January 2022 is meant to mark the primary time in two years the Consumer Electronics Show would welcome in-person attendees again to tech’s flagship occasion, however like so many issues, the quickly spreading omicron covid variant is threatening to upend these plans. Major attendees have begun dropping out left and proper, however the occasion’s organizers say they plan to press on nonetheless.
In a statement despatched to Axios, the Consumer Technology Association, the group that runs CES, stated it has no plan of suspending the occasion or transferring to digital programming.
“CES will still take place Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas with strong safety measures in place,” the CTA stated. The group added that it has acquired hundreds of latest occasion registrations in simply the final week.
Those security measures embrace offering two fast exams to each attendee along with requiring all attendees to be totally vaccinated and masked always according to AdWeek. The organizers have additionally reportedly widened aisles and enhanced the venue’s air flow system. Oddly, attendees may even put on a sticker that exhibits whether or not or not they’re comfy with a handshake. And regardless of considerations raised from some attendees, CTA’s Senior Vice president of Marketing and Communications Jean Foster claimed the entire variety of exhibitors topped 2,100 on Monday.
“At this point, we’re very much focused on having this show and doing it safely and putting the right protocols in place to ensure that people feel comfortable with it,” Foster instructed AdWeek. The CTA first introduced its plans to return in individual again in April.
At the identical time although, a number of the group’s largest names have already bowed out. So far, T-Mobile, Amazon, Meta, Twitter, Pinterest, iHeartRadio, and others have all introduced they gained’t attend the occasion in individual.
In its statement, CES staple T-Mobile stated that whereas it’s assured occasion organizers are taking precautionary steps it might nonetheless “significantly limit” its in-person presence in an effort to prioritize the security of its staff and others in attendance. Its departure means CEO Mike Sievert may even not supply his deliberate keynote speech.
Meta and Twitter each supplied statements to Bloomberg explaining their rationale for canceling in-person attendance. (Meta stated it’s nonetheless exploring methods it might doubtlessly take part nearly. You know, as a result of that’s their entire factor now). Amazon and its subsidiary Ring additionally made the choice to drag its in-person presence because of “uncertainty around the Omicron variant,” the corporate instructed Bloomberg. Several organizations like Nvidia in the meantime had reportedly deliberate to attend the occasion nearly earlier than the variant began rearing its ugly head.
Other massive names like Samsung, Google, and Sony are nonetheless slated to attend the occasion however instructed Bloomberg they’re presently “monitoring” the scenario. So far: Qualcomm, OnePlus, and HTC all seem poised to attend the occasion in individual. LG, often a significant participant on the occasion, told The Verge it’s nonetheless planning on attending the occasion however stated it’s making use of QR codes and AR rather than a conventional sales space.
Media organizations are additionally quickly pulling out of the occasion. So far CNET, Engadget, TechCrunch, The Verge, Tom’s Guide, and TechRadar have additionally introduced they gained’t attend the occasion in individual.
Gizmodo may even be masking the present remotely.
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https://gizmodo.com/ces-organizers-say-the-show-will-go-on-as-major-attende-1848259173