CES 2023 preview: 4 big questions that will shape the week

CNET/Sarah Tew

CES remains the biggest week of the year in tech. Every January, the show connects the world's biggest tech companies, the next generation of startups chasing disruptive ideas, tech reporters and influencers, big box retailers looking for products to fill their shelves, and tens of thousands of tech enthusiasts trying to get a glimpse of what's next. 

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While it won't reach the heyday of a decade ago, this year's show will have exhibitors, the international press, and attendee numbers that look a lot more like the pre-pandemic tech industry. There will also be lots of aspects of the show that will be live-streamed to a global audience -- a welcome remnant from the pandemic-dominated shows of the past two years.

This year's 2023 version will look a lot more like the flashy CES you've seen in countless news reports and internet videos over the past couple decades. 

Nevertheless, there will be four big questions that loom large. Keep an eye on these themes as reports roll in this week.

1. Will the big tech companies give us more than gimmicks?

At CES, big tech companies are notorious for showing off concepts no one will ever buy such as 100-inch TVs, roll-up displays, silly robots, and single-rider helicopters parading as flying cars. While stingy consumers hit hard by inflation could certainly use some entertainment, it would be a welcome development at this year's CES if the big tech companies didn't rely on their old parlor tricks but put the spotlight on useful innovations with more substance.

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