Last week, Brian and Tyler from the Asmark team visited Las Vegas for CES 2025, one of the biggest tech events in the world. This year’s show featured futuristic gadgets and innovations, with AI and robotics stealing the spotlight. 

From safety vests that inflate when detecting a fall to AR/VR (augmented reality/ virtual reality) that could change how training is conducted, there was no shortage of incredible technologies to discover at over 4,500 booths. Brian and Tyler spent two and a half days walking over 30 miles exploring how new tech could impact our business and the ag retail industry. Their goal was to bring back fresh ideas and insights that could help Asmark and our clients stay ahead in a constantly evolving industry. Attending events like CES is just one way we stay informed about what’s available now and on the horizon. Below are a few noteworthy ag-specific innovations. 

Caterpillar celebrated its 100th anniversary by showcasing a hybrid retrofit of its 55,000-pound 972-wheel loader, emphasizing a commitment to electrification and autonomy in heavy equipment. 

John Deere unveiled a 130-hp, fully electric, autonomous-ready concept tractor and expanded its autonomous capabilities to include lower-horsepower tractors and autonomous spraying technologies for specialty crop growers. 

Kubota presented the KATR robot, a four-wheeled, all-terrain, multi-functional field robot that maintains a level deck across rugged terrain and operates autonomously or in "follow me" mode to assist specialty crop producers. It also showcased Flash, a plant health imagery solution using AI for analysis, and the Smart Plant Imager, which acquires hyperspectral plant health data in real time. The Agri Concept 2.0 autonomous tractor was debuted, and it is now outfitted with an operator cab for optional direct oversight. 

Jackery highlighted portable solar power generators, providing sustainable energy solutions for various applications, including agricultural operations.

Kioti displayed the AI Agri Robot RT 100, an electrically driven, modular field robot with manual, "follow me," and fully autonomous modes. It can be outfitted with an orchard spray kit for pesticide application. Kioti also introduced a fully electric RX 7340 smart tractor featuring integrated soil sensing technology. This technology measures soil moisture, organic matter, and other soil health metrics, sending data to the cloud for processing and integration into farm management systems.