# AI advances unveiled at CES with particular potential for politics and government

Author: Fernando Nieto Lobato
Original publication: 2024-01-24
Spanish original: https://estrategiabyaleph.substack.com/p/estrategia-17-de-la-cabina-de-hologramas
English URL: https://elcontemplador.github.io/estrategia-english/essays/017/
Status: Published translation

This is a translation of the original Spanish essay published on 24 January 2024. Its claims, examples and forecasts retain that historical context.

English publication: 2026-09-29

*Archive note: this article reflects announcements, product claims and expectations in January 2024. Prices, availability and capabilities are retained in their historical context.*



**From 9 to 12 January**, Las Vegas hosted its annual **Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES—probably the year’s largest consumer electronics fair, where many brands unveil their latest developments**. This time, **artificial intelligence took centre stage**. Although its applications covered many fields—for a good overview of the main AI announcements at CES, [we recommend this ZDNet article](https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-14-best-robots-and-ai-tech-weve-seen-at-ces-2024-so-far/)—**we shall focus on a few innovations that we think could have particular relevance to this newsletter’s main areas of interest: politics and government**.



## 1. An AI-powered hologram



**[Holoconnects](https://www.holoconnects.com/?keywords=holoconnects&qooqie_creative_id=586979854042) unveiled an innovative AI-assisted hologram booth**. This article by ZDNet journalist Sabrina Ortiz gives her impressions of the product: “[I chatted with a hologram at CES 2024, and it was as cool as it sounds](https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-chatted-with-a-hologram-at-ces-2024-and-it-was-as-cool-as-it-sounds/)”.



This innovation has many uses, and holograms were already being used in politics almost a decade ago—I remembered [writing about them on RTVE.es back in 2015, with the examples of Erdoğan and Modi](https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20151129/del-20d-adelante-campana-electoral-podria-esperarnos-manana/1262900.shtml). But this new solution seems capable of making them much more accessible and helping them to be used at scale. **It could offer interesting new options for political communication, not only at rallies but also in more personal interactions with candidates, and in public administration. With AI, these could go beyond a highly advanced form of videoconferencing or video recording and become chatbots that interact with citizens**, [as this company video shows](https://www.holoconnects.com/products/holobox/). At first sight, it is one of the most striking innovations, and one we are eager to see.



[![A Holoconnects booth displays a full-length virtual information assistant in a public building.](https://elcontemplador.github.io/estrategia-english/assets/images/02610fd6-c57c-408d-9fab-a21e73e95cad_1333x902.png)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!70E6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F02610fd6-c57c-408d-9fab-a21e73e95cad_1333x902.png)



The clearest example is the AI-powered hologram: great for rallies, with a standardised solution that could make it much more accessible.



*Text in the image: “Information point. Stand here & ask me anything about your visit.”*



## 2. Real-time translation with artificial intelligence



**Although this already existed, new-generation AI is revolutionising real-time translation and interpreting. It is undoubtedly a tool that could greatly facilitate communication at international political meetings**. CES saw the launch of the [Time Kettle X1 Interpreter Hub](https://www.timekettle.co/es), a device priced at $700 that uses AI to provide real-time translation in up to 40 languages.



Several X1 devices can also be synchronised, providing seamless interpreting for up to 20 people in five different languages—ideal for meeting rooms or multilingual classrooms. The product was named a *CES 2024 Innovation Award* winner in the headphones and personal audio category.



[![The X1 AI Interpreter Hub and earbuds, alongside its January 2024 price and advertised features.](https://elcontemplador.github.io/estrategia-english/assets/images/27df3b40-cc97-41e1-be78-712a5bf30043_1568x824.png)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LViW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F27df3b40-cc97-41e1-be78-712a5bf30043_1568x824.png)



*Screenshot translation: “X1 AI Interpreter Hub — $699.99. Standalone unit, one-step activation. Multidirectional interpreting: 20 people in 5 languages. Voice calls with unique digital numbers. Online meeting interpreting and export. Supports 40 languages online and 13 language pairs offline. 2—simultaneous interpreting mode.” These are the product claims displayed in the original image.*



