GM joins Google in retreat from 2022 CES

US automaker General Motors Co, Alphabet Inc's Google and its self-driving auto-technology company Waymo on Thursday joined the companies no longer attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in person early next month due to rising Covid-19 infections.

GM chief executive Mary Barra had been scheduled to give a keynote speech at the annual conference on January 5, during which the company would have shown its electric Silverado pickup truck for the first time. Barra will still make the speech and presentation remotely, a spokesperson said.

"We have decided to move to an all-digital approach with our activation at CES 2022 in January," the U.S. automaker said. 

"We are continuing with our plans on January 5 to share our significant company news, including the reveal of the Chevrolet Silverado EV."

A Google spokesperson said: "After careful consideration we have decided to withhold from having a presence on the show floor of CES 2022," adding Google would continue to "identify and support virtual opportunities".

Waymo said in a blog post it hopes to participate virtually if possible at the Las Vegas event, which traditionally has drawn more than 180,000 people from around the world to discuss emerging technologies and party through the night with business contacts.

ByteDance-owned TikTok said it would hold a virtual event for partners and advertisers. Also on Thursday, Intel Corp said it would minimise staffing at CES.

"The health and safety of our employees, partners and customers  is  always a top priority," the chipmaker said.

"Our plans for CES will move to a digital first, live experience, with minimal on-site staff."

Several other companies, including Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Twitter Inc, Lenovo Group, AT&T Inc and Amazon.com Inc dropped in-person attendance plans earlier this week, saying they would not send employees out of caution over the spread of the Omicron variant.

CES officials said the event will still be held in person from January 5 to 8 with "strong safety measures in place", including vaccination requirements, masking and availability of Covid-19 tests.

"Our mission remains to convene the industry and give those who cannot attend in person the ability to experience the magic of CES digitally," CES said.

"CES 2022 will go forward as important innovation for world health and safety, mobility and solving problems will be exhibited."

It said while it had received 42 exhibitor cancellations since last Thursday, that was less than 7% of the exhibitor floor and 60 others had been added.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 was first detected last month in Hong Kong and southern Africa, sparking global concerns about a fast-spreading new version of the virus. Coronavirus infections have soared wherever highly infectious Omicron has spread, triggering new restrictions in many countries.