CES is a great place to discover new gadgets and cool toys. Although the timing is bad because it occurs so soon following the holidays, it steals the vacations of those who must prepare for it. I still look forward to the event every year. AI, health and fitness equipment, PCs and robotics were all big this year.
This week, I will not be doing a Product of The Week because I think that each of the products listed could easily qualify and, given their differences, it would be difficult to pick a winner.
Let’s begin with the product that I am most lusting after.
Bodyfriend 733 Massage chair
Although I have a home massage chair and even massage seats in my vehicle, neither is a true massage. You can get a massage for $20,000 if you want to. Bodyfriend 733 Massage Chair.
It looks like an offspring of a Transformer mated to a yellow reclining chair. It is because this chair will perform physical therapy. This is important when you reach my age. It encourages stretching and movement, which could help you maintain your mobility in your later years.
It combines arm and leg exercises with massage functions using heat and magnetic hand-like pressue to create an experience that is unmatched in the category. The AI-driven system has 50 automatic programs that allow you to customize your experience. The price is worth $20,000 because of these features.
My wish list includes the Bodyfriend 733 Massage Chair.
Lenovo Legion Go S 8-inch Gaming Handheld
Image Credit: Lenovo
Lenovo has recently been putting a lot of effort into innovation and two products caught my attention. The first is the Legion Go S 8-inch gaming handheld — a handheld gaming PC. AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go Processor and integrated RDNA Graphics.
This product is a good example. currently available for $749 Pre-order this awesome little PC at Best Buy. It runs Windows 11 and is compatible with eGPU, which means it can play high-end PC gaming. It has built-in speakers and microphones, but no camera. I would suggest wearing headphones on planes if using this device.
With just one click, this device allows you to switch between PC, Xbox or Steam games. In the past this device class had been underpowered, but AMD’s latest unit has power to spare. This is a great example of how AMD has improved over the past decade. In May, a cheaper version of the AMD Athlon with less memory for $599 will be released. I believe that the $130 extra cost is well worth it.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen6 Rollable
Image Credit: Lenovo
However, foldable displays are still rare on PCs. Lenovo introduced a new technology called rollable displays. They were used in an impressive 14-inch laptop, but it can be expanded up to 16.7″ inches. This is an acceptable size monitor for a laptop that weighs less than four pounds.
Switching to a smaller screen on a laptop is very annoying for me, as I have a 49-inch Dell Monitor at my desk. This would be a great improvement in my productivity. I’m looking forward to this. The Intel Core Ultra processors provide strong performance, and Microsoft Copilot+ is compatible.
Granted, at around $3,500, this isn’t a cheap date, but if you need the space like I do, this could be well worth the extra cost — and the wow factor is off the charts. Only downside, I don’t believe you can use the screen extension in a coach (it expands upwards). This is the PC that I would like to have in my bag by 2025.
Nvidia Project Digitals: Grace Blackwell personal AI supercomputer
Image Credit: Nvidia
I have to admit that I expected Nvidia would do this and was not disappointed at CES. The Nvidia Keynote set the tone of the show. It included AI, robots, and autonomous vehicles.
What really blew my mind was the Nvidia Project Digits Personal computer It is one of the world’s smallest, most powerful supercomputers. It features an Arm CPU, a Blackwell GPU, 128GB of coherent, unified memory and up to four terabytes of NVMe storage (non-volatile Memory Express).
It runs Nvidia Linux (I assume Microsoft missed a conference) called DBX OS and offers server-level AI performances in a desktop form factor. This machine is for prototyping and fine-tuning AI models. It’s a must for anyone learning AI or using Nvidia Omniverse simulations.
Unfortunately, it won’t play PC games. But if you want to spend money on AI instead of spending your own, this machine is worth considering for 2025. The PC costs around $3,000 but is roughly the size of a book of “The Lord of the Rings”. Digits is a code name for AWESOME, which stands for AI Workstation Engineering System Operative Manufacturing Engine.
Tombot Jennie Robotic Puppy
As you age, you become more and more lonely. You also lose the ability of caring for your pets. You need companionship but even if your pet is well-cared for, it could be left homeless and traumatized in the event of your death.
