Transformative Technology Takes Center Stage at CES 2025: Reshaping Collaborative Encounters
CES 2025 underscored that accessibility is no longer a peripheral concern, but a fundamental pillar of innovation, connection, and commercial success. The spotlight at this event focused on how accessibility-focused businesses are revolutionizing sectors by crafting products that resonate with all, not just specific demographics.
Michael Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes, and Sandy Lacey, Executive Director of the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins Solutions, highlighted this transformation during CES 2025. Their presentations showcased how companies that prioritize inclusivity are not only expanding markets and fostering customer loyalty but also driving profitability.
From Specialized Market to $37 Billion Giant: Accessibility Goes Mainstream
The once-limited accessibility technology market, valued at $25 billion in 2023, is projected to reach an astounding $37 billion by 2029, according to McKinsey Market Research. This growth is a testament to the universal benefits of inclusive design. Companies like Be My Eyes are spearheading this revolution, transforming the lives of the visually impaired while offering businesses a means to cater to all their customers.
At CES 2025, Buckley revealed a groundbreaking partnership with Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. The collaboration between Be My Eyes and Ray-Ban integrates Be My AI assistant into the eyewear, enabling users to receive real-time visual interpretations. This breakthrough embodies how inclusive design can improve everyday life, empowering users to navigate their surroundings independently.
Buckley emphasized that Be My AI is not just a technological advancement; it's a business model that takes accessibility into the mainstream. Embedding accessibility features into widely-adopted products allows companies to unlock new revenue streams while creating meaningful social impact.
Redefining Road Trips: Perkins and Honda Lead with Scenic Audio
For many, road trips evoke a distinct sense of nostalgia. However, for visually impaired travelers, the journey remains relatively inaccessible. The Howe Innovation Center at Perkins Solutions, in collaboration with Honda, is addressing this gap with Scenic Audio. This AI-powered app offers real-time audio descriptions of landscapes, landmarks, and weather conditions, making road trips more accessible to all passengers.
"Scenic Audio is instrumental in our mission to create a more accessible world for all. We're thrilled to collaborate with Honda on this project, as their leadership in creating inclusive auto experiences is commendable," shared Sandy Lacey.
Auracast: Shared Audio Revolutionizes Public Spaces
CES 2025 also introduced Auracast, a revolutionary technology by Bluetooth SIG, aiming to transform public spaces. By enabling users to stream high-quality audio directly to their hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones, Auracast guarantees a customizable, inclusive listening experience in venues such as theaters, lecture halls, and museums.
Having personally experienced Auracast at a CES event, I was able to clearly hear the moderator before they addressed the room – a feat that would have been impossible without this technology, especially given the room's ambient noise. Auracast potentially complements existing accessibility solutions without replacing them, providing users with a choice that tailors to their specific needs.
Nuance Audio Glasses: Style Meets Accessibility
Essilor Luxottica's Nuance Audio smart glasses exemplify how accessibility and style can coexist. By merging sleek, stylish eyewear with advanced hearing support, these glasses amplify conversations while reducing background noise, making them the ideal companion for individuals with normal to moderate hearing loss in loud environments.
Nuance Audio disrupts the stigma associated with assistive devices, redefining assistive technology as aspirational, not clinical. By merging the eyewear and hearing assistance markets, EssilorLuxottica is opening up new revenue streams and redefining what accessibility products can be.
Embracing Accessibility as a Growth Strategy
CES 2025 demonstrated that accessibility drives connection, innovation, and profitability. Companies that prioritize inclusive products are not only addressing specific needs but appealing to everyone. Findings from the Akoio Accessibility and the Human Experience Report reinforce this, highlighting the value of sound environments designed to foster connection.
Companies that invest in accessibility are seeing the payoff in brand loyalty, expanded markets, and long-term growth. By embedding inclusivity into their strategies, these businesses are meeting the demands of a diverse global audience.
Accessibility as a Business Imperative
The message from CES 2025 is clear: accessibility is an integral part of innovation. Leaders like Michael Buckley and Sandy Lacey are paving the way for a future where accessibility is integrated into mainstream products, creating shared experiences that connect us all.
The accessibility movement, fueled by innovations like Be My AI's visual assistance, Scenic Audio's real-time descriptions, Auracast's customizable audio streaming, and Nuance Audio's stylish hearing support, is not democratizing accessibility. It's opening up new opportunities, markets, and revenue streams.
For businesses, embracing accessibility is no longer an option – it's a strategic advantage. Companies that commit to inclusivity are opening up new customer bases, fostering brand loyalty, and positioning themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving market.
The future of innovation belongs to those who recognize that accessibility is more than just a tool for independence – it's a driver of progress and a means of creating a more connected world.
- At CES 2025, Buckley announced a partnership between Be My Eyes and Ray-Ban, integrating Be My AI assistant into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, making everyday life more accessible for visually impaired individuals.
- Perkins Solutions, in collaboration with Honda, introduced Scenic Audio at CES 2025, an AI-powered app that provides real-time audio descriptions of landscapes and landmarks for visually impaired travelers, enhancing their road trip experiences.
- Auracast, a technology by Bluetooth SIG, was introduced at CES 2025, allowing users to stream high-quality audio directly to their hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones in public spaces, guaranteeing a customizable and inclusive listening experience.
- Essilor Luxottica showcased Nuance Audio smart glasses at CES 2025, merging stylish eyewear with advanced hearing support, making conversations easier to understand in loud environments for individuals with normal to moderate hearing loss.
- CES 2025 underscored that accessibility is now a fundamental pillar of innovation, connection, and commercial success, encouraging businesses to prioritize inclusive products as a means to expand markets, foster customer loyalty, and drive profitability.
