CES 2026 Unveils AI & Robotics Revolution: What Las Vegas Showcased

Welcome to 2026, where the tech industry’s biggest spectacle, CES, has once again transformed Las Vegas into a dazzling hub of innovation. Kicking off officially on January 6th, though festivities began days earlier, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show proved to be a powerful indicator of the technological trajectory ahead. From the famed Strip to the sprawling Convention Center, companies big and small descended upon the city, eager to debut their latest and greatest, alongside a few ambitious concepts that may or may not see the light of day.

As anticipated, artificial intelligence stood front and center, permeating nearly every category imaginable. Yet, as Kinsey Fabrizio, president of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) which runs CES, succinctly put it, the unexpected star of the show was undoubtedly robotics. ‘Every year CES has a theme. And sometimes you don’t know what it is until you get to the show, and everybody’s talking about it,’ Fabrizio explained. ‘But we can tell you right now, robotics is going to be talked about… big time at CES.’

The Chipmaker Clash: Powering the AI Future

CES has evolved into a formidable battleground for chipmakers, a place where industry titans flex their technological muscles right alongside their fiercest competitors. Following Nvidia’s commanding presence last year, which saw CEO Jensen Huang unveil a new lineup of gaming chips, a desktop-sized AI rig, and a suite of AI software services, expectations were sky-high for 2026. True to form, Huang took the stage on January 5th, likely showcasing further advancements in gaming and a host of new AI applications and capabilities, building on the company’s staggering $4.5 trillion market cap at the close of 2025.

Hours later, AMD CEO Lisa Su delivered her own keynote, offering a compelling rebuttal to Nvidia’s announcements and providing crucial updates on AMD’s formidable gaming and AI product lines. Not to be outdone, Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and GM of Intel’s Client Computing Group, also held a keynote. He was expected to provide fresh insights into Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 chips, codenamed Panther Lake. These processors, initially revealed in October, represent Intel’s first foray into its highly anticipated 18A chip technology – a critical component of the company’s ambitious turnaround strategy.

Samsung’s AI-Driven Home and Beyond

Samsung, a perennial CES heavyweight, set the agenda early with its ‘First Look’ press conference, shifting its traditional midday Monday slot to a Sunday night presentation. CEO TM Roh, of Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division, outlined the company’s vision for the new year, heavily emphasizing ‘new AI-driven customer experiences.’ While the much-anticipated Ballie robot, a star of previous CES presentations, notably missed its previously promised 2025 release and didn’t make an appearance, Samsung’s commitment to AI in the home was unmistakable.

The company showcased a full line of appliances infused with what it terms ‘Bespoke AI,’ promising everything from spill detection in robot vacuums to recipe suggestions in smart refrigerators. Display technology also received significant attention, with Samsung, like competitors LG and Hisense, detailing its new micro RGB TVs, available in impressive screen sizes ranging from 55 to 115 inches. Gamers had plenty to anticipate, too, with the debut of new gaming monitors, including the 32-inch 6K Odyssey, boasting glasses-free 3D, and the Odyssey G6 and G8 models. Beyond consumer gadgets, Samsung also highlighted its focus on health detection, specifically tracking early signs of illnesses and cognitive decline, a moment that brought a palpable sense of importance to the crowded room, as noted by ZDNET.

Robots Steal the Spotlight: From Chores to Companions

As CTA’s Kinsey Fabrizio predicted, robots commanded significant attention. The SwitchBot Onero H1, a wheeled robot designed to clean, wash, and even cook, generated considerable buzz. This innovative machine ‘learns and reacts to its environment using visual perception and tactile feedback to perform tasks such as grasping, pushing, and opening,’ according to ZDNET‘s smart home expert Maria Diaz, promising to tackle household chores ‘soon.’ Similarly, Narwal unveiled the Flow 2 robot vacuum, making a compelling case for AI integration by performing adaptive tasks like cleaning quietly near a baby’s crib or sending reminders for misplaced items. Samsung Display even showcased a moving robot, reminiscent of Wall-E, featuring an interactive AI OLED display.

Beyond the Hype: Practical Innovations and Wearables

While AI and robotics dominated headlines, CES 2026 also delivered a plethora of other exciting, and often practical, innovations. LG’s return of the Wallpaper TV, now with improved processing, a 165Hz refresh rate, and Zero Connect box support for wireless connectivity, made a striking impression. The company also unveiled its new Gram Pro 17 and Gram Pro 16 laptops, utilizing a newly developed material called Aerominum to achieve unprecedented lightness.

In wearables, the cult-favorite Pebble brand made a comeback with the Pebble Round 2 smartwatch, featuring a classic design, ten days of battery life, and an enlarged e-paper display optimized for notifications and basic health tracking. RayNeo showcased smart glasses, including the intriguing X3 Pro Project eSIM, which supports a built-in 4G connection, allowing users to browse the web or make calls without needing a paired cellular device. Project Luci, a compact, magnetic AI pin designed as a searchable digital archive of daily life, offered a unique take on memory augmentation, using a proprietary AI model called Mavi for ‘semantic searches.’

Other notable mentions included the DuRobo Krono, a palm-sized e-reader with 128GB of storage, positioning itself as a compelling Kindle replacement. Withings unveiled the second-generation Body Scan 2, a smart scale capable of measuring a new slate of biomarkers, including hypertension risk, pending FDA clearance. Lockin introduced the V7 Max smart lock with ‘AuraCharge’ wireless charging technology, while Hyper released the TrackPad Pro, a premium PC accessory with a 240Hz report rate and haptic feedback. Belkin’s ConnectAir adapter promised wireless HDMI connectivity up to 131 feet, and Xreal’s Neo, a portable charger doubling as a display adapter for smart glasses and consoles, impressed with its versatility. Even the return of BlackBerry-style accessories, like the Clicks Power Keyboard and Clicks Communicator, catered to a nostalgic yet practical niche. TCL’s Note A1 Nxtpaper tablet, with its full-color LCD and 120Hz refresh rate, aimed to bridge the gap between e-readers and traditional tablets.

Display Technology: Pushing Boundaries

Every CES brings new advancements in display technology, and 2026 was no exception. The buzzword this year was ‘Micro RGB,’ a meticulous arrangement of LEDs promising enhanced light control and accuracy, with Samsung, LG, and others showcasing their versions. The accessibility of this premium technology remains a key question, given the current large sizes and high price points. Samsung also pushed boundaries with its new 6K 3D monitors, promising a more immersive, glasses-free experience through eye-tracking. While 3D displays have had a rocky history, often criticized for muddying colors or causing motion sickness, Samsung aims to ‘overpromise and overdeliver,’ as ZDNET‘s Cesar Cadenas cautiously observed.

Even the travel experience got a tech upgrade, with United Airlines rolling out free, high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on select flights, a welcome development for attendees traveling to and from the event, as noted by Yahoo Finance.

CES 2026 cemented the notion that technology is no longer just about incremental improvements, but about a profound re-imagining of our daily interactions, with AI and robotics serving as the foundational pillars for a future where devices don’t just perform tasks, but intelligently anticipate and enhance human experience.