Innovative: See and Spray by John Deere
When you think ‘AI’ you probably think of ChatGPT or some other large language model (LLM), but there were other versions of AI on display at CES 2024. One of them was a machine learning model that John Deere designed to eliminate weeds in a farm field. See and Spray, as it’s called, involves a huge array of cameras and GPUs mounted to a weed sprayer that can tool along the field at up to 15 miles per hour.
The cameras have been trained with machine learning to pick out the crops the farmer wants to keep soy, corn, or whatever is in the field. They trained the AI with thousands of photos of those crops, so it could identify them by sight. As the machine drives across the field, the cameras spot anything that doesn’t look like that crop and spray it as it drives by. It’s a targeted spray that is better for conservation and better for the crops. It’s what the military would call a surgical strike, as opposed to carpet bombing.
See and Spray has been around since 2021, so it’s not new, but it’s still one of the more impressive AI offerings we saw at the show. Farming technology is pretty massive and John Deere is leading much of the charge in that area. It wouldn’t be surprising to see more AI coming from the company in the not-too-distant future.
Innovative: Duet in Google Workspace
During CES 2024, we got hands-on with Google Duet, a generative AI model designed for enterprise use within Google Workspace, similar to Google Bard. In a private media tour at Google’s booth, journalists were invited to try it out using Chromebooks set up with Google Sheets.
One of the prompts resulted in Google Duet generating a detailed itinerary for a romantic weekend in Galena, IL. The AI broke down the weekend hour by hour, including stops at local restaurants and wineries, shopping time along the main street, and even added addresses and estimated costs for each activity, along with notes on what to do at each stop.
However, not everything was perfect. The first item on the itinerary, “Arrive in Galena at the Galena Amtrak Station,” was a clear AI hallucination since Galena doesn’t have an Amtrak station or any other train service. This highlights the importance of fact-checking any AI-generated plans before relying on them for your next trip.
Innovative: Minitailz by Invoxia
SlashGear has already published a comprehensive review of Minitailz by Invoxia, but the company showcased the product again at CES 2024, highlighting its generative AI component. Minitailz is a pet tracker that monitors your pet’s health data and generates a daily report to keep you informed about your pet’s well-being. This is where the generative AI comes into play.
Rather than just stating, “Your dog’s heart rate averaged 65 BPM and their respiratory rate was 14 breaths per minute,” the AI creates a more engaging and readable report. For example, you might see something like, “Today was a great day for Luca. He was very active and playful.”
While this may not be the most groundbreaking use of generative AI, it adds a layer of personalization and readability to a report that would have been generated anyway. The company opted to use AI to make the information more user-friendly and accessible.
Innovative: Automotive diagnostics with Qualcomm
Outlandish: Flappie, the AI-powered cat flap
Over the past year, AI has found its way into all sorts of household items, including those traditionally mechanical in nature, like the simple cat flap (or doggy door). While the typical design is just a small hole covered by a hinged panel, a Swiss company has decided that an AI-powered doorman is the next step in pet door evolution, aiming to prevent your outdoor cat from wreaking havoc inside your home.
To give credit where it’s due, the concept behind “Flappie” does make some sense. This AI-enhanced cat flap is designed to recognize when your feline friend is bringing home an unwelcome “gift” and denies entry until the animal has been discarded. So, if you’re tired of finding decapitated birds on your rug or live rodents scampering around your house, this product might offer some relief.
However, there are some caveats. It assumes your cat will understand that it’s being denied entry because of the prey it’s carrying, and even if the cat figures it out, you’ll still be left with a carcass on your doorstep. Additionally, the “prey detection accuracy” is about 90%, so you might still occasionally stumble upon the remains of a mutilated squirrel. Alternatively, a simple bell on your cat’s collar can effectively reduce the number of hunting trophies your pet brings home—no AI required.
Outlandish: Handywrytten AI-powered handwriting
Letter writing may be a lost art, with most people opting for typing over handwriting, especially as cursive becomes less common among younger generations. However, one company is trying to revive the tradition of handwritten cards and letters with the help of AI-powered robots.
Handywrytten presents itself as a solution by learning your unique writing style and creating custom greeting cards or letters that appear as if you penned them yourself. But let’s be real—this concept feels a bit absurd. The personal touch of a handwritten note comes from the effort you put into writing it, not from an AI mimicking your handwriting. In the end, it’s still just a typed note, with extra steps and cost. The “handwritten” text doesn’t come from you but from a lifeless machine, and who really appreciates that?
There’s also the irony in this concept. Typing became dominant not because of hand cramps, but because many people have poor handwriting. You can avoid using your own handwriting with Handywrytten by choosing a preset style, but that makes the note even less personal, even if you select a messy-looking option.
If you truly want to send someone a handwritten note, skip the AI and pick up a good old-fashioned pen.
Outlandish: Urtopia AI ebike (with ChatGPT)
Many companies have integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into their products, hoping to add an “AI” edge without the massive investment required to develop their own models. Urtopia is one such company, claiming to have created the world’s first AI-powered e-Bike. This bike boasts features like streamlined navigation, scenic route recommendations, fitness tracking, built-in music speakers, and even a “fingerprint lock” to deter theft.
So, what’s the catch? In reality, you could achieve similar functionality by simply mounting your cellphone to any bike with a basic mount from Amazon. With Google, Siri, or Alexa, you can get navigation, fitness tracking, and music without the added expense of an AI-powered bike.
While we’re critiquing the AI aspect here, it’s worth noting that the bike itself might be competitive with other similar products. However, the AI features, such as integrating with Apple/Android apps and linking to various wearable tech, seem like an extra cost and effort for minimal added value.
.