GenZ consumers will dominate demand for tech products in 2024, as they’re already a quarter of the tech world’s consumer population.
GenZ consumers will dominate demand for tech products in 2024, as they’re already a quarter of the tech world’s consumer population.
That’s one of the trends observed by Jessica Boothe, director of research for the Consumer Technology Association, the trade group that puts on CES 2024, and Brian Comiskey, director of thematic programs at the CTA, at the opening session of the big tech trade show in Las Vegas.
“CES is where the spark of innovation comes to life,” Comiskey said.
The CTA has been around for 100 years. And it has been gathering research on consumers for decades so it can spot the trends that are shaping technology and vice versa. GenZ accounts for about 69 million people in the U.S. and a quarter of the world’s population now. Overall, there are 5.4 billion people on the planet, including 90% of the global GenZ population in emerging markets.
While 92% of the population is online in the U.S., just 46% are online in India, 55% in Nigeria, 73% in China and 87% in the European Union. A billion more people will come online by 2027, the CTA said, and Elon Musk’s Starlink is going to be a big contributor to that. Add to that expectations for 6G wireless as well as the internet of things.
One of the things coming, Comiskey said, is Li-Fi, or using light to transmit data. Comiskey said much of the consumer gadget world will revolve around AI and robotics, cloud and cybersecurity. Big topics at the show include AI, sustainability and inclusivity, Boothe said.
While generative AI thanks to ChatGPT is big, AI is going to be bigger than that with chipmakers like Intel, AMD, Nvidia and Qualcomm committing to AI computers and Microsoft announcing its Copilot key as the first new addition to the Windows keyboard in 30 years.
