Welcome to ICYMI – a weekly snapshot of European news stories that have given me pause for thought. ICYMI is a chance for you to go beyond the front-page headlines and find out what other stories may be worthy of your attention.
This week; CES sparks a big quantum computing row and AI is taking over health and robotics.
As is traditional, most of the big stories from the tech industry in the first week of January emanated from the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Maybe the show’s organisers need to think of a new name for the exhibition, as the 140,000 attendees also heard a great deal of general tech stories which significantly impact not just consumer-focussed, but also b2b companies across the globe.
The highest profile, and some might say controversial announcement came from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang who suggested that quantum computing may still be 20 years away. The news sent shockwaves through the quantum technology sector and sparked a sharp decline in the stock prices of key players like Rigetti Computing (-45%), IonQ (-39%), and Quantum Computing (-43%). Wall Street, which is optimistic for quantum computing’s potential to unlock previously impossible calculations, reacted strongly given Huang’s reputation as a tech visionary.
Les Echos reports that many industry leaders, like Pasqal’s Georges-Olivier Reymond and D-Wave’s Alan Baratz, were not happy with Huang’s comments and disputed his timeline. They highlighted current industrial applications. Either way Huang’s comments have reignited debate over how soon quantum computing will achieve significant breakthroughs.
AI becomes key to health and robotics devices
Another major story from CES was the huge growth of integration of Artificial Intelligence into electronics products, most notably robotics, health, and animal care, many of which will not necessarily be aimed at consumers at all.
Techloy reported how robotics has seen significant growth, with humanoid robots, smart assistants and industrial machines benefiting from AI-powered natural interactions and enhanced efficiency. Highlights include the AI-powered bedside robot Mi-Mo and Enchanted Tools’ conversational fox robots.
Healthtech also gained traction, with products like FaceHeart’s vital-scanning mirror and Nutrix’s cortisol-measuring device. While public excitement for AI in electronics (e.g., PCs, TVs, smartphones) has been tepid, major brands like Samsung and LG are set to showcase their new AI-integrated offerings.
Is CES a barometer for how ambitious countries are in promoting their latest technology? If that is the case, then it was a bad week for the UK. In The Times Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which runs the event, expressed disappointment over the UK’s reduced engagement in CES. Shapiro noted that while other European nations like France and the Netherlands have increased their participation, the UK’s presence has diminished, with only 41 UK companies exhibiting at CES 2025, down from over 100 in 2019. The article asks if this is just an odd quirk or if there has been a decline in tech innovation in the UK?
The spectre of Trump at CES
Reuters reported that away from the exhibition floors the conversations between execs were dominated by concerns over potential tariffs proposed by US President-elect Donald Trump. These tariffs, targeting imports from countries like Canada, Mexico, and China, could significantly impact supply chains and production costs for industries heavily reliant on international manufacturing and parts. Companies such as Honda are contemplating adjustments to their supply chains and production locations to mitigate potential disruptions.
Anyone fancy a pager?
Finally, if you, like many CES delegates are suffering from tech overload, Tech Radar Pro has the article for you. in a beautifully timed contrarian post it reported that in the UK at least a lot of supposedly obsolete tech was still thriving. Despite rapid technological advancements, certain outdated devices like floppy disks and fax machines continue to persist in specialised sectors. Floppy disks, for instance, are still utilised in legacy industrial systems, particularly within aerospace and military contexts, due to the prohibitive costs and risks associated with overhauling entire systems to accommodate modern storage formats. Similarly, fax machines remain in use within specific industries and regions, often due to legal or cultural preferences.
