WEBVTT - Sony Electronics NA President on CES Innovations

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<v Speaker 1>This is Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser from Bloomberg Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Well check it out everyone, the c ES that Consumer

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<v Speaker 1>Electronics Show happens virtually next week. I've been there. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>It's the annual show highlighting tech and global innovators and

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<v Speaker 1>some really cool trends and gadgets as well, tech trends

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<v Speaker 1>that may ultimately work their way into our lives and

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<v Speaker 1>coming years. Joining us with what they are highlighting at

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<v Speaker 1>the upcoming show is Sony Electronics North America President and

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<v Speaker 1>Chief operating Officer Mike Fasulo. He joins us on the

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<v Speaker 1>phone in San Diego. Mike Hate, nice to have you

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<v Speaker 1>here on Bloomberg. I do want to talk about c

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<v Speaker 1>E S and what you guys will be um showing

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<v Speaker 1>off there, But I gotta ask you, and I think

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<v Speaker 1>it would be careless and thoughtless for me, as a

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<v Speaker 1>journalist and really an American not to talk to you

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<v Speaker 1>and ask you about what happened in Washington yesterday. How

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<v Speaker 1>did it unfold for you? How did it make you

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<v Speaker 1>think about kind of where we are as a country

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<v Speaker 1>and your responsibility as a leader overall? Well, thanks for

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<v Speaker 1>having me, Carol. Yeah, sorry to start off as strong. Yeah, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I think I felt, like many of us, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>it was tragic, it was sickening, and you know we

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<v Speaker 1>we and I condemn any lawlessness and violence. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>I really feel sadly for those that were physically heard

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<v Speaker 1>or mentally heard. I mean, I couldn't imagine being at

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<v Speaker 1>the Capitol. But yeah, I mean I condemn it. It's terrible.

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<v Speaker 1>So and I do want it, Yeah, absolutely, And I

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<v Speaker 1>do wonder. You know, it's been a year if I

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<v Speaker 1>you know, go back to excuse me, a year where

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<v Speaker 1>I feel like there's a lot of problems that have

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<v Speaker 1>been a part of our society and that they were

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<v Speaker 1>just laid bare again because of the health pandemic, because

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<v Speaker 1>of what happened with George Floyd and others, whether it's

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<v Speaker 1>diversity and inclusion, inequities, the gap in wealth in this country.

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<v Speaker 1>And I do think ultimately, as a leader, don't you

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<v Speaker 1>know what can we do? What the role of the

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<v Speaker 1>private sector? Do you think at all of this? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's you know, looking at it from the

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<v Speaker 1>silver lining side, which is really hard to do when

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<v Speaker 1>this tragedy and lives involved negatively, But but you know,

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<v Speaker 1>it has brought appropriate attention that we're not doing enough

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<v Speaker 1>right and from the private sector side, from the from

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<v Speaker 1>the sunny side, you know, CUSR, whether it's around the environment,

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<v Speaker 1>whether it's around social justice, whether it's UM pandemic, COVID related,

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<v Speaker 1>and everything in between. That's a commitment to ours and

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<v Speaker 1>and something we take very seriously as one of our responsibilities.

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<v Speaker 1>And this past year we have been very very active

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<v Speaker 1>on that front, obviously inside our company, but also out

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<v Speaker 1>in the marketplace, you know, working with a number of

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<v Speaker 1>institutions that you know, I'd be more than happy to

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<v Speaker 1>share with you should do once this pipics, but you know,

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<v Speaker 1>trying to affect real change. You know, I think the

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<v Speaker 1>social justice and I love it. I love specifics, and

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<v Speaker 1>I promise you we're gonna talk about cs UM, but

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<v Speaker 1>I want to so in terms of really be a

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<v Speaker 1>game changer, how do you how do we we've all

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<v Speaker 1>talked about like some of the inequities, uh and whether

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<v Speaker 1>it's diversity and inclusion, you know, how do we really

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<v Speaker 1>create real action and change? In your view, I think

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<v Speaker 1>that I think the private sector has a large responsibility

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<v Speaker 1>for this. You know, Frankly, I don't think my generation

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<v Speaker 1>did a great job, you know, I've been in the

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<v Speaker 1>workforce for almost forty years, so I'm the old white guy.

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<v Speaker 1>But the you know, we haven't we haven't done enough

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<v Speaker 1>to affect real change. It goes well beyond my belief

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<v Speaker 1>words and even donations. You know, how do we truly

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<v Speaker 1>impact change? You know? I think about COVID nineteen and

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<v Speaker 1>social justice and and they're they're connected. It's not independent,

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<v Speaker 1>al right, So how do we get to those under privilege?

