Consumer Electronics Show
GM, Google, other tech giants drop in-person participation in Consumer Electronics Show over rising Covid cases
US auto major General Motors, Alphabet Inc's Google and its self-driving auto technolgy company Waymo have joined the growing list of companies that cancelled in-person attendance in Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to be held in Las Vegas from Januray 5 to January 8, 2022, according to media reports.
The compaies cited rising cases of Covid-19 as the reason to not join the event which traditionally has drawn over 180,000 people from around the world to discuss emerging technologies and party through the night with business contacts, Reuters reported.
GM Chief Executive Mary Barra was scheduled to give a keynote address at the annual conference on January 5. The company was going to unveil its electric Silverado pickup truck for the first time.
Barra will still give the address but remotely.
"We have decided to move to an all-digital approach with our activation at CES 2022 in January," the U.S. automaker said in a statement. "We are continuing with our plans on Jan. 5 to share our significant company news, including the reveal of the Chevrolet Silverado EV."
A Google spokesperson said in a statement: "After careful consideration we have decided to withhold from having a presence on the show floor of CES 2022," adding that Google would continue to "identify and support virtual opportunities."
Waymo said in a blog post that it hopes to participate virtually if possible.
Several other companies, including Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Twitter Inc, Lenovo Group, AT&T Inc and Amazon.com Inc have also dropped in-person attendance, according to the Reuters report.
The event will still be held in person with "strong safety measures in place", CES officials said, adding that vaccination, masking and provision for COVID-19 tests will be included in the measures.
"Our mission remains to convene the industry and give those who cannot attend in person the ability to experience the magic of CES digitally," CES said in a statement. "CES 2022 will go forward as important innovation for world health and safety, mobility and solving problems will be exhibited."
The organisers added that the exit of 42 participants since last Thursday was less than 7 percent of exhibition floor and in the meanwhile 60 exhibitors joined the even.
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