Artificial intelligence (AI) established itself as the undisputed star of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, the international event that opened its doors on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Where more than 4,000 exhibitors are showcasing their most cutting-edge innovations. Over the past few years, AI has transformed multiple industries. And this year, its presence is felt more than ever in products ranging from interacting robots to everyday devices that incorporate intelligent features.
AI and CES 2025: Present in every corner of innovation
One of the most striking aspects of CES 2025 is the incorporation of AI in products as varied as emotional robots and smart water purifiers. Also, cameras specialising in capturing wildlife images, smart glasses with hidden displays and even smart pillows. These advances mark a new stage in the fusion of technology and everyday life, providing innovative solutions for a myriad of needs.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stressed during his presentation that AI has vast potential for development, which is not only limited to products such as robots that accompany humans. But also to vehicle autonomy, a field in which the company continues to work hard. The promise of a future in which fully autonomous vehicles are a reality seems ever closer, with AI at its core.
AI as a companion: Robots that accompany and provide emotional support
A highlight of CES 2025 is the role AI plays in the development of robots designed to provide emotional and social companionship. Chinese company TCL unveiled the ‘world’s first modular AI companion robot’, called Ai Me, which, with an owl-inspired design, is intended as an intelligent companion. Ai Me features large, animated eyes, and is capable of talking, listening and interacting with its environment. Although details about its specific capabilities are still limited, the robot’s presence at the show marks a new era of human-machine interaction.
Mixi, a Japanese company, has also contributed to progress in this field with its conversational robot, Romi by Lacatan. Romi. Which fits in the palm of the hand, is able to carry on complex conversations and provide emotional support. According to Ayu Yuki, Mixi’s marketing director, Romi is designed to alleviate users’ anxiety and loneliness by allowing them to interact in real time with a robot that remembers previous conversations. Although it is not trained to offer professional psychological help, it aims to become a tool for companionship and support in times of loneliness.
Such conversational robots, while useful, also raise questions about their limitations. Romi, for example, is not trained to deal with sensitive topics, such as suicide, and, when faced with a conversation on this subject, it responds with messages such as: ‘We cannot talk about this topic’ or ‘We cannot continue with this conversation’. This highlights a growing ethical dilemma about the role of robots in emotional care and their potential to influence critical moods or decisions.
AI tragedy: Lessons from the past
The debate about the limits of AI intensified after a tragic incident last year, when a 14-year-old teenager committed suicide after interacting with an AI chatbot. In that case, the young man had established an emotional relationship with the bot, which responded affirmatively to the question, ‘How would you like it if I could go home right now?’. Such situations raise questions about the responsibility of companies developing artificial intelligence in the emotional domain and the impact it can have on vulnerable users.
This case underlines the urgent need for stricter regulations on the design of AI technologies, especially those that have the potential to influence the psychological well-being of individuals. It is a reminder that AI, while it can be a helpful tool, must also be used responsibly and with caution, particularly when dealing with such sensitive issues as mental health.
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