Editor's Note: The CES Hype is Heating Up

This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Security Business magazine. When sharing, don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter.

It is clearly an annual message from me, but here it is once again: The innovations coming from the CES show are absolutely important to enterprise and residential security integrators and consultants – if not today then certainly down the road.

Security Business is the only industry magazine that sends reporters to Las Vegas every year to uncover the latest technology gems destined for a place in our industry. I will be on the floor, along with expert technologist Steve Surfaro; and as a special treat, I have arranged a show walk-through with expert security consultant Pierre Bourgeix to get his perspective on the technologies he sees. Look for full coverage in our annual CES issue in February 2024.

That said, show prep has already begun as I write this the day before Thanksgiving. The Consumer Technology Association has given us its CES amuse-bouche, in the form of its annual Innovation Awards – a competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. 

I have already pored over this year’s crop of winners – all 355 of them – to not only see what might be applicable to our industry, but also to get a feel for the technology themes that Steve, Pierre and I will need to be on the lookout for in January. Here are a handful:

AI, but for more than video analytics:

When you say AI in the security industry, the talk tends to turn to video surveillance software. At CES, when you say AI, it means darn near everything. Beyond video surveillance applications, integrators need to be aware of the many ways that AI can help their own businesses on the path to greater profits. One such Innovation Award winner that caught my eye was BANF's iSensor, which prevents accidents and reduces vehicle operating costs by offering real-time analysis of tire and road conditions. The sensors also enhance fuel efficiency by assessing wheel alignment and providing accurate predictions of fuel economy and tire lifespan. AI for your vans and trucks!

LLMs are all the rage:

Another trend that will be very prevalent on the show floor is the many emerging uses for Large Language Models (LLM). One cool LLM application involves video doorbells, where the AI interacts naturally with humans, so the homeowner doesn’t have to. The system, from DIY surveillance provider Swann, accepts deliveries, screens unfamiliar visitors, and welcomes friends and family, all while giving the impression there is a real person on site.

Energy management and storage:

The explosion of electric vehicles has challenged the electrical grid on a national scale, and residential integrators have a chance to jump into the market with renewable energy solutions. Beyond traditional solar energy, Vivint recently announced a partnership with home energy provider Torus, where Vivint customers can now choose to deploy Torus Stations, which capture and save energy from sources like solar panels for use at night, during outages or when grid energy prices peak. “We anticipate thousands of Torus homes in battery configurations in the next several years," Torus CEO Nate Walkingshaw said in a statement.

Forget security, the buzzword is safety:

Near and dear to Mr. Surfaro’s heart, safety applications will provide integrators and consultants with a definitive entry point into the smart cities space. One of the Innovation Award winners touts a LiDAR-based solution for people flow analysis, ensuring safety through real-time congestion analysis in narrow alleyways – perhaps prompted by the deadly Seoul Halloween crowd crush incident of 2022.

But like I said, this is just the amuse-bouche. As I realize that many of our readers will not be able to attend, drop me a line and let me know what technologies you are interested in seeing covered at the show, and I will keep a lookout!