AI is one of the main themes of CES. Many solutions based on generative AI were exhibited at this CES. The spotlight was on so-called AI agents. Expectations for AI agents are high in Japan as well. The concept of an AI agent is to support human activities, or to automatically process things on behalf of humans. For example, it can handle everything from hotel reservations to payments on behalf of humans.
In Silicon Valley, efforts toward full automation using AI are accelerating. Full automation means completing a service from start to finish without any human intervention. It is said that Waymo was the starting point for this. Many companies in Silicon Valley are said to be inspired by Waymo.
Up until now, AI has focused on acting as a co-pilot and assisting humans. On the other hand, Waymo completes a service from start to finish without any human intervention. This is seen as the way an AI agent should be. Silicon Valley companies are aiming for a world where it is normal to provide services without the need for human intervention. Currently, they are focusing on research into models for how to remove human intervention from the flow of service provision.
Looking at the generative AI solutions exhibited at CES from this perspective, it seems that the current state of affairs is strongly oriented toward assisting human efforts, and has not yet reached the level of an AI agent that should be.
It will probably be next year before full-scale AI agents without human intervention, with a view to full automation, take over the CES venue.
Incidentally, robotics is cited as the next movement after AI agents. For services that are completed virtually using smartphones, an AI agent is enough, but to approach the real world, a physical device like a robot is needed. Waymo is also a robot in a sense.
As mentioned above, research is being conducted in Silicon Valley with an approach of how to realize services without human intervention. Robots are attracting attention as one of the means to achieve this.
There were many robotics-related exhibits at CES, and various robots were on display. They are evolving gradually, but further evolution will be necessary to complete the service from start to finish without any human intervention. Humanoid robots stood out at CES, but as the example of Waymo shows, robots do not have to be humanoid.
“If Waymo becomes the norm, no one will use Uber anymore. This is innovation, and why Silicon Valley is said to be changing the world.”
I heard this story in Silicon Valley. (Kitajima Kei)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI