The Fanciful, Mechanical, Monumental Spectacle of CES 2025

WIRED contributing photographer Tristan deBrauwere takes us behind the scenes at the largest consumer tech show in the world.

Sit down and strap in.Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

At the beginning of January every year, the consumer tech industry descends on the desert boomtown of Las Vegas, Nevada, for CES. The trade show is the largest tech industry event in the world, with over 138,000 attendees and 2.5 million square feet of floor space. It’s primarily a venue for businesses—startups, multinationals, retailers, distributors, and financiers—to connect. But the show is also open to the press and the general public, so everyone is vying for each other’s attention, eyeballs, and wallets. The level of glitz and spectacle, especially at the big-budget booths for the largest companies, is astronomical.

Photographer Tristan deBrauwere has been on the ground in Las Vegas all week shooting the show for WIRED; see his three photo galleries for the highlights of his work. Today, Tristan takes us behind the scenes to show us that even at its robotic, vibrating, internet-connected center, CES is still a show where humanity reigns supreme.

The doctors are in.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Wearable sensor tech is always prevalent at CES.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

It’s a global show.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Massage chairs are always a hit at CES.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

AI is everywhere, even in the bedroom.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

An attendee takes a tech-assisted break.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Sony’s booth had a The Last of Us exhibit.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Augmenting reality.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Check your health.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Paws button.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Tour de Tech

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

The Las Vegas Convention Center is large …

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

… and accommodating.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Dance revolution.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Gadgets galore.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Posing with Sony’s car.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

Photo op.

Photograph: Tristan deBrauwere

In your inbox: Get Plaintext—Steven Levy’s long view on tech

Michael Calore oversees WIRED’s coverage of consumer technology and internet culture, and is one of the hosts of WIRED’s weekly podcast, Uncanny Valley. As a writer, he covers a range of topics including music, film, art, software, social media, and underground culture.