Tweet This
Many in tech are not only busy wrapping up year-end business but also simultaneously preparing for the big, annual CES convention that will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada in just a couple of weeks. Nearly every and anything pertaining to the world of consumer electronics will be either debated on hot panel discussions, addressed by powerful CEOs during keynotes, or demonstrated on the Las Vegas Convention Center and/or Sands Expo floors, in addition to a plethora of showings in private hotel suites, meetings, parties, invitation-only events, and much, much more. However, of particular interest is CES' spotlight on Artificial Intelligence (AI) this year for the first time and innovators in the space who are rumored to show off some of the latest developments from this powerful part of the tech arena on the CES exhibit floor. Given the recent emergence of China's tech scene as well as the country's deep commitment to AI , there is a great deal of intrigue about what attendees can expect to see.
Indeed, many experts in the AI arena are closely watching China's moves within AI. "China’s booming venture capital asset class is being financed by supportive government guidance funds, cash-rich corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and serial entrepreneurs who are reinvesting their proceeds from China’s first wave of successful exits," explains AI start-up advisor Steve Ardire. " Thus, the multi-billion dollar investments to support AI efforts will help to create all kinds of advances in the space."
In fact, 1000 of CES' 4000 exhibitors are from China this year, and they will show developments that have arisen from various business concepts. For instance, BIKI, the underwater robotic fish-of-sorts powered by AI will make its CES debut in January. This is the initial product developed by a China tech company called ROBOSEA which was launched in 2015. Now, after three rounds of funding, the company has an unprecedented robot offering.
BIKI weighs only .04 ounces and is water resistant to nearly 200 feet. It was designed to make underwater exploration more affordable. The company is targeting that of individual, leisure experience as well as that of the market for fishing-related services and businesses which is expected to reach $2.8 billion by 2019. As result, products related to smart-fishing for touring and more are on the rise and ROBOSEA is jockeying for positioning.
Operated by remote control and wifi, BIKI breaks with the tradition of cable-controls for such products. The product is also engineered to offset self-vibration, thereby producing a stable picture. There are two illumination lamps on BIKI and the item provides a 360-degree underwater view. The camera represents the eyes, the infrared sensor represents the lips. All the visual perception and analysis is done via AI and is based on ten years of scientific research at Peking University.
“I am so excited about being able to attend CES 2018 because it's the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies,” Xiong Minglei, Founder & CEO of Robosea told me. "More mysterious underwater areas are going to be unveiled in the future which means more underwater robots will need to be developed for the use of ocean protection and exploration. Further, the market prospect of smart fishing is a major opportunity for us given the large group of anglers around the world. We expect annual sales for BIKI to reach up to hundreds of thousands of pieces.” ROBOSEA's ultimate goal is to be able to reduce the cost and difficulties in marine environmental governance. The company has built not only this consumer version but also has a full government, military-grade version several times more powerful, as well.
