front and center, everywhere, all the time. While many presenters went out of their way to establish that AI was becoming embedded in products and what we all do, just like the internet or electricity, you couldn’t tell it from the exhibit floor. The AI capabilities of every product were being shouted from the rooftops, whether AI actually had a significant role in what was being offered or not. We are not over the hype cycle in consumer products or in medicine by any means.
Ahh, the products. With over 4,500 exhibitors, it’s impossible to see even the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to the products displayed. Here’s the thing, though. I would guess some 75-80% of the products displayed will never see the light of day again. They are just too experimental and pie in the sky to go mainstream, at least not yet. Some 15-20% of the products displayed do something that other, more established products already do. That leaves a small percentage of products that we will actually see in the marketplace. Why bother with the exhibit halls, then? It’s to see possibilities. It’s to see concepts and ideas. It’s to see products that may morph into products that actually do make it. What product did I see that I think may go mainstream? Eyeglasses that double as hearing aids. It is too a good fit between practicality and vanity to not work. One other end of the spectrum was the flying car that was touted as the first flying car to fit in your trunk. WTF?
On the top future uses of robots is in hospitals, such as delivering food or pharmaceuticals from the kitchen or pharmacy and/or caring for sernors at home, allowing assisted living at @home. There was an increased emphasis on robots this year. A few exhibitors displayed human-looking robots that could perform assembly line-type tasks. My guess is that a more efficient robot would be less human-looking and more practical-oriented. I don’t think we are beyond the cute stage for human robots quite yet.
Another thing I didn’t report on is quantum computing. I did go to several sessions and tried to get my head around it. (One presenter said classic computing is based on math, and quantum computing is based on physics. I sort of get it.) The best I can tell from all the presentations is that quantum computers will be supercomputers that exponentially increase what can now be done by classic computers. But most agree the technology is not yet far enough along to know precisely what applications can be developed to work with these computers. The use of quantum computing in medicine is unclear other than being able to do some things better and faster. One thing that all the quantum presenters did talk about (and about which they were visibly concerned) was the impact of quantum on cyber security. The sheer power of these computers could very well render most cyber security protections obsolete. And precious little appears to be being done about it.
10. Covid? What Covid? Very few people were wearing masks. Very few references were made to Covid anywhere. I got the distinct impression that the fear of Covid has faded into the woodwork. I got the impression that this show, more than any other, has entirely returned to the pre-Covid normal. We shall see post-show, I suppose. Pre-Covid, it was a standard joke that most attendees came down with the “CES crud” post-show. It may be that even if Covid hits attendees, we won’t hear much about it.
Medical technologies at CES 2025
Manufacturers and healthcare professionals actively participated in the event, driven by a shared commitment to finding innovative solutions that can enhance the support they provide to their customers and patients. Their presence reflects a collaborative effort to address pressing challenges in the industry, to improve overall health outcomes. By engaging in discussions and exploring new technologies, they aim to develop strategies that will not only meet the needs of their clients but also elevate the standard of care in healthcare settings.
- An ultrasound-guided stylet for external ventricular drains that provides real-time 3D imaging
- A single-use laparoscope lens cleaner that helps surgeons maintain visibility during procedures
- An AI platform that predicts pregnancy complications early
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- An AI-based companion robot doll that helps older adults with dementia feel less lonely
- A digital therapy platform that helps patients with ADHD and mild cognitive changes. (Neurodivergence)
- EYAS (EYe-ear-Attention System) Global-only computerized cognitive rehabilitation system linked to eye tracking. Maximization of the development improvement effect by linking the patient's vision with the system. Children with difficulty in learning and doing their assignments. Children with attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder.
- Children require flexible thinking in the cognitive process. Children with difficulty in visual and auditory perception.
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