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<v Speaker 1>How do we get to those that we narrowly don't

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<v Speaker 1>get the chance where the privileges that folks like I get,

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<v Speaker 1>and really put them in a position for success, build

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<v Speaker 1>on their confidence given the tools and invest in steam right,

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<v Speaker 1>and they nut stand because arts equals creativity to us

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<v Speaker 1>and innovation. But but there's tremendous we could do. I

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<v Speaker 1>also think that the more we do together, not one

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<v Speaker 1>single company but groups of companies and networks, etcetera. Be

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<v Speaker 1>more we do together, you know, the more impact will

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<v Speaker 1>have an alignment. So as promised, Um, Mike, I do

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<v Speaker 1>want to talk about Consumer Electronics Show, which kicks off

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<v Speaker 1>virtually next week. What are you guys going to be

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<v Speaker 1>highlighting And I'm curious what you think are some of

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<v Speaker 1>the big trends that we all need to know about. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be a different uh CES this year. That's

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<v Speaker 1>the sure being being virtual. But we're still very excited,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know it's already being an entertainment company. We

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<v Speaker 1>always have a lot of news to share in my

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<v Speaker 1>role in electronics. UM. Even there, there's so many announcements,

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<v Speaker 1>so let me try to try to boil it down.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, we're we are announcing new audio applications UM

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<v Speaker 1>that we call phishics and reality audio which is very

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<v Speaker 1>immersive and surround sound and multiple applications, and we'll announce

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<v Speaker 1>that next week, so I won't get too much into that.

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<v Speaker 1>Robotics for all ages, whether it's you know, our robotic

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<v Speaker 1>door Gibo or Cove for steme and children. I think

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<v Speaker 1>what I'm most excited about today is our announcements around

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<v Speaker 1>our new cognitive intelligent TVs, world's first cognit intelligent TVs.

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<v Speaker 1>So can I just tell you. We were discussing this

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<v Speaker 1>on our planning call and we're like, all right, cognitive TV,

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<v Speaker 1>what exactly does it mean? It kind of freaks me

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<v Speaker 1>out if it's going to know what's kind of going

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<v Speaker 1>on in my head? So tell me exactly what it means.

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<v Speaker 1>What's the experience for one who's got a cognitive TV.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean it really when when you boil it down,

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<v Speaker 1>it's immersive, it's really entertaining. It makes it connects sound

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<v Speaker 1>and visual like your brain actually calculates it, not just

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<v Speaker 1>one aspect, but puts it all together, including where you're

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<v Speaker 1>focused on the on the TV. So it brings all

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<v Speaker 1>of that together and brings everything to life and makes

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<v Speaker 1>it lifelike. It's it's again it's going to be a

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<v Speaker 1>challenge with virtual because I always say seeing is believing,

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<v Speaker 1>and in this case, seeing and hearing is believing. But

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<v Speaker 1>it is the best quality picture that I think is

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<v Speaker 1>on the planet. So wait, so help me out. So

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<v Speaker 1>is it just a case of an incredible processor? So

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<v Speaker 1>exactly what we're seeing visually and or hearing is just

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<v Speaker 1>like I've been pulling up some screens on on my computer.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, is it just what we see, what we

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<v Speaker 1>hear is just kind of appt up from what we've

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<v Speaker 1>got right now. Potentially it is definitely an incredible processor. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I think my engineers would be just an incredible thanks boss,

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<v Speaker 1>But it is, it is an incredible processor. But it's

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<v Speaker 1>different than AI artificial intelligence, and that it's simultaneously calculating

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<v Speaker 1>multiple variables, including including sound, so you know, it will

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<v Speaker 1>not only in all content, so it will not only

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<v Speaker 1>make us feel lifelike, but if you're watching a concert,

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<v Speaker 1>you'll feel like you're at the concert. You know, if

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<v Speaker 1>you're looking at interest, if you're listening to Bloomberg, your

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<v Speaker 1>voice is gonna sound spectacular. That's all we care about.

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<v Speaker 1>It remarkable. Yeah, But from what I understand is if

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<v Speaker 1>you're looking at a screen, um that the screen is

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<v Speaker 1>actually divided into different sections so that as you kind

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<v Speaker 1>of focus on it, I guess it adapts. Is that correct? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>that's correct. So we call it zones. So the you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the processor calculates zone by zone and then tries to

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<v Speaker 1>think as if your brain thinks in your eyes, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>where your eyes will be at a point in time.

