AI Dominates CES 2025, with Colorado Companies Showcasing Innovation
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a global tech event, wrapped up in Las Vegas on Friday, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking a prominent role. While the reporter couldn’t attend in person, she connected with several Colorado-based companies to learn about their experiences and the significance of the event.
Afference’s Neural Haptics Ring
One Colorado company, Afference, is making waves with its innovative technology. Jacob Segil, co-founder of Afference, shared insights into his company’s progress.
Last year, Afference, a Boulder startup, won a “Best of Innovation” award for its wearable that uses neural haptics to reproduce the sensation of touch in virtual environments. This year, Afference introduced a neural-haptic ring.
“Our technology is maturing to the point where we could be sharing it widely. This year was the first time we’re giving public demos on the show floor,” said Segil, also a research professor at the University of Colorado. “We have lines of people in front of our booth trying to feel the neural haptics that we can produce for the first time. That was a meaningful milestone for us to let other people try our work.”
Afference plans to partner with manufacturers, rather than produce the rings themselves. The ring is designed for entertainment and gaming gear, allowing users to feel virtual objects, enhancing augmented and mixed-reality experiences.
Afference secured $3.5 million in funding, including investment from Samsung Next, which has accelerated its development, leading to the ring’s debut at CES. Expected consumer technology partnerships should be announced later this year, with product launches expected in a year or two.
Lightship RV’s Electric Travel Trailer
Focusing on an electric future, Lightship RV showcased its AE.1 Cosmos, a travel trailer designed for electric vehicle owners. Founders Ben Parker and Toby Kraus, former Tesla employees, developed the trailer after experiencing difficulties towing a traditional camper with an EV. The AE.1 Cosmos features solar panels, a battery-powered TrekDrive base, and a smart hitch for enhanced efficiency.
“The biggest challenge was solving the issue of range anxiety,” said Kraus. “Towing an RV typically increases drag and fuel consumption, so to tackle this we designed the AE.1 Cosmos Edition from the ground up for extreme efficiency with our Dual Mode, telescoping design and TrekDrive, setting a new standard for aerodynamic performance in its class.”
With a level-three charger, the AE.1 Cosmos can charge from 0% to 100% in 67 minutes and supplies enough energy for a week of off-grid camping for a family of four. Lightship, having raised $34 million last year, plans to produce a limited edition of 50 Cosmos trailers, priced at $250,000 each, at its Broomfield manufacturing facility.
Other Colorado companies also made a presence. Fort Collins-based OtterBox unveiled new iPhone cases and phone straps at an adjacent media event, and Denver-based iterate.ai co-hosted a party to show off its new partnership with Intel.