Tombot created a robotic dog Jennie, a robotic puppy that looks and feels just like one. It is interactive, it responds to commands with voice, and it makes puppy sounds. However, the robot does not pee on your floors. It basically just sits in your lap to keep you company.
This product was designed for people who have been hospitalized or are mobility impaired and wish to own a dog but cannot care for it. This robotic Labrador is expected to be priced under $500.
Studies have shown A pet can improve the quality life of someone who is alone, lonely, or unable get out. Tombot Jennie can make a big difference to someone who is unable to smile because of age or infirmity. Giving them back their smile would be priceless.
Roborock Saros Z70 Robot Vacuum
I have three robot vacuum cleaners which are constantly running into socks, toys for pets, and any other item left on the ground. Wouldn’t a robotic vacuum be awesome if it could pick things up as it vacuumed. Roborock, who created the robot vacuum, must have agreed with me. Roborock Saros Z70The robot vacuum/mop can be purchased for $1,000. It has a robotic arm that allows it to pick things up off the ground.
This robot vacuum features a docking system where it can empty the contents of its vacuum cleaner. It will also automatically attach and remove mops, depending on your needs.
After watching the demos, it was clear that the software needed some work. So I wouldn’t purchase one at first. But once the software is sorted, this could be an excellent solution for families with children and pets. I hope it can identify dog poop and not drag it around the house like an older robotic vacuum did.
Oh, and the vacuum has an interesting Call & Cruise video function that will allow it to roam around your house so you can check on the status of your home remotely and yell at your kids or pets if they are getting into trouble. The vacuum is expected to be released around June this year.
OpenDroids R2D3 Ultimate Home Robot
The only problem is that it can’t climb stairs. This robot has dual lifting arm and is AI-enabled. OpenDroids R2D3 This is an amazing demonstration of where we stand with personal robotics.
OpenDroids offers a cheaper version as well R1D1 A single-armed robot that costs around $18,500 is shown using a handheld cleaner which could perform many of the similar tasks.
R2D3 is closest to Rosie – the Jetsons robot maid that we all wanted when I grew up. The robot is useful for those who are disabled and need help around the house, but it would be difficult to get up and down stairs because of its wheels.
The robot’s upper and lower body can be adjusted to suit the situation, suggesting that it could reach objects we would not otherwise be able to reach without a ladder. OpenDroids R2D3 may have been the most impressive robot in CES 2018.
Amp Strength Trainer
Like many others, I have been considering returning to the gym. I quit during the pandemic, but it is a drag to drive there early in the morning and the equipment you want to use may be being used already by someone else. I have a final excuse: viruses are spreading, so it’s likely that I won’t want to go to places where people congregate.
The home exercise equipment I had took up a great deal of space and over time, I had to give it away. The Amp home fitness machine It is AI-driven and has Peloton features that can be accessed via your smartphone or tablet.
The equipment costs $1 795, and the subscription for the trainers is only $23 a month. The price includes setup and delivery. Amp will be a great solution to help me maintain my physical health in the future. Strength training will become more important to maintain mobility, freedom, and flexibility as we age. It is due to be released in early 2025.
Realbotix Full-Bodied Robot
You can also find out more about the following: Realbotix The full-bodied robot looks frighteningly similar to Data from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. The fully-featured version costs between $175,000 and $200,000 (although you can purchase the AI bust at $10,000 but I’m sure it will try to convince you to buy her entire body). It is not a cheap date but it fits into a suitcase.
Unpacked, the robot will behave and walk just like a real human. I do not think that it’s on the right side of uncanny. The android is close to what we think an android will become in the future, but I find it a little creepy. It makes me worry about my future robot overlords.
Melody is closer to being a human than I ever thought possible. It is the best example of how far we’ve come in creating our own robots. Data android.
Wrapping up
CES 2025, held this year, was a great show. I didn’t cover autonomous vehicles or flying cars because they won’t be available until much later in the decade. CES was a show full of robots to help with recovery from injuries, exercise, house cleaning, or keep you company. There were also some amazing PCs designed for gaming, productivity and creating future AI. CES is the place where we can see the rapidly changing future.
I can’t wait until next. I’m hoping Skynet isn’t part of the show next year, but if you happen to know where John Connor might be, you could tell him it’s past time for him start preparing.
Everyone, Happy New Year! Let’s hope our AI- and robotic future is amazing!