by Nisha Khatri ‘26

From January 6-9, Las Vegas featured the largest and most impactful consumer electronics trade show. With the surge of AI in recent months, the show spotlighted a variety of AI-related products, as well as other major reveals and announcements from major tech companies.
The event itself drew over 148,000 attendees from across the world, with more than 400 conference sessions and more than 1,300 speakers on recent and upcoming projects. A Consumer Electronics Show (CES) spokesperson said in an interview with NBC Las Vegas that AI is the big story sparking discussion and innovation.

The show served as a true global stage and a reminder of growing global rivalry, and the importance of investment in terms of shaping innovation and the future. The rise and advancement of technology particularly links to countries which have made substantial investment in AI and digital infrastructure. The United States, United Kingdom, and China are among the countries leading in selected technology and AI capacity, according to the Federal Reserve. Combined, the United States and China possess 60 percent of all existing AI patents and produce a third of global AI publications.

CES further reflects a shift from experimental AI to everyday consumer AI, prompting both intrigue and concerns. According to Circana, a market research and technology company, a third of consumers resist AI on their devices, with the top reason being they “do not need AI capabilities.” Others view AI products as gimmicky and superficial.

A number of innovations were introduced by major tech companies at CES, many of which have caught the attention of industry experts and consumers alike. AI now powers several of these inventions, from a beauty mirror and toothbrush to dinner plates and tennis-playing robots. Other features include smartphone-sized e-readers for reading, music, and note-taking, and Xreal sunglasses that connect to phones for streaming and gaming.

AI products differ from others in that they are more adaptable. Known as adjunctive AI, it can also be used as a tool in oncology and hand surgery. Rather than following the strict rules of other machinery, this AI subset is often more personalized, with reactive behavior and the ability to independently automate complex decisions.

Trade shows like CES are additionally becoming more popular in 2026, with the Tech Supershow in Ft. Lauderdale this month, TechAdvantage in Nashville in March, and CEDIA Expo in Denver in September being other top shows coming up.

The global AI market has made waves, already having reached $189 billion and projected by the United Nations to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033. Although debate continues over if AI will become the standard or not, consumers can expect AI to be a constant presence throughout industries worldwide.