Experience the CES 2025 up close | Recap #3 for Wednesday, 8 January

     1.      The hidden side of the future

     2.      #1 | Delta Airlines’ 100th anniversary: A show within the show

     3.      #2 | Today’s announcements

     4.      #3 | Sustainability: A mixed verdict

     5.      #4 | The day’s top three quirky facts

 The hidden side of the future

The CES 2025 has opened its doors in Las Vegas, already unveiling a wealth of surprises, extravagance, and innovations in its first days. The event in the spotlight so far? Delta Airlines’ 100th-anniversary celebration, marked by a breathtaking immersive spectacle. Yet, this is only a preview of a week where tech giants fiercely compete for attention with futuristic gadgets, major announcements, and debates about sustainability.

From Delta’s private Lenny Kravitz concert to LG’s transparent screens and Aptera Motors’ solar-powered vehicles, CES fuels dreams. However, beneath this glittering facade, urgent questions arise: What role does sustainability play in this temple of innovation? By contrasting quickly obsolete connected gadgets with the earnest efforts of committed startups, this article explores the trends and contradictions of an industry ever in pursuit of “more.”

Amid grandiose performances, quirky innovations, and discussions about environmental impact, take a behind-the-scenes look at the most influential tech event of the year. This read will leave you oscillating between awe and reflection. Ready to uncover the hidden side of the future?

#1 | Delta Airlines’ 100th anniversary: A show within the show

The buzz surrounding Delta’s conference at CES earlier this week was impossible to miss. Undoubtedly one of the standout events, it dominated discussions from the start. The reason? Delta pulled out all the stops to celebrate its centennial with an extraordinary setup.

The experience began before the event itself, as securing a ticket was a feat due to overwhelming demand. For those lucky enough to attend, the wait was worth it. Guests were welcomed into an immersive Delta-branded sphere, specially designed for the occasion—a spectacular display that set the tone for this historic moment.

The program met every expectation. Alongside Delta’s CEO, attendees enjoyed speeches by Uber’s CEO, American football legend Tom Brady, and actress Viola Davis. But it was Lenny Kravitz who truly stole the show with an exclusive private performance—an unforgettable concert.

Delta did not stop at entertainment. Every participant left with mementos of this historic event, including interactive LED bracelets that lit up live during the evening. Guests also received a Delta-exclusive 100th-anniversary sweatshirt, which is already predicted to become a collector’s item.

#2 | Today’s announcements

As always, the second day of CES tends to be quieter in terms of announcements, with most companies opting for press day to make their big reveals.

Nevertheless, a few notable announcements include:

   •   Asus unveiled its new line of PCs featuring artificial intelligence (AI), of course! The models boast more powerful components (partly to support AI capabilities) with similarly hefty price tags.

   •   LG showcased its transparent 4K displays, now a reality. Predictably, they come with a steep price: nearly $60,000!

   •   Aptera Motors revealed an electric vehicle powered by solar energy. With a unique design and a 60 km/h range (~37 mph), its presence on European roads remains uncertain but promising. 

#3 | Sustainability: A mixed verdict 

CES, the global temple of technological innovation, continues to impress with its inventiveness but struggles to address one essential question: What is the true environmental impact of this flood of gadgets? While the 2025 edition highlights sustainability initiatives, evident in the Innovation Awards for Energy and Sustainability, the approach feels incomplete.

Confusion in messaging

Under the banner of sustainability, a variety of categories are grouped together: energy-efficient appliances like LG’s dryer, paper-printed batteries, and Asus’s cutting-edge PCs. However, there is a lack of clear focus on the sustainability of products themselves versus foundational advances in batteries or alternative energy sources. This all-encompassing approach risks diluting the topic. 

An incomplete vision

More importantly, the opportunity to spotlight projects tackling real environmental challenges—such as material reuse, electronic waste reduction, or genuine green energy integration—is being missed. While some timid initiatives from companies like Panasonic or niche startups are emerging, the focus largely remains on superficial or quickly outdated innovations.

The pursuit of “more”

This edition is still dominated by the pursuit of “more”: 8K screens, recreational drones, and connected gadgets destined for drawers or obsolescence within two years. Paradoxically, even advancements in electric mobility raise concerns: increasingly powerful EVs will demand larger batteries, and the rise of AI points to a surge in energy-hungry datacenters.

Panasonic and forgotten pragmatism

In this chaos, Panasonic’s keynote stands out as an exception. By focusing on innovations designed to address climate challenges, Panasonic demonstrates that innovation can take a different path. Startups tackling sustainability issues also shared their struggles to expand in Europe, supported by favorable regulations but clashing with economic cultures that prioritise profit above all else. This stark gap in environmental education highlights the long road ahead.

And what next?

CES 2025 reflects an industry trapped in its own narrative: innovating for innovation’s sake, often without considering the consequences. While concrete sustainability solutions exist, they’re overshadowed by a flood of gadgets. The future of technology cannot merely be defined by its dazzling novelties—it must shine through its positive impact on the planet.

#4 | The day’s top three quirky facts 

CES vs. Vivatech: A tie

With over 13,000 startups represented and nearly 165,000 visitors this year, Vivatech rivals CES—except in the number of exhibitors (CES has almost double, with 4,300 this year).

What stands out most is the exhibition space: CES’s 230,000 m² dwarfs Vivatech’s 55,000 m² in Paris, showcasing the unmatched scale of North America.

Ultimately, these events complement each other, with Vivatech focusing on startups and CES remaining the annual stage for jaw-dropping announcements.

Extreme latte art

A latte? How about one with your face printed in the milk foam? It sounds bizarre, but yes—it exists! We tested it, and while it’s odd to sip a latte adorned with your likeness, it thankfully does not affect the taste.

The day’s number

$2.3 billion: That is the cost of constructing Las Vegas’s Sphere, making it the most expensive performance venue ever built in the valley. With a capacity of 18,600 people, the venue offers an unprecedented immersive experience, featuring a 16K interior screen and 54,000 m² of exterior LED displays (check out our Day 1 video with a stunning nighttime timelapse of the Sphere!)

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