Nederlandse investeerders volgen CES 2025 voor innovaties in AI en autonome technologie
Investors prepare for trading week as the first full trading week of 2025 begins, all eyes are on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest technology trade fair in the world, taking place this week in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, on the Amsterdam exchange, Unilever finds itself under scrutiny following a downgrade by RBC Capital Markets. The investment bank has lowered its recommendation for the consumer goods giant from “sector perform” to “underperform,” citing worries about the company’s capability to meet its ambitious growth targets.
Analysts at RBC referred to the stock’s price increase in 2024 as “excessive” and adjusted their price target for Unilever. This downgrade is likely to impact the company’s stock performance as trading resumes, with investors closely watching Unilever’s ability to sustain its market momentum amid changing expectations.
In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) is set to take center stage at CES. From self-driving tractors and boats to AI-enabled household appliances like refrigerators and ovens, the incorporation of AI into various products will be a significant focal point. “Everyone will be talking about AI,” stated a Creative Strategies analyst to the French news agency AFP. “From refrigerators to ovens and everything in between, AI will be mentioned by all, whether it’s genuinely present or not.”
The event officially kicks off on Tuesday, but media presentations have already begun. A highlight of the program will be a keynote address by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Nvidia, a leader in AI chip technology, is expected to reveal major innovations that could solidify its position as a key industry player. Other chipmakers, including Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, are also anticipated to make announcements that could influence the global semiconductor market.
The auto industry is poised to showcase its advancements in automation, featuring everything from fully self-driving cars to smaller autonomous devices like golf carts and lawnmowers. Additionally, futuristic gadgets for home use, such as AI-powered herb dispensers that adapt to a chef’s preferences and increasingly “intelligent” robot vacuum cleaners, will be in the spotlight.
CES 2024 saw a delegation of fifty Dutch growth companies, accompanied by Minister Dirk Beljaarts of Economic Affairs, participate in Las Vegas. These companies, representing various sectors such as circular economy, cybersecurity, and sustainable mobility, aimed to present innovative solutions to an international audience.
“CES is the global stage for innovative companies to showcase their solutions to both the general public and investors,” remarked Beljaarts at the time. Among the Dutch participants was DuckDuckGoose, a company that developed technology to detect deepfakes and combat identity fraud. Veridis, specializing in industrial-scale plastic recycling analysis, and E-Magy, which focuses on next-generation batteries for electric vehicles, also took part.
Minister Beljaarts highlighted the importance of CES in stimulating innovation and assisting startups and scale-ups in achieving growth and obtaining funding. “The event aligns perfectly with the government’s goal to promote innovation,” he noted, emphasizing CES’s shift towards groundbreaking technologies that are shaping the future, rather than just focusing on gadgets.
