Associated Press
FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, people attend CES International in Las Vegas. The Consumer Technology Association on Wednesday, May 8, reinstated an award to the makers of a robotic "personal massager" for women that it had taken away four months ago for not keeping with its image. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
- The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is one of the biggest tech events of the year, where companies from around the world gather to announce new gadgets and showcase their products.
- At CES 2020, we're likely to see a continuation of trends and technologies that have dominated the show in recent years, such as self-driving cars, high-end TVs, wireless earbuds, and smart-home gadgets.
- CES isn't usually the show where you'll find the biggest tech products of the year. But it does provide some indication as to the general trends and technologies that will define the industry for years to come.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Every January, thousands of companies, journalists, and analysts from around the world descend upon Las Vegas for CES, the annual tech trade show that's been around since 1967.
But don't expect to see the most popular tech gadgets of the year at CES, like the newest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone. Companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung usually hold their own events for such unveils.
Although CES is full of product announcements, the show is generally considered to be a venue for observing the important trends that will define the coming year and those ahead.
"It's a great place to spot trends and see which ecosystems are growing," said Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at technology research firm Techsponential.
In recent years, CES has been flooded with new connected home appliances that can respond to your voice, funky robots, futuristic cars, and dazzling TVs. That's expected to continue in 2020, although the show floor will provide a closer look at which companies are tackling these industries and how they're doing so.
As the same trends surface year-after-year, the announcements made at CES can feel more iterative than revolutionary. But such steps are still very important for moving the industry forward, said Tuong Nguyen, a senior principal research analyst for market research firm Gartner.
"They're stepping stones to something greater," he said.
Here's a look at what to expect from CES 2020, which officially starts on January 7 and runs through January 10.
