Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
Google unveils advanced AI system for in-car use | Ad-free tiers dominate Max, Netflix and Disney+ | Identify smart home automation opportunities
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January 16, 2025
Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
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Today's Digital Pulse
Google unveils advanced AI system for in-car use
(NurPhoto/Getty Images)
Google Cloud has introduced its Automotive AI Agent, which is built on the Gemini large language model using Vertex AI. AI Agent is designed to enable automakers to develop highly personalized and intuitive in-car assistants that surpass current voice-control systems. The AI supports multimodal and multi-lingual inputs and can handle multi-turn dialogues, offering a more conversational experience.
Full Story: Digital Trends (1/13),  The Verge (1/13) 
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EKSAtelecom S30: Pioneering Connectivity at CES
Discover EKSAtelecom S30: featuring AI-Powered Mic with up to 99.9% ENC, Open-Ear Comfort, 70+ hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.3, IPX5 Water-Resistance, Multi-Point Connection, EKSAtelecom TubeBassTM Technology, and up to 30m/99 ft Ultra-long Wireless Range. Visit EKSA at CES, South Hall 1, Booth #31106 to experience innovation!
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Smart Home
Ad-free tiers dominate Max, Netflix and Disney+
(Pixabay)
Netflix provides ad-free service to 61% of its viewers, and more than half the subscribers to Disney+ and Max opt for plans without ads. The TVB study that revealed the numbers also showed that 91% of people with streaming accounts also watch broadcast TV.
Full Story: TV Tech (1/14) 
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From Blue Chips to Startups
Lenovo's commitment to innovation is evident in their release of experimental laptops, such as the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, featuring a rollable display. These high-concept products, though not immediate commercial successes, help Lenovo develop new intellectual property and inspire future designs, according to Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group President Luca Rossi.
Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (1/15) 
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Tech News
CES 2025 highlighted age tech to tackle challenges associated with aging, as spending in this sector is expected to reach $120 billion by 2030. Notable innovations included Strutt's autonomous electric wheelchair, SolidddVision's smart spectacles for macular degeneration and Tombot's robotic puppy for dementia patients.
Full Story: The Straits Times (Singapore) (1/14) 
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Retail Trends
Walmart builds on metaverse efforts with Zepeto launch
(SOPA Images/Getty Images)
Walmart has introduced an ecommerce experience on Zepeto that lets users purchase physical goods through the app. The move follows similar initiatives on Roblox and Walmart Realm, highlighting Walmart's plans to grow its presence in the metaverse. Zepeto users, primarily Generation Z consumers, can now buy physical versions of virtual items, and Walmart will use the platform to gather data to enhance its virtual offerings.
Full Story: Digiday (tiered subscription model) (1/15) 
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Association News
In her conversation with CNBC's Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin, Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, shared how businesses can responsibly scale AI to reinvent their operations and customer experience at CES 2025. Learn more about Accenture’s just-launched AI Refinery™ for Industry AI solutions.
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Listen in to this CES Tech Talk podcast episode as expert journalists explore trends and innovations in digital health, discussing the intersection of tech and healthcare.
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Tariffs and trade were a central topic in the 2024 US general elections. President-elect Donald Trump and his allies are proposing a wide array of new tariffs to impose on imports into the US. Through the new report commissioned by CTA and undertaken by the Trade Partnership Worldwide LLC (TPW), we are contributing to the increasing body of analysis of these proposals. Access the report for insights.
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