Forget the ordinary. From Nvidia’s AI supercomputer to John Deere’s self-driving tractors, CES has once again proven to be a playground for the future of tech. With industry leaders from every corner of the globe flocking to Las Vegas, here are some of the gadgets and innovations that caught our attention at the show.
.lumen Glasses for the Blind (Romania) is using patented autonomous driving AI for the pedestrian world to empower the blind. Cornel Amariei, startup’s CEO and founder, comes from a family where all members, except himself, have disabilities. This motivated him to address the lack of assistive technology. The glasses replicate the main features of a guide dog and don’t require internet connectivity or pre-mapping of places.
Sheco (South Korea), an all-in-one recovery robot capable of tackling a wide range of water pollutants, from small-scale oil spills to algae and container dust. Gisung Kwon, CEO and co-founder of Sheco, founded the company in 2017 and dedicated the first two years exclusively to market research. Sheco offers software and supporting equipment options such as autonomous driving, water monitoring, AI-powered cameras, and a control dashboard.
FlowBeams (Netherlands) has developed a patented, needle-free injection technology. The handheld device uses a laser to locally heat the liquid, generating a micro-bubble that rapidly expands. This expanding bubble creates a high-speed jet of fluid that penetrates the skin, allowing for rapid absorption. By adjusting the velocity of the jet, the device can precisely control the depth of delivery, enabling more efficient and targeted injections into the desired skin layer.
Pollen Robotics (France). The latest version of the company’s service robot, Reachy 2, was created for research centers, industry, healthcare, and retail. Open-source and modular, Reachy 2 is designed for the development of embodied AI and real-world applications. The robot has already gained traction among leading institutions such as Hugging Face, Accenture, CEA, CNRS, École Polytechnique, and Cornell University.
LiberLive C1 (China), the world’s first stringless smart guitar, is aiming to change the way people connect with music. The startup guarantees that users will be “strumming chords” in just five minutes, no experience required. With built-in drum and bass features, every strum feels like a live performance. After five years of dedicated development, the guitar launched globally in 2024, earning multiple design awards.
ONANOFF (Hong Kong) has unveiled its child-friendly headphones, BuddyPhones EcoBuddy, designed with 30% recycled materials, including ocean-sourced polypropylene and ABS plastic. Born and raised in Iceland and now a resident of Hong Kong, ONANOFF founder Pétur Ólafsson draws inspiration for the brand from his Nordic heritage and the vibrant, urban lifestyle of Hong Kong.
LAIKA (Italy), the world’s first “AI colleague” for veterinarians, designed to support every phase of the clinical process. Developed in collaboration with industry professionals, the software is analyzing data and suggesting differential diagnoses. The recent chatbot upgrade enables veterinarians to access information and consultations hands-free, allowing them to work without interruptions. The startup participated in the NVIDIA Inception program, utilizing NVIDIA NIM microservices to gain a GenAI advantage.
Luna Ring (India). Noise, India’s top smartwatch brand, claims its smart ring is “the first to offer menstrual, sleep, workout, and nutrition coaching with hyper-personalized advice.” Subscription-free, it boasts up to 30 days of battery life on a single charge. Made from fighter jet-grade titanium, the ring is waterproof up to 150 meters (492 feet). A 2024 Red Dot Design Award winner, it delivers 98.2% precision, validated by Philips Biosensing.
Lifehive (Switzerland) protects honeybees using heat-based technology to eliminate Varroa, the most dangerous parasite threat to hives. Thermal elements embedded in individually heated brood frames disrupt the parasite’s reproduction cycle. A built-in solar panel powers the system throughout the season.
DeepEcho (Morocco) aims to enhance prenatal diagnosis and lower infant mortality rates. The startup leverages AI and deep learning to mimic the expertise of a skilled sonographer, assisting less experienced radiologists and clinicians with video ultrasound diagnoses. The software helps detect congenital malformations, manage premature births, and address low birth weight.
Spicerr (Israel), the AI-powered smart spice dispenser, is created for both novice and experienced cooks. Spicerr “removes the guesswork from seasoning,” featuring a patented capsule with Compression-Dispense technology that reduces air exposure, a touchscreen, and a connected app. After 4 years of R&D and user testing, the product will be launched globally on Kickstarter following its debut at CES.
Nuki (Austria) launched its Smart Lock in Europe this November, claiming the title of “the fastest on the market.” A CES Innovation Award winner, it blends premium hardware, effortless integration, and a sleek design. The lock turns your smartphone into a key, enabling one-swipe or automatic entry. It supports Matter, the universal smart home standard, and seamlessly integrates with platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home.
YourStoryz (Germany), an innovative storytelling app for news agencies, individuals, and brands. The service offers tools for crafting personal narratives that can be published across content channels. YourStoryZ lets users combine text, images, and video to tell compelling stories, while also providing options for monetization through built-in features. It’s aiming to streamline the storytelling process for individuals and brands, cutting down on production time without sacrificing quality.
