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CES highlights: AI-equipped robot ball, Sony electric car, Walmart AI checkout and LG transparent LCD TV - MarketWatch

The high-tech industry’s Super Bowl, CES, has taken over Las Vegas this week with a collection of eye-catching products for consumers to use at home, on the road and in stores. And it is all creating quite a buzz.

The happenings are likely to set an agenda for the use of AI, electric cars, and glitzy TV technology for 2024 and beyond. Tft Module

CES highlights: AI-equipped robot ball, Sony electric car, Walmart AI checkout and LG transparent LCD TV - MarketWatch

Among the products showcased at CES, the Consumer Technology Association’s annual trade show, is the latest version of Samsung Electronics’ 005930, +1.09% Ballie, an artificial-intelligence-equipped robot that can handle smart-home requests, make phone calls and even feed your pet. The latest update to the yellow sphere lets it project images onto the floor, wall or ceiling as it follows you around your home.

However, the company only showcased the robot in a video and didn’t provide any details about if or when Ballie might be released or how much it could cost.

Sony Honda Mobility SONY, +2.51% HMC, -0.09% reintroduced the Afeela electric car by driving it onto the stage using a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

Walmart Inc. WMT, +0.13% on Tuesday unveiled retail services designed to improve the customer experience, from search tools powered by generative AI to technology that eliminates checkout lines at Sam’s Club.

“We build technology to serve people and not the other way around,” Walmart Chief Executive Doug McMillon said in a statement. “Walmart’s purpose is to help people live better and, today, more than ever, advances in technology make it feel like anything is possible.”

Sam’s Club plans to leverage AI and computer-vision technology to confirm that members have paid for items in their carts. Sam’s Club has launched the technology at 10 locations as part of a pilot program, with plans to expand it to its nearly 600 stores by the end of the year. 

LG Electronics Inc. 066570, +0.42% unveiled the OLED Signature T, a 77-inch transparent display, on the heels of a similar screen from Samsung. Behind the transparent panel is a contrast film that, with the push of a remote button, can be raised to make the TV look like a regular OLED or lowered if you want to see what’s behind the screen.

“AI is the talk of the town at CES this year, though there is a lot of work to be done as it is a long way off from being fully matured,” Rob Ellin, CEO of LiveOne Inc., said in an email. “I think there’s revolutionary technology in AI that certainly has influenced everybody at CES, and their thought process this year. The one thing that is clear is that there is a huge opportunity here with AI.”

In the week ahead, we'll see if the big banks' cautious, muddied optimism about consumers, markets and businesses filters through to the rest of the financial industry.

Jon Swartz is a senior reporter for MarketWatch in San Francisco, covering many of the biggest players in tech, including Netflix, Facebook and Google. Jon has covered technology for more than 20 years, and previously worked for Barron's and USA Today. Follow him on Twitter @jswartz.

CES highlights: AI-equipped robot ball, Sony electric car, Walmart AI checkout and LG transparent LCD TV - MarketWatch

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