CES 2026 puts artificial intelligence at the center of consumer tech

Major technology companies will gather in Las Vegas next week to convince everyday consumers that artificial intelligence belongs in their homes, as the industry faces skepticism about whether people actually want AI-powered devices.

The Consumer Electronics Show, scheduled for Jan 6-9, serves as the launching pad where tech firms present their products for the coming year. This time around, companies from Nvidia Corp to Samsung Electronics Co and Lenovo Group Ltd plan to showcase devices where AI sits at the center rather than as an add-on feature.

Nvidia‘s boss Jensen Huang will likely draw crowds as he promotes the technology that powers AI systems. But he won’t be alone. Dozens of companies will display products aimed at testing whether shoppers are ready to embrace gadgets built primarily around artificial intelligence.

Smart glasses take center stage

The convention floor will feature a heavy concentration of AI-enabled equipment this year. One popular category includes smart eyewear similar to what Meta Platforms Inc. has already released. Snap Inc. and Apple Inc. both aim to launch their own versions before 2026 ends.

While Meta and Snap will attend the show, most announcements in this space are expected from smaller manufacturers. These include Xreal Inc., Vuzix Corp, Halliday Global Ltd, Rokid, and Even Realities.

Meta recently introduced its first smart glasses with a built-in display, so new hardware announcements seem unlikely. The company may instead demonstrate updated or new software capabilities. Snap faces a similar situation. The company probably won’t use this event to reveal pricing or release dates for its upcoming Specs glasses. However, attendees will get to view the Specs in person, an opportunity previously limited mostly to journalists.

Beyond eyewear like glasses and goggles, some products will appear as rings or take completely different shapes. This variety shows that both startups and large tech firms remain confident about AI-focused hardware that allows users to access intelligent assistants without pulling out their phones. Earlier attempts at such devices, including the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, flopped commercially after critics gave them poor reviews.

Robots get dedicated exhibition space

Numerous companies will also gauge consumer interest in AI-driven humanoid robots. The volume of participants in this category prompted the Consumer Technology Association, which runs CES, to dedicate an entire hall specifically for robotics displays.

Some robots target household use, but many models on display will serve business purposes in areas like manufacturing, shipping operations, and restaurant service. Companies such as Artly Coffee and VenHub Global plan to present technology for robotic cafés and convenience stores run by AI.

Companion robots will also make frequent appearances. These include products like the Jennie robot dog from Tombot Inc., a California startup creating products for elderly individuals and those with dementia.

If 2026 follows past patterns, a significant difference will likely exist between what these human-like robots can accomplish during carefully managed demonstrations versus what their creators claim they will eventually achieve.

Still, improvements are visible. Many humanoid robot makers this year are moving beyond single-action displays to more complicated, multi-step tasks like both organizing and folding laundry. Bigger players, including LG, expect to preview their own humanoid concepts. However, these companies must persuade attendees that such machines make economic sense given ongoing obstacles related to battery duration, movement capability, pricing, and security concerns.

Television sets have historically dominated CES more than any other product category. Samsung, LG, and rising Chinese rivals TCL and Hisense will present their most impressive, largest screens for the new year. Sony Group Corp, previously a major presence at the convention, has shifted its TV announcements to springtime in recent years and reduced its booth space accordingly.

In 2026, with premium televisions already providing sufficient brightness and picture quality for most buyers, manufacturers will probably emphasize a wider color range and other enhancements that create more vibrant, realistic images. Visually attractive models like Samsung’s The Frame line have sparked numerous imitations from competing TV manufacturers, a pattern expected to persist in Vegas.

Motorola hints at new folding phone

CES typically doesn’t host major smartphone announcements, but Motorola might break that trend this year. Its owner, Lenovo, will deliver one of the show’s evening presentations for the first time. Motorola sent preview materials to journalists that strongly suggest a book-style folding phone. Such a device would mark its first in that design after years of producing Razr-branded flip phones.

Meanwhile, wearable technology will keep advancing past simple fitness monitoring, increasingly resembling medical equipment. The show will include products like a smart night guard that both prevents teeth grinding and claims to track sleep apnea incidents, heart rate, breathing, and sleep patterns.

Wearables overall are expected to place greater emphasis on women’s health issues, continuous blood sugar monitoring, sophisticated heart tracking, longevity, and managing chronic medical conditions.

The convention represents a critical moment for the tech industry to demonstrate that AI-powered products can move from concept to mainstream adoption, despite earlier setbacks in the market.

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