Show goes on in Las Vegas after Tesla Cybertruck explosion
Las Vegas shaken but not stirred as it prepares to host one of its biggest shows of the year – three days after a US Green Beret blew up a Tesla Cybertruck, wounding seven people.
There are two things Las Vegas is brilliant at: putting on a show and a facade.
On a Saturday night – three days after the driver of a rented Tesla Cybertruck shot himself in the head seconds before the vehicle exploded outside the Trump Hotel, wounding seven people – it was largely business as usual on the city’s famed casino strip.
There were still the bottomless mimosas for $US25, grog sold by the yard glass, and $US1 beer and hotdogs.
Las Vegas is preparing for CES, the world’s biggest consumer electronics show, which starts on Monday and where Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Hisense, Nvidia and others show off their latest wares for the year ahead.
“I’ll save my gas for CES,” my Uber driver tells me as she drives me to my hotel from the airport.
More than 130,000 people are expected to attend the event from 150 countries, booking out most flights to and from Vegas. Major themes are expected to be how generative artificial intelligence is driving innovation and becoming embedded in more household devices; how digital health services can help lower health care costs and improve equality and patient empowerment; and how the energy transition will shape a more “sustainable future”.
“Everybody is going to be talking about AI,” Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said.
“From fridges to ovens to whatever, everybody is going to be mentioning AI whether it is there or not.”
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang will give a “do-not-miss” keynote speech on the eve of the CES show floor opening, touting innovations at the AI computer chip powerhouse, according to independent tech industry analyst Rob Enderle.
Chip industry rivals Intel, AMD and Qualcomm are expected to counter with news of their own.
CES will also be a gigantic auto show, with carmakers and those supplying components showing off self-driving and automated safety capabilities.
“CES has been an auto show for a while now and, if anything, it is more so this year,” said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk’s close relationship with Trump is expected to reduce regulatory speed bumps regarding autonomous vehicles.
And while still far from being a part of everyday life, flying cars will be part of the CES scene, according to Mr Enderle.
“You should start seeing flying vehicles you can buy,” Mr Enderle said. “Getting approval to fly them is a whole other matter.”
Robots designed to handle work tasks or be comforting companions – and even adorable pets – are among the promised CES exhibits.
Gadgets for calming the mind, beautifying the body, or helping get a sound night’s sleep will also be on the show floor as tech continues to seep into every aspect of existence.
“Digital health is going to be huge,” said Mr Greengart.
On The Strip for a good time
Although it’s a crisp winter’s evening, along The Strip, there are hawkers attempting to thrust cans of cold beer into your hand or entice you to another where they promise ‘you’ll have a good time’. There are buskers and people dressed up as Mickey Mouse or Batman who ask if you want a photo with them before stressing: “the work for tips”.
Inside the casinos, the roulette wheels are still spinning to the soundtrack of the zing of poker machines, while copious amounts of oxygen are being pumped from the ceiling to disguise the smell of cigarettes and, more precisely, to keep people buzzing with energy. The strip is alive, pulsating to its own frenetic rhythm.
But beyond the strip, the streets are narrow and empty. It’s almost like a Potemkin village – a fake construction made to convince people the city is better than it is.
And after the Tesla Cybertruck exploded three days ago, cracks in that facade are beginning to appear.
My Uber driver told that she didn’t want to go near The Strip today, but after starting her shift around her local neighbourhood, about 20 minutes away, she was quickly drawn to the city’s epicentre. She said it was unavoidable as soon as she switched on the Uber app, and not only did she find herself taking on the strip but driving past the Trump Hotel – a situation that she is trying to grasp.
The driver of the Tesla was Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army Green Beret, who was likely suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, authorities said at a news briefing.
The FBI says it has found from interviews with friends, family members and military servicemembers that he “held no animosity” toward president-elect Donald Trump.
“Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who is struggling with PTSD and other issues,” said Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas division.
Still, the explosion has sparked national alarm across the US after a US Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pick-up truck flying an Islamic State flag into a New Orleans crowd, killing 14 people. He was shot dead in a firefight with police.
Investigators believe Jabbar acted alone. But soon after the Las Vegas explosion, people – including Elon Musk, Tesla chief executive and close adviser to Mr Trump – where quick to highlight potential links.
Mr Musk said the Cybertruck and the F-150 “suicide bomb in New Orleans” were both rented from Turo. “Perhaps they are linked in some way,” Mr Musk wrote on X.
He said the explosion was unrelated to the “vehicle itself”. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Mr Musk said.
CES organisers say they have increased security, and there is a more visible police presence than usual in Las Vegas. There was a police car and barricade fences at the Trump Hotel. There were also other police cars with lights flashing outside casinos close to the Trump Hotel, including the Wynn and The Venetian. Uniformed officers are seen walking along other parts of The Strip.
“Ensuring a secure and seamless experience for all is our top priority,” Consumer Technology Association vice president and CES show director John T. Kelley told IoT World Today.
“We are working closely with trusted partners, including all levels of government, to deliver robust security, advanced infrastructure and essential services so attendees can focus on driving growth and forging impactful connections.
“We continue to monitor the situation and are in touch with our security partners and law enforcement officials.”
The author travelled to Las Vegas for CES with assistance from Samsung, LG and Hisense.
Additional reporting: AFP
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