If you didn’t already know it, the monumental tech show that is CES has gone virtual this year, with all of the usual Vegas-based shenanigans seen off by the ongoing pandemic.
Eager to experiment with the new format, LG used virtual influencer Reah Keem to introduce some of the company’s new tech gear during its online press conference on Monday.
Keem, who describes herself as a songwriter and DJ, landed on Instagram in May 2020 and currently has a modest follower count of just over 6,000.
It may feel a little odd watching a computer-generated figure describe her love of travel, but if you can suspend your disbelief for a moment — like you do when you watch Tom and Jerry — then you’ll likely enjoy this quirky sales pitch.
“Traveling is a big part of my life and inspiration,” Keem says in LG’s video presentation (top) while at the same time pointing out how travel restrictions are currently making her globetrotting adventures impossible. It’s the perfect segue into the unveiling of LG’s new CLOi UV-C robot. The wheel-based bot uses ultraviolet C (UV-C) light to exterminate nasty germs and viruses on high-touch, high-traffic areas such as hotel rooms and restaurants — exactly the kind of places a global gadabout like Keem no doubt often finds herself in.
As global flight curbs somehow force the all-digital Keem to remain hunkered down in her virtual home, the influencer says she’s going to simply “chill in my studio and work on my videos.” This links nicely to the latest iteration of LG’s ultra-light Gram laptop, which, according to the virtual musician, features a clean-cut design, a super-slim 16:10 aspect ratio display, and a hidden hinge display.
And with that, Keem handed the presentation over to Samsung executive Samuel Chang, who looked neither computerized nor concerned that Keem might put him out of a job anytime soon.
Part of the fun of this year’s unusual CES is seeing how different companies are embracing the virtual format, and while LG’s presentation featuring Keem may not work for everyone, it at least made an effort to link her credentials to the products she unveils.
For more on what’s happening at CES this week, and with all the latest on the cool new tech products coming our way, be sure to check out Digital Trends’ special guide.
