Glimpse into the Future: Six Must-See Gadgets at CES 2025!

This weekend, I’m heading to Las Vegas to cover this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. I’ve reviewed the CES agenda and exhibitor lists in preparation for the event, where I anticipate discovering intriguing new technologies. Given the event’s scale—with CES occupying 12 venues and over 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space—some preparation is essential. There will be opportunities to test devices on display, such as shoe attachments designed to monitor muscle load for athletes (and journalists dashing between demonstrations), or an exoskeleton to assist during hikes through the Mojave Desert.

Naturally, AI will be integrated into every conceivable device, along with many that you wouldn’t expect. This year, expect AI-enabled vehicle sensors and computers, in addition to spice dispensers, litter boxes, and trash cans. With AI systems for infant care and enhanced aging, the applications practically span from cradle to grave.

I’m also eager to explore technology that could transform our interactions with devices, including new displays in personal vehicles and intelligent eyewear designed to rival Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Amidst the prominent brands showcasing their latest innovations, startups and smaller enterprises will be presenting offerings that could emerge as the next big trend, showcasing the inventive engineering behind them. Here are a few of the devices and gadgets I’m looking forward to experiencing firsthand this week.

Needle-Free Injections

Picture a world where you could receive a flu vaccine—or any injection—without being pricked by a needle. That’s the goal of the Dutch firm FlowBeams with its apparatus, which delivers a fine jet of liquid directly into the skin. With a diameter of 25 micrometers, the jet is about one-tenth the dimensions of a 25-gauge needle commonly used for vaccinations. Personally, I’ve endured my fair share of needles due to living with type 1 diabetes for nearly two decades, so this certainly piqued my interest. Administering insulin is, in fact, one of the medical uses the FlowBeams team envisions for this technology. However, the healthcare sector isn’t the only potential market. It could also provide a new, supposedly painless means to obtain cosmetic fillers or for tattooing.

Electric Skis to Assist on Slopes

At first glance, skiing may seem like the leisure activity least requiring a motorized assist—gravity is quite dependable. But if you, like me, actually favor cross-country skiing, it’s a compelling concept. Now being developed by a Swiss startup, E-Skimo was designed for ski mountaineering (commonly referred to as “skimo”), a form of backcountry skiing involving climbing a mountain to then ski down. The battery-operated, detachable device employs a belt of rubber tread to enhance skiers’ ascents to higher elevations in shorter time spans. Unfortunately, Las Vegas will be a bit too warm for live demonstrations.

A Fitbit for Pets—and for Cows

Virtually any accessory you have today—watches, rings, jewelry, or glasses—can be substituted with a wearable tech version. But what about your canine companions? Now, our fixation with health metrics can extend to our pets with the latest generation of smart collars from companies such as Queva, which is launching a collar that evaluates your dog’s health on a 100-point scale. While tracking collars have been available for several years, these and other gadgets, like smart pet doors, are making our furry friends more technologically advanced than ever.

The same holds for livestock: The first wearable device for monitoring a cow’s health metrics will also be showcased at CES this year. While not exactly a consumer product, it’s still a fascinating innovation.

Real-Time Interpretation

Fans of Douglas Adams, celebrate: Inspired by the Babel fish from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Timekettle’s earbuds enable (almost) real-time translation. The latest version from the company operates with a new, proprietary operating system to facilitate two-way translation during phone or video calls across any platform. Retailing for $449, these open-ear buds translate in excess of 40 languages and 93 accents, albeit with a delay of 3 to 5 seconds.

“Hormometer” to Alleviate Stress

Ironically, everyone appears anxious about cortisol, the hormone governing your body’s stress response. To simplify hormone testing, Eli Health has developed a device, named the “Hormometer,” which determines either cortisol or progesterone levels from a quick saliva sample. After 20 minutes, users scan the device with their smartphone camera to receive results. At about $8 per test, this is significantly more affordable than other at-home or laboratory testing methods. However, the company operates as a subscription service, commencing at about $65 per month with a 12-month agreement.

AR Binoculars for Effortless Identification of the Natural World

I must confess: For someone who once contemplated a career in astronomy, I can recognize embarrassingly few constellations. Sadly, beyond Orion and the Big Dipper, I struggle to identify many of these formations in the night sky. While stargazing applications are helpful, regularly shifting focus between a screen and the sky tends to detract from the experience. Unistellar’s Envision smart binoculars, however, utilize augmented reality to map the stars, identify comets, and label nebulae directly within your field of vision. During daylight, they can also identify hiking paths or indicate the elevation of nearby summits. When it comes to pinpointing the most promising technology ahead, leave that responsibility to IEEE Spectrum.