CES 2026: Nvidia, AMD, Razer & Biggest Tech Reveals

CES 2026: AI Takes Physical Form as Robotics Steals the Show

As CES 2026 winds down in Las Vegas, one thing is clear: artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic promise, but a rapidly materializing reality. While AI dominated conversations for the past two years, this year’s event saw a distinct shift toward “physical AI” – the integration of AI into tangible products and robotics – eclipsing last year’s buzz around agentic AI. From autonomous vehicles to home robots and automated construction equipment, the show floor was teeming with demonstrations of AI moving beyond the digital realm.

For those who missed the action firsthand, a comprehensive recap of the event’s highlights and reactions can be found in our live blog. But for a deeper dive, here’s a breakdown of the most notable announcements from CES 2026.

Nvidia Leads the Charge with AI and Robotics

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered a keynote address that underscored the company’s AI successes and laid out its vision for 2026. A central component of this vision is the Rubin computing architecture, slated to replace Blackwell in the latter half of the year, offering significant improvements in speed and storage. According to Nvidia’s senior AI editor, Russell Brandom, Rubin represents a crucial step in meeting the escalating computational demands of AI adoption.

Nvidia’s commitment to bringing AI into the physical world was further demonstrated through the Alpamayo family of open-source AI models and tools designed for autonomous vehicles. This strategy, as senior reporter Rebecca Bellan observed, positions Nvidia to become the foundational infrastructure – the “Android” – for generalist robots.

AMD Expands AI Reach Through Partnerships and Processors

AMD chair and CEO Lisa Su kicked off CES with a keynote featuring prominent partners like OpenAI president Greg Brockman, AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, and Luma AI CEO Amit Jain. Beyond these high-profile collaborations, AMD detailed its strategy for democratizing AI access through personal computers, leveraging its Ryzen AI 400 Series processors. Senior reporter Rebecca Szkutak highlighted AMD’s efforts to expand the reach of AI beyond traditional data centers.

Beyond the Headlines: Oddities and Breakout Sessions

CES isn’t solely about the major players and groundbreaking technologies; it’s also a showcase for innovation – and sometimes, sheer novelty. This year’s standout oddities included a range of products designed to capture attention, prompting discussion about the boundaries of consumer tech.

Beyond the hardware, CES hosted a wealth of industry panels and speaker sessions. Highlights included Palmer Luckey advocating for retro aesthetics, a debate on the future of the “learn once, work forever” model, a preview of the new Silicon Valley-based series “The Audacity,” the expansion of Roku’s $3 streaming service, and even a $25,000 bounty offered by All-In host Jason Calacanis for an authentic Theranos device.

Automotive and Industrial AI Gains Momentum

Ford unveiled its AI assistant, set to launch in its vehicles in 2027, powered by Google Cloud and utilizing off-the-shelf LLMs. While details regarding the driver experience remain limited, the announcement signals a growing trend toward AI-powered in-car assistance.

In the industrial sector, Caterpillar and Nvidia announced a pilot program, “Cat AI Assistant,” demonstrating AI-powered automation for construction equipment. This initiative, alongside the use of Nvidia’s Omniverse for construction project planning, underscores the potential of AI to revolutionize heavy industries.

Innovative Gadgets and Emerging Technologies

Several innovative gadgets captured attention on the show floor. Clicks Technology’s $499 Communicator, a smartphone with a physical keyboard and optional slide-out keyboard accessory, offered a nostalgic nod to BlackBerry devices. Consumer Editor Sarah Perez noted the phone’s comfortable grip and thoughtfully designed form factor.

LG’s home robot CLOiD, however, left a less impressive mark. Senior Writer Lucas Ropek described a demonstration where the robot “gingerly” performed simple tasks, falling short of expectations.

For DIY enthusiasts, the eufyMake E1 UV printer, priced at $2,299, promises to make bulk printing on objects like mugs and phone cases more accessible.

MyCommuters presented a novel approach to office space selection, utilizing data analysis to identify locations that optimize commute times and employee expenses.

The Skylight Calendar 2, a family planning tool, impressed with its AI-powered features, including calendar synchronization, automated to-do list creation, and appointment reminders.

Robotics Partnerships and Amazon’s AI Push

Boston Dynamics and Hyundai announced a collaboration with Google’s AI research lab to train and operate their Atlas robots, signaling a strategic shift in their AI development approach.

Amazon doubled down on AI with an update to Alexa, introducing Alexa+ and a revamped Fire TV experience. Consumer editor Sarah Perez also reported on Amazon’s new Artline TVs, which integrate Alexa+ functionality. Ring also unveiled a series of new features, including fire alerts and an app store for third-party camera integration.

Razer and Lego Embrace AI and New Audiences

Razer, known for its gaming hardware, entered the AI arena with Project Motoko, smart glasses without the glasses, and Project AVA, an AI companion avatar for desktops.

Finally, Lego made its debut at CES, showcasing its Smart Play System, featuring interactive bricks, tiles, and Minifigures, with initial sets themed around Star Wars. Senior writer Amanda Silberling provided a detailed look at this new venture.

CES 2026 has definitively demonstrated that AI is no longer a distant prospect, but a driving force shaping the future of technology across diverse industries. The shift toward physical AI and robotics signals a new era of innovation, promising to transform how we live, work, and interact with the world around us.