LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the start of the New Year behind us, it's time for the annual CES trade show to shed light on the latest tech companies plan to offer in 2026.
The multi-day event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, kicks off this week in Las Vegas, highlighting advances in industries including robotics, healthcare, vehicles, wearables, gaming and more.
Artificial intelligence will be used in almost everything as the tech industry studies the offerings that consumers will want to buy. AI industry heavyweight Jensen Huang will take the stage to showcase Nvidia's latest performance solutions, while AMD CEO Lisa Su will deliver a keynote address to “share her vision for creating the future of AI solutions.” Expect artificial intelligence to appear in other keynotes, such as Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang's.
The AI industry is in full swing to address health problems, with a particular focus on changing individual health habits to treat diseases (such as the Beyond Medicine app targeting a specific jaw disorder) or addressing the lack of data on subjects such as breast milk production.
Expect new discoveries about home robots as well. Korean tech giant LG has already announced that it will be showcasing a robot assistant called CLOiD, which will supposedly perform a range of household tasks. Hyundai also announces significant developments in robotics and manufacturing advancements. Augmented reality, essentially a virtual training ground for robots and other physical artificial intelligence, is also all the rage around CES.
In 2025, CES was attended by more than 141,000 people from more than 150 countries, regions and territories. Organizers expect similar numbers at this year's show, with more than 3,500 exhibitors taking part this week.
The AP spoke with CTA Executive Chairman and CEO Gary Shapiro about what to expect from CES 2026. The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
What are the main topics for us this week?
Well, we have a lot of them at the show this year.
Clearly, using AI makes sense for humans. We see a lot in robotics. More robots and humanoid-like robots than ever before.
We also see longevity in health, a lot of attention is paid to this. All kinds of wearable devices for almost every part of the body. Technology is closing gaps in healthcare very quickly, and that's good for everyone.
Mobility is high not only with driverless vehicles, but also with boats, drones, and all sorts of other modes of transportation. This is very important.
And of course, content creation is always very important.
Will 2026 be the year we finally see humanoid robots in people's homes?
Right now you are seeing humanoid robots. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
But yes, there are more and more humanoid robots. And when we talk about CES in 5, 10, 15, 20 years, we'll see an even greater range of humanoid robots.
Obviously, we saw a lot of interest in them last year. The number one product on the show was a small robot dog that seems so realistic, funny and affectionate to people who need that kind of affection.
But, of course, humanoid robots are only one aspect of this industry. There are many specializations in building robots, depending on what you want in a robot. And robots can do many things that humans cannot.
Will we start to see more innovative use of artificial intelligence tools in entertainment?
AI is the future of creativity.
Of course, AI itself can be creative, but the human mind is so unique that you definitely get new ideas this way. So I think the future is more of a hybrid approach, where content creators work with AI to create variations on a theme or better monetize what they have to a wider audience.
Any interesting AI-powered devices or services that consumers will want to buy?
We see a variety of devices that implement artificial intelligence. But this exhibition is the first time we are focusing on the disabled community. Verizon has set up this whole scene where we have different ways to use this technology and help people with disabilities and older people.
Are you worried about a potential AI bubble?
Well, when it comes to what AI can do, there is definitely no bubble. And what AI can do is work wonders and solve fundamental human problems in food production, clean air and clean water. Obviously in healthcare it will be overwhelming.
But it was like the Internet itself. There was a lot of talk about a bubble, and there really was a bubble. The difference is that in the late 1990s, revenue models were virtually non-existent. Companies raised a lot of money without having revenue plans.
These artificial intelligence companies have significant revenues today and companies are investing in this.
To be honest, my main concern isn't Wall Street and the bubble. Others may be concerned about this. I'm worried about getting enough power to process all this AI. And at this exhibition, the Korean company is demonstrating for the first time the first-ever small-scale device for creating nuclear energy. We expect that more and more of these people will seek to fill this gap because we need energy, we need clean energy and we need some kind of solution that contains all of the above.
