Image by Aidin Geranrekab
AI dominated CES 2025 as a marketing tool, though its intangible nature poses challenges compared to past trends like robotics, drones, and home entertainment, writes Don Southerton.
This week in Branding in Asia
I’m back in Colorado after spending a week at CES in Las Vegas. I’ve collected my thoughts on this year’s CES show and would like to share them with you.
CES is the most influential technology event in the world, serving as a proving ground for groundbreaking technologies and global innovators. Thousands of exhibitors, media representatives, and industry professionals attend this trade show in Las Vegas every year.
In short, much of the buzz surrounding CES 2025 focused on AI. I was chatting with a long-time colleague from the automotive industry who visited our Incheon-IFEZ booth, where I spent most of my time. I pointed out that we were specifically located in the AI section. After a day of exploring the CES pavilions, he commented, “Don, the whole show is AI.”
I did come to the show with some insights.
Of the 41 businesses from South Korea hosted by the City of Incheon and the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), I supported their market entry plans, reviewed their websites, and improved the Korean translations into English. Most of them included AI in their branding or used “AI-enabled” in their product descriptions.
Of the 41 South Korean businesses hosted by Incheon and IFEZ, most featured AI in their branding or product descriptions.
For instance, tech media outlet The Vertical highlighted one of our top brand choices, Sheco. This all-in-one recovery robot is designed to address various water pollutants, including small-scale oil spills, algae, and container dust. Sheco also provides software and support equipment options such as autonomous driving, water monitoring, AI-powered cameras, and a control dashboard.
This reference to AI was the trend throughout the show and was this year’s attention grabber as a marketing tool. However, I feel it often presents a challenge to showcase AI since it is invisible. I have observed this less with products in the past when robotics and drones captured attendees’ interest because they were more tangible and visual, and more so over the years when home entertainment and the latest widescreens dominated.
It’s no surprise that Tech Buzz reports a significant portion of 2024’s largest investment deals went to AI-focused companies, with nearly a third of all global venture funding directed toward AI-related sectors.
Upon closer examination, AI emphasizes the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. As demonstrated at CES, it spans applications in every consumer tech category and across the 4,000+ exhibiting companies worldwide.
I expect that at next year’s CES, we will see more advancements in AI as the technology evolves and continues to capture attendees’ interest.
Don Southerton provides strategy, consulting, and training to Korea-based global businesses.
Source: https://www.brandinginasia.com/ces-2025-yes-it-was-all-about-ai/
South Korea Hancom Group to exhibit at CES 2020
Who is Hancom? How does Hancom envision Robotics, Smart City and AI Life Blockchain technology?
For Immediate Release
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, Dec. 13, 2019 /Hancom Group, South Korea’s leading ICT company today announced that it will participate at CES 2020, Jan.7-10, 2020, in Las Vegas. The company will present its visions for making the world better through pioneering future innovation for an ever-evolving tech industry.
Rendering of the Hancom Group CES 2020 Exhibit
The new exhibit will be located at South Hall 2, AI & Robotics, Booth 25628 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Who is Hancom?
Hancom like the other highly recognized South Korean market leaders will share with the industry how it uniquely envisions Robotics, Smart City and AI Life Blockchain technology.
How Hancom sees Robotics
Led by Hancom’s Convenient World vision for work and life, Toki is one in a line-up of specialized robots for home and educational use. With customized AI conversations through face and voice recognition tailored to each family member, Toki also has home monitoring and video calling capabilities. Come experience Toki live at the Show.
Toki, Home and Education Robot
How Hancom sees Smart City and Blockchain
Driven by Hancom’s Safe World vision, the innovator has developed an Intelligent City Platform, the next-generation smart city platform creating a secure urban ecosystem by connecting everything to each other utilizing the latest technologies. This connectivity will improve city services and infrastructure, as well as the quality of life for urban dwellers.
The Intelligent City Platform acts as urban control tower integrating AI technology, blockchain and IoT, while utilizing real-time data for easy visualization.
Intelligent City Platform
On Life Blockchain, Hancom’s efforts are game changing and wide ranging. They include a seamless, private blockchain platform to allow privileged user access, providing electronic contracts, document notarization services, civic applications/certifications and public data access.
Life Blockchain
“As South Korea’s leading ICT company, we look forward to sharing at CES how Hancom will contribute to make the world Smarter and Better,” Dr. Peter Wonsok Yun, President of Global Business, Hancom Group.
Pre-show and Show media interviews are welcome.
About The Hancom Group
Founded in 1989, today Hancom Group is a leader in creating innovative ecosystems that will lead the world through the convergence of technology.
With its reach of 13 affiliate companies covering Hardware, Software, and the Finance industry, the Group’s mission is to create a “Convenient World, Connected World, and Safe & Secure World.”
Convenient World
Hancom Inc. Global smart work solutions from AI to productivity software solutions.
Hancom MDS Intelligent convergence solution leader based on IoT and embedded technology IoT.
Hancom Mobility Sensor-based smart parking sharing solution.
Hancom Robotics Intelligent logistics and service robots.
Connected World
Hancom Interfree Voice recognition and translation that remove language barriers.
Hancom Teladin IoT-based wireless solutions.
Hancom Talkafe Communication solutions.
Accufly.AI AI-based solutions for barrier-free communication with the best technology from Korea & China.
Safe World
Hancom WITH Next-generation smart city platform creating a secure urban ecosystem based on blockchain.
Hancom Lifecare Integrated safety solution ranging from personal safety equipment to social safety.
Hancom GMD Mobile Forensic & AR/VR Solution based on Digital Data Analysis.
Hancom Investment Investing in companies with excellent technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Media Inquiries
Don Southerton 1-310-866-3777 Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
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