This Week in AI: Time for CES to Show What AI Can Be

In the next week, more than 138,000 people are expected to descend on Las Vegas for the annual CES tech confab. Also known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the gathering will be a hotbed of companies pitching televisions, laptops, mobile gadgets and more.

But the thing we'll probably hear most about is artificial intelligence.

The tech trend headed by the likes of OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, Apple's Siri, Google's Gemini, Meta AI, and many more, has become a darling of the business world. Companies ranging from Barbie toy maker Mattel to food maker Hershey, and even major airlines like Delta are discussing different ways they're using the technology. (Delta's CEO will even be delivering a keynote address about its "vision for using technology to enrich human experiences" at the event's opening Tuesday.)

Of course, it's a guarantee we'll see AI-powered computers, TVs and sound systems. AI-powered appliances? Sure. AI-enhanced toilets? Probably.

At the center of it all will likely be chips powered by the likes of NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, among others. NVIDIA and AMD in particular are expected to announce their respective next-generation consumer GPUs, while Intel will continue pushing its Arc graphics cards too.

But that's not all people will be looking for: Read our CES 2025 Preview here. 

Nintendo's Switch 2 rumble getting louder

Rumors of Nintendo's upcoming successor to its popular Switch console seem endless, with supposed leaks of everything from hardware designs to new AI-powered graphics technologies to help it keep pace with more powerful gaming PCs and consoles. Nintendo even acknowledged the device's existence in November, when it reassured possibly nervous holiday shoppers that any games they buy for the Switch will also work on whatever the company currently calls the Switch 2.

CES exhibitors in particular have a history of building hype for the next big thing by "accidentally" displaying accessories, protective cases and other items for highly anticipated products.

Nintendo likely won't use the event to actually announce its product, but there sure will be a lot of talk about it either way.

Apple settles Siri dispute

Apple has reportedly agreed to a $95 million payment as part of a proposed settlement of a potential class action suit it faced over how it handled Siri user's voice recordings. The suit, brought in California, accused Apple of violating user privacy when it collected recordings of user's conversations with the AI without their consent.

Apple denied wrongdoing in the proposed settlement. Earlier reports from publications including the Guardian said that Apple collected some of the unintended recordings for further analysis. Users have long believed in the often-debunked conspiracy theory that tech companies surreptitiously record conversations in order to power their targeted advertising programs.

AI showing up in more scams

One of AI's greatest promises comes from the technology's ability to analyze vast amounts of information to help business leaders gain new insights or help scientists discover new approaches to the questions they're trying to answer. But it turns out scammers are learning the benefits of AI as well.

The Financial Times reported the latest in a string of warnings that scammers are increasingly using AI to help trick potential victims into sharing personal information, or even possibly handing over login information for their bank, email or work accounts. Those victims aren't just everyday people, the FT reported, but also high-power executives at companies.

"The availability of generative AI tools lowers the entry threshold for advanced cyber crime,” eBay cyber crime security researcher Nadezda Demidova told the FT. “We’ve witnessed a growth in the volume of all kinds of cyber attacks”, particularly in “polished and closely targeted” phishing scams.

Read more: AI Tools and Tips 

• What is Meta AI? A Capable Chatbot That’s 100% Free
• Hands-on with ChatGPT o1-preview, OpenAI's Latest Innovation
• How to Get Started with Copilot for Microsoft 365
• Getting started with LM Studio: A Beginner's Guide
• Meet Claude, the Best AI You've Never Heard of
• How to Get NVIDIA Chat with RTX: Local AI for Everyone  

Ian Sherr is a widely published journalist who's covered nearly every major tech company from Apple to Netflix, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and more for CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and CNET. Aside from writing, he tinkers with tech at home, is a longtime fencer -- the kind with swords -- and began woodworking during the pandemic.