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<v Speaker 1>It's not looking at you. There's no watching you, okay,

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<v Speaker 1>processor oriented. Yeah, I got to say that. The experience

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<v Speaker 1>I think that you know, we've all been able to

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<v Speaker 1>build with kind of our home systems, it's pretty phenomenal

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<v Speaker 1>and and all of us appreciate that even more since

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<v Speaker 1>we've been stuck home watching so much content that you

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<v Speaker 1>do think about, you know, the systems that are around

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<v Speaker 1>you and are constantly looking for upgrades. Something I want

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<v Speaker 1>to ask you, it's a constant conversation in my home

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<v Speaker 1>about kind of what the next car will be, and

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<v Speaker 1>we want it to be some form of green car

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<v Speaker 1>whatever that will be. Um but it's also increasingly you know,

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<v Speaker 1>greater technology and the car I've got almost contrive itself.

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<v Speaker 1>Autonomous vehicles. Where are you guys on that? Are you

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<v Speaker 1>part of that as well? We absolutely have to total

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<v Speaker 1>we are and we've we're in a number of different

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<v Speaker 1>areas on autonomous or drive a lists cars, but but

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<v Speaker 1>the one that we're most focused on right now is

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<v Speaker 1>around our capabilities with sensors and image sensors and turning

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<v Speaker 1>it into sensing. So you know, the human I has

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<v Speaker 1>has capabilities but has limited a image sensor has much

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<v Speaker 1>further capabilities. So we call it safety cocoon and think

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<v Speaker 1>about your car, you know, being surrounded by sensors that

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<v Speaker 1>create a cocoon of safety, so we can anticipate things

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<v Speaker 1>that human I maybe would not, including changing in lights,

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<v Speaker 1>going at the tunnels, you know, corners, etcetera. On incoming

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<v Speaker 1>objects or oncoming objects. So we're working with a number

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<v Speaker 1>of companies on including our sensors in in their models

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<v Speaker 1>so that it's safe. And you guys are going to

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<v Speaker 1>be Actually you unveiled it and I did. I think

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<v Speaker 1>it's some testing. Is it kind of a year ago

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<v Speaker 1>at CS and so where are you guys? And I

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<v Speaker 1>wonder how are you working with Apple? By any chance,

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<v Speaker 1>we work with a number of companies. But we'll leave

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<v Speaker 1>it at that. Okay, fair enough, fair enough? What what

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<v Speaker 1>do you make of because I feel like there's a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of momentum, certainly coming off of Tesla. They had

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<v Speaker 1>a batter year in but I do feel like in

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<v Speaker 1>the last few weeks of last year we all kind

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<v Speaker 1>of awakened again when it came to cars and e

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<v Speaker 1>V and autonomous because of Apple once again, um becoming

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<v Speaker 1>interested and involved once again. It's not their first time

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<v Speaker 1>at the at this rodeo. But nonetheless, what do you

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<v Speaker 1>make of Apple getting involved? I think I think the

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<v Speaker 1>more the more companies that could involved, especially incredible companies,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the better you know, will will well com

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<v Speaker 1>people will partner and we'll live and learn together. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's it's a good it's it's to see

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<v Speaker 1>other others joining in and in terms of yeah, I agree,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I feel like I don't know if you

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<v Speaker 1>feel this way, Mike, I feel like, if anything, we

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<v Speaker 1>learned this year in terms of UM community collaboration, especially

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<v Speaker 1>when you think about a vaccine coming together and I

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<v Speaker 1>understand it was a public private partnership, but it's amazing

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<v Speaker 1>what we can all get done when we really even

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<v Speaker 1>though we may be competitors, when we work together kind

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<v Speaker 1>of how we can just advance things with a much

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<v Speaker 1>faster time frame. Absolutely agree. We call it communities of

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<v Speaker 1>interest of getting closer to people in communities. Yeah, it's

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<v Speaker 1>pretty fascinating. Well, listen, thank you so much. Good luck

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<v Speaker 1>with next year. UM, thanks so much for sharing us

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<v Speaker 1>and giving us a little bit of window. What will

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<v Speaker 1>be uh hearing coming out of you guys when it

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<v Speaker 1>comes to ce S next year. I really appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 1>Mike Fasulo, he's president and chief operating officer at Sony

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<v Speaker 1>Electronics North America, on the phone from San Diego, and

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<v Speaker 1>as he mentioned, the Consumer Electronics Show, YEP, it does

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<v Speaker 1>get underway virtually. Uh next year, next year, next week?

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<v Speaker 1>Excuse me, so always a place to look for some

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<v Speaker 1>headlines