Good morning, CES attendees!
We’ve met many a friendly robot, and we’re considering the needs of our pets while Amazon, Apple, and Google are pushing into one of our last remaining private spaces: our vehicles.
Not that they’re leaving our homes—Google announced scheduled actions and Amazon introduced a control center for Ring. But as new opportunities to smarten up our homes dwindle, big tech is making a grab for cars, and we could feel that tension in the halls. CES could easily stand for “Car Electronics Show.”
Amazon is leading the charge, with premier companies like Lamborghini and Rivian showcasing Alexa. “We want to bring your home into the car,” said one Amazon rep. And from voice-activated temperature control to music playlists, automakers are happy to oblige.
Hordes gathered around a bright blue model of Rivian’s R1T, a highly-anticipated electric pickup truck that could rival Tesla’s Cybertruck. While the R1T’s production begins in late 2020, Rivian has begun taking pre-orders for the vehicle, which has a 400+ mile range. It starts at $69,000.
A bipedal robot named Digit drew crowds during a joint demo by Ford and Agility Robotics. The two-legged device, which can lift up to 40 pounds, carried a pair of boxes from a table to a waiting vehicle. Ford imagines one day Digit could work in conjunction with autonomous vehicles, enabling fully-robotic deliveries.
Likewise, Toyota shared its vision for an autonomous (“woven”) city, which it plans to build at the base of Mt. Fuji. The company once again displayed its “e-palette” electric people-mover, which seem almost ready for the real world. Toyota recently announced that up to 20 of these automated vehicles will be used at the Olympic Village in Tokyo.
What to watch for today
It’s pronounced KWIH-bee. In the first media-themed talk today, Quibi CEO Meg Whitman and founder/board chair Jeffrey Katzenberg are expected to provide a sneak peek of their “quick bites” mobile streaming service. That’s 9:30 am at the Park MGM, Level 1, Park Theater.
Star panel. NBCUniversal hosts a keynote panel about the future of entertainment featuring five of its on-air stars: Terry Crews (America’s Got Talent), Ester Dean (Songland), Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), Mandy Moore (This Is Us), and Natalie Morales (Today Show). It’s 4pm also at the Park MGM, Level 1, Park Theater.
Highlights from the floor
Pets need tech, too. You can augment their lives with a glimmering gold hamster cat wheel, an egg that trains dogs and dispenses treats, a sliding-door opener so you never have to leave the couch, a Fitbit-like wearable for dogs, and a smart cat litterbox that analyzes urine. For a close-up of all these, check out our stories on Instagram.
The grid gets smart. Legrand, based in Limoges, France, is showcasing its smart electrical panel, which uses a hub in your fuse box to control devices around the house.
The coolest, most useful things we’ve seen are hearing aids. Make by Phonak, these look and work like wireless earbuds: letting the wearer listen to music and take calls, while also enhancing sounds around them. Phonak reps think earbud-looking aids could eliminate any stigma of wearing them—and getting them in the first place.
Lots of home security on display. The most intense system might be from Sunflower Labs, which launches a drone from an outdoor pod to shoot (video of) intruders on your property. Announced last year, first shipments are planned for mid-2020.
Peter Pan-proof your bedroom. The mischievous young boy never would have broken in if that nightlight watching the children was AI-powered. To this end, CES is rife with devices designed to help you monitor young children, from tracking their movement and limiting their phone calls, to ambient AI that watches their breathing, to a diaper-mounted monitor for quantifying baby waste.
Tips and tricks
Coffee hack. Waiting too long for java? Look for lunch/dinner spots in food courts that serve coffee. John got a decent cup at a Sbarro and was alone in line.
Tips to stay healthy. Hand sanitizer is great, but probably not enough. Rather than handshakes, go for fist bumps or avoid physical contact when possible. Simple strategies—like turning to the side to speak or listen and not touching your face—can also help you avoid a CES cold.
Did you need that jacket? Today’s weather will be just like yesterday’s—a high of 59ºF/15ºC—so adjust accordingly.
Party planner
FoodTech Live. Kitchen and food tech take centerstage at 6pm at Treasure Island Hotel (across from the Sands Expo). Registration is required.
Crypto happy hour. CoinDesk and the Vegas Crypto Meetup welcome fellow blockchain buffs for drinks at GOAT Sports Bar, 3805 W Sahara Ave, starting at 6 pm.
Quartz membership
Senior living and millennial living are starting to look alike. From a “Zen-inspired” senior community in California to on-demand meals from Postmates, a new crop of assisted living facilities have more in common with the hospitality industry than with hospitals.
Seen and heard
We witnessed a hilarious sex toy mixup at the Satisfyer booth when it became unclear who was controlling whose vibrator. “This one might be connected to another phone,” one rep said, as other toys buzzed around the table like popcorn kernels. (They sorted it out, but fun party idea?)
A security guy and his working dog walked by. When Emily asked what the dog was looking for, he quipped: “5G networks. She can’t find any.”
“Toilet tech is the talk of CES!”—a woman describing a high-tech bidet at Pepcom’s Digital Experience
“VR is back.”—a guy talking on the phone while walking through Eureka Park. (Also, did it ever leave?)
“Quartz… the router company?”
News from around the world
Tens of thousands of workers went on strike in India. They disrupted transportation and commerce to protest an economic slowdown—Indian growth reached its slowest pace in over a decade—and prime minister Narendra Modi’s economic reforms.
Impossible Foods abandoned talks with McDonald’s. The plant-based meat company said it first needs to scale up production before it tries to win a contract with the world’s largest fast-food chain. Rival Beyond Meat said its negotiations with McDonald’s are going “very well.”
Mercedes and Geely announced plans to build electric Smart microcars. They are each investing $390 million in the joint venture. The cars will be manufactured in China, with the German firm responsible for the design, and the Chinese company taking care of the engineering.
Matters of debate
Don’t go to grad school to learn. Only enroll if you want to improve your salary potential or change careers.
World War III memes are shockingly honest. Kids’ jokes about the end of the world betray a terrifying self-awareness.
Don’t call Taiwan a “renegade province.” That kind of vocabulary tacitly supports a pro-China stance.
Surprising discoveries
Astronomers discovered a “star nursery” in the Milky Way. It gets better—they found the massive star-forming structure because they are building a new map of our galaxy.
A chunk of human brain survived intact for 2,600 years. Researchers found that two proteins helped preserve the soft tissue for millennia.
Jupiter is throwing comets at Earth. Instead of protecting our planet from debris, researchers think Jupiter is creating it.
Our best wishes for a great day in Las Vegas. Please send any news, conference hacks, spinning cat wheels, and diaper trackers to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member.