What to expect from CES 2026, the annual show of all things tech
[January 05, 2026] By
SHAWN CHEN
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the start of the New Year squarely behind us, it's
once again time for the annual CES trade show to shine a spotlight on
the latest tech that companies plan to offer in 2026.
The multiday event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association,
kicks off this week in Las Vegas, where advances across industries like
robotics, healthcare, vehicles, wearables, gaming and more are set to be
on display.
Artificial intelligence will be anchored in nearly everything, again, as
the tech industry explores offerings consumers will want to buy. AI
industry heavyweight Jensen Huang will be taking the stage to showcase
Nvidia's latest productivity solutions, and AMD CEO Lisa Su will keynote
to “share her vision for delivering future AI solutions.” Expect AI to
come up in other keynotes, like from Lenovo's CEO, Yuanqing Yang.
The AI industry is tackling issues in healthcare, with a particular
emphasis on changing individual health habits to treat conditions — such
as Beyond Medicine's prescription app focused on a particular jaw
disorder — or addressing data shortages in subjects such as breast milk
production.
Expect more unveils around domestic robots too. Korean tech giant LG
already has announced it will show off a helper bot named “CLOiD,” to
handle a range of household tasks. Hyundai also is announcing a major
push on robotics and manufacturing advancements. Extended reality,
basically a virtual training ground for robots and other physical AI, is
also in the buzz around CES.
In 2025, more than 141,000 attendees from over 150 countries, regions,
and territories attended CES. Organizers expect around the same numbers
for this year’s show, with more than 3,500 exhibitors across the floor
space this week.
The AP spoke with CTA Executive Chair and CEO Gary Shapiro about what to
expect for CES 2026. The conversation has been edited for clarity and
length.
What are the main themes we can expect this week?
Well, we have a lot at this year's show.
Obviously, using AI in a way that makes sense for people. We’re seeing a
lot in robotics. More robots and humanoid-looking robots than we’ve ever
had before.
We also see longevity in health, there’s a lot of focus on that. All
sorts of wearable devices for almost every part of the body. Technology
is answering healthcare’s gaps very quickly and that’s great for
everyone.
Mobility is big with not only self-driving vehicles but also with boats
and drones and all sorts of other ways of getting around. That’s very
important.
And of course, content creation is always very big.
Is 2026 the year we finally see humanoid robots in people’s homes?
You are seeing humanoid robots right now. It sometimes works, sometimes
doesn’t.
But yes, there are more and more humanoid robots. And when we talk about
CES five, 10, 15, 20 years now, we’re going to see an even larger range
of humanoid robots.
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People arrive at the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in
Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
 Obviously, last year we saw a great
interest in them. The number one product of the show was a little
robotic dog that seems so life-like and fun, and affectionate for
people that need that type of affection.
But of course, the humanoid robots are just one
aspect of that industry. There’s a lot of specialization in robot
creation, depending on what you want the robot to do. And robots can
do many things that humans can’t.
Will we start seeing more innovative use of AI tools in
entertainment?
AI is the future of creativity.
Certainly AI itself may be arguably creative, but the human mind is
so unique that you definitely get new ideas that way. So I think the
future is more of a hybrid approach, where content creators are
working with AI to craft variations on a theme or to better monetize
what they have to a broader audience.
Any interesting AI-powered devices or services that consumers
will want to buy?
We’re seeing all sorts of different devices that are implementing
AI. But we have a special focus at this show, for the first time, on
the disability community. Verizon set this whole stage up where we
have all different ways of taking this technology and having it help
people with disabilities and older people.
Are you concerned about a potential AI bubble?
Well, there’s definitely no bubble when it comes to what AI can do.
And what AI can do is perform miracles and solve fundamental human
problems in food production and clean air and clean water. Obviously
in healthcare, it’s gonna be overwhelming.
But this was like the internet itself. There was a lot of talk about
a bubble, and there actually was a bubble. The difference is that in
late 1990s there were basically were no revenue models. Companies
were raising a lot of money with no plans for revenue.
These AI companies have significant revenues today, and companies
are investing in it.
What I’m more concerned about, honestly, is not Wall Street and a
bubble. Others can be concerned about that. I’m concerned about
getting enough energy to process all that AI. And at this show, for
the first time, we have a Korean company showing the first ever
small-scale nuclear-powered energy creation device. We expect more
and more of these people rushing to fill this gap because we need
the energy, we need it clean and we need a kind of all-of-the-above
solution.
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