Happy Weekend Reader!

Hope you all had a fantastic start to the New Year! I certainly did, with a head full of new ideas and those classic New Year's resolutions. 😊

For 2024, I dove like 2023 again into this refreshing course called Body:Reset. It's all about tackling pre-menopause in a community-driven, holistic way, which I love.

And, oh boy, did I start with a bang! My first day went so well that I ended up already 'cheating' - margarita(s) in a nightclub and a loaf of hot sourdough bread with butter. 😅 Well, what more can go wrong, right? But honestly, it was delicious and so worth it. And as we all know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

Speaking of Vegas. I've just returned from this mind-blowing 24-hour tech extravaganza at CES, where I racked up over 15,000 steps (so all my diet sins are gone, right?)!

Back in Venice Beach in my garage, I'm just buzzing with all these fresh insights and trends.

This year was different for me. Instead of guiding CEOs as usual, I enjoyed a guided tour of the CES floor. It was such a relaxed way to soak in all the incredible innovations. 😌

I also bumped into some familiar faces at the German pavilion - politicians, journalists, and founders from back home. Sure, the booth felt old-fashioned compared to Korea's AI booth, but seeing Germany represented this year was great.

Here is my quick summery of what I saw about what's next in tech.

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Trends from CES: “All Together. All On” ❤️

Big screens everywhere: ✅

Gadgets nobody needs: ✅

Toilet queues in front of the men's bathroom (not women): ✅

Smoking cigarettes is not dead for other countries: ✅

What else did I see?

This year, the event spanned three significant trends:

1. AI Everywhere AI's presence was palpable across all sectors for the good and the worse - revolutionary changes to everyday gadgets, from TVs, toilets, dog collars, and home appliances.
2. Sustainability in Motion: While EV innovations weren't groundbreaking news, there was a distinct focus on iterating existing technologies. And, of course, a flying car concept....
3. Inclusivity in Tech: The event emphasized diversity and accessibility, particularly in health and wellness technology.

In comparison to last year, the buzzword "Metaverse" was dead.

However, it came back with a new word, "Spatial Computing," which blends virtual and physical experiences. I witnessed many VR, AR, and XR tech advancements and cool lighter designs, especially with the press buzz around Apple's upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset planned for February.

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My Spotlight on Standout Innovations 2024 🔍

I've handpicked a list of innovations that resonated with me, which means they were either fun, useful, solved specific problems, or creatively employed technology.

Now, it's your turn to explore these companies and reflect on the problems they solve, their innovative integration of technology, and their significance to you. I hope all links work as ChatGPT was not a good co-pilot helping me take over this tedious task!

AI Innovations

• ​Microsoft's AI Leap: Microsoft's new Copilot button on Windows 11 PCs is a bold step towards integrating AI into our daily computing. A new keyboard add-on after 30 years!
• ​ilume’s AI Dog Bowl: A testament to AI's expanding role in our daily lives.
• ​Samsung's AI Kitchen: AI enhances kitchen experiences and reduces waste.
• ​Rabbit R1: A new pocket AI assistant that can navigate your apps without you having to pick up your phone.

Sustainability Innovations

• ​Jackery Solar Mars Bot: A step forward in portable solar technology.
• ​Midbar AirFarm:: Innovative sustainable farming solutions.
• ​Air Xpeng Aero​:​ Blending drone and EV tech for sustainable transportation.

Inclusivity Innovations

• ​Guidi AI Smart Belt: AI-driven navigation aid for the visually impaired.
• ​Amira Health - Terra Sleep: Tackling women's health issues like menopause.
• ​Garmin Venu 3​:: A health-focused smartwatch with unique features.
• ​Elitone: Addressing women's health through non-invasive technology.
• ​Identifyher​: AI-driven menopause management.
• ​Vivoo: Home wellness tracking through urine testing.
• ​EssilorLuxottica Hearable Glasses​: Combining vision and hearing tech.
• ​Oh! Ohdoki: A new sex toy for her and him, adding Bluetooth for more music and couple abroad fun (they chose David Guetta for their demo, ladies. What music would you have chosen?).

Here is a fun video I made quickly to give you a glimpse of what it looks like.

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And if you visit Vegas at some point, don't miss the Sphere experience – especially "Postcard from Earth" (though beware of potential motion sickness when sitting up high)! The sound experience is fantastic, and I was thrilled to learn that a "hidden" Berlin company created it.

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CES Wrap up 🚀

I don't know if anything there was as revolutionary or as inspiring as what I've experienced at events like SXSW in Austin, where I usually come home buzzing with new ideas.

It was impossible to ignore the AI wave sweeping over everything. AI, especially the kind we've seen in ChatGPT, is moving from our desktops to every imaginable device around us. It's not just about talking to a chatbot on a screen anymore; AI is becoming a part of our daily gadgets and lifestyles, turning everything into your intelligent assistant.

On the sustainability front, there's a definite shift that I'm thrilled about: Electric Vehicles - encompassing land, sea, and air. We're finally seeing a unified direction regarding eco-friendly transport options, which is a big win in my book.

But the real 'aha' moment for me was seeing how inclusivity played a significant role in the show. Adding a "push" feature in a smartwatch for wheelchair users got me thinking about how to make my project, Future-Ready Women, more intentionally inclusive. Maybe I could integrate AI avatars to overcome language barriers or use audio and captions in my sessions to make them more accessible for people with disabilities. It's something I'm going to explore more.

How about you?

Have you ever thought about making your work more inclusive?

It's something worth considering, especially in today's diverse world.

That's it from me today.

I will speak to you soon, and remember to stay curious.

❤️ from Venice Beach

Simone

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