CES 2017 is about to begin and Las Vegas is gearing up for Jan. 5. Technology companies from across the globe will be showcasing their devices and gadgets and also offer a glimpse into the tech future. This year marks the shows 50^th anniversary and the show promises to get even bigger than before. Even though many of the tech biggies already host their own events, they still continue to use CES 2017 to showcase their tech wonders.

According to Mirror, the CES 2017 is also an incredible platform for Kickstarter projects and small companies that are able to display some really amazing gadgets in segments such as 3D printing, home appliances and wearable technology. The CES 2017 will officially run from Jan. 5-8, though many products will start getting displayed from Monday onward. Big product announcements will likely be made during the press days on Jan. 3 and 4.

Many of the world's biggest technology companies will be unveiling their latest products at the CES 2017 including Sony, Samsung, ZTE, Toyota, Qualcomm, Panasonic, Huawei, Bosch, LG and Hisense. Some of the key themes in this year's CES 2017 will be artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 5G, connected cars and sleep tech. National Sleep Foundation will be sponsoring CES 2017's very own Sleep Tech Marketplace.

As far as VR Tech is concerned, 2016 has seen some incredible launches including PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Google Daydream View. Compatibility across different platforms is extremely important and so is VR-compatible content. The CES 2017 will increasingly become an important platform for car companies as they become more technologically-advanced. At this year's show, more than a dozen conference sessions will be dedicated to autonomous cars.

The future of 5G and its impact on the connected world will be a major theme at the CES 2017. The event will also see companies exploring new ways to use artificial intelligence in 2017. More and more apps are being developed to integrate with virtual personal assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana, Apple Siri and Google Assistant.