## 3. The first affordable portable device specifically for AI



**The [Rabbit r1](https://www.rabbit.tech/updates/introducing-r1), unveiled at CES 2024, is an innovative generative AI device**, designed by the start-up Rabbit in collaboration with Teenage Engineering. Described as **a simpler “pocket computer”**, the gadget allows users to centralise and manage all their smartphone applications through a single interface and voice commands. Its operating system, Rabbit OS, makes interacting with apps intuitive, improving the user experience. Despite its small size and 2.88-inch screen, the Rabbit r1 stands out for its learning and personalisation capabilities, including a 360-degree rotating camera. Available to pre-order in several countries, including Spain, its pre-order price is $199, positioning it as an attractive, accessible option compared with other devices on the market, such as the much more expensive Humane Pin we discussed in an earlier newsletter. [A few days ago, it was announced that the price also included a year’s Perplexity Pro subscription](https://bgr.com/tech/heres-another-reason-to-buy-a-rabbit-r1-perplexity-pro-ai-with-gpt-4/), making the offer more attractive.



There is considerable uncertainty over whether these dedicated devices will succeed or whether AI will mainly be integrated into products we already use, such as phones, smartwatches, glasses or headphones. Yet [whatever success the Rabbit r1 may or may not achieve](https://www.xataka.com/robotica-e-ia/sorprendente-rabbit-r1-vende-40-000-unidades-cuatro-dias-asi-tiene-futuro-muy-complicado), it has caused a stir in the technology sector. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even remarked that [it was the most impressive launch demonstration he had seen since the iPhone’s](https://decrypt.co/213244/microsoft-ceo-rabbit-r1-ai-gadget-was-most-impressive-demo-since-steve-jobs-iphone-unveiling).



**This is an entirely general-purpose device. But given their schedules and lifestyles, with so much time spent travelling and in meetings, a device of this kind clearly seems well suited to improving the productivity of politicians and public leaders**.



[![The orange Rabbit r1 handheld device, with a camera, scroll wheel and the slogan “your pocket companion”.](https://elcontemplador.github.io/estrategia-english/assets/images/3778d424-ceea-41f8-a570-d4ee2db4b4a5_968x1036.png)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jepR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3778d424-ceea-41f8-a570-d4ee2db4b4a5_968x1036.png)



*Image text: “r1. your pocket companion. watch keynote.”*



## Bonus: Galaxy AI



Of the many AI gadgets at CES, these three caught our attention most for their potential uses in politics and public administration. But **although it happened a few days later, rather than at CES, we cannot overlook [the new AI features Samsung unveiled with its S24 range of phones](https://www.xataka.com/basics/galaxy-ai-que-que-opciones-ofrece-a-que-moviles-samsung-llegara-primero-su-nueva-inteligencia-artificial)**. Here we can already see technologies like those in the last two products being integrated directly into mobile phones. Particularly interesting is its [powerful simultaneous call-translation feature](https://www.xatakamovil.com/samsung/asi-funciona-espectacular-traduccion-llamadas-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra), which already works in 12 languages. For the same reasons as the Time Kettle X1, this could be particularly useful for politicians and dignitaries dealing with international counterparts.



[![Samsung Live Translate demonstrates a telephone call between an English speaker and a Spanish-speaking hotel employee.](https://elcontemplador.github.io/estrategia-english/assets/images/8d88ce48-4e9f-4e28-a360-b224b9d6d23e_1366x831.png)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qDo-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8d88ce48-4e9f-4e28-a360-b224b9d6d23e_1366x831.png)



*Screenshot transcription and translation: the caller says, “Hello? I stayed in room 125 yesterday, but I think I left my jacket behind.” The Spanish translation appears below. The reply, “Por favor, espere un momento”, is translated on screen as “Please wait a moment.” Other visible features are Circle to Search, Live Translate, Transcript Assist and Photo Assist.*



CES 2024 has showcased how artificial intelligence is reaching every part of our lives, as well as innovations that could play a highly significant role in the future of politics and public administration. These range from interactive holograms that could transform rallies and government communication, through devices such as the Time Kettle X1, which promise to remove language barriers at international meetings, to innovations such as the Rabbit r1, a device promising to improve the productivity of politicians and public servants. Meanwhile, integrating advanced AI technologies into mobile devices, as Samsung has done, underlines a trend towards smoother, more effective communication and [everyday use of AI in activities as familiar as using WhatsApp](https://www.lasexta.com/tecnologia-tecnoxplora/apps/funcion-estrella-galaxy-funciona-whatsapp_2024011965aa7e8fe584300001121c2a.html). Together, these developments point to a growing synergy between cutting-edge technology and the complex world of politics.



Fernando Nieto Lobato



*Director of Digital Innovation at Institución Educativa ALEPH*