Rising Omicron cases have had exhibitors concerned at CES 2022 and tech companies are cancelling in-person presence at the consumer tech show set to start on January 5th to go all the way till the 8th.
Here are the tech companies that have cancelled so far and will probably have a digital presence:
- Microsoft
- IBM
- Panasonic
- Lenovo
- T-Mobile
- Meta
- GM
- Intel
- iHeartRadio
- Nvidia
- Amazon
- Ring
- BMW
- Mercedes
- AMD
- MSI
Consumer Tech Association, the organizers of the event said that in-person events will go on with increased heath protocols including free rapid tests, masks, required proof of vaccination.
So far, 42 exhibitors have cancelled.
“CES 2022 will kick off 2022 in messy fashion, but it will be chock full of innovation and full of entrepreneurs and businesses. We will all be taking risks. But without risk there is no innovation,” said Gary Shapiro, CTA president and CEO in an op-ed published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
CES expects 2200 companies to participate in next months event.
SONY, LG and Samsung will still proceed with in-person showings.
Omicron is a new COVID-19 variant that has pushed back efforts to go back to normal and its implications are still are unknown. So far, cases among vaccinated are mild when compared to the unvaccinated.
It has also forced tech companies to push back return to office dates.
Tech media companies covering CES 2022 have also cancelled sending reporters attending the event in-person including The Verge, CNET, Tom’s Guide, Engadget, TechRadar and TechCrunch.
It’ll be interesting to see what announcements get shared this week before the event starts next week.
