LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2026 — CES 2026 officially opened its doors today in Las Vegas, bringing together the global technology ecosystem across a show footprint that CTA says spans more than 2.6 million net square feet and features 4,100+ exhibitors.
While the week began with the familiar CES mix of big visions and bold prototypes, Day 1 carried a strong signal: AI is no longer a “feature layer” — it is the organising principle tying together consumer devices, mobility, industrial systems, and robotics.
Morning focus: CTA State of the Industry and Siemens’ industrial AI push
One of the key Day 1 anchor moments was the CTA State of the Industry Address followed by the Siemens Keynote, with Siemens CEO Dr. Roland Busch highlighting how AI, digital twins and automation are reshaping manufacturing and infrastructure — a direction that reflects CES’ growing emphasis on enterprise-grade technology, not just consumer gadgets.
This “industrialisation of AI” theme was echoed throughout halls and briefings: less talk of AI as a novelty, more talk of AI as a production system — deployed in factories, supply chains, infrastructure and next-gen mobility.
Evening spotlight: Lenovo takes CES to Sphere
On Day 1, CES also featured the Lenovo Tech World @ CES keynote, staged at the Sphere with Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang outlining how AI is reshaping how people “live, play and work.” The venue choice itself signalled how CES is increasingly blending technology + experience + immersive storytelling as part of the show’s stagecraft.
Show floor themes: AI everywhere, plus robots with real purpose (and some fun)
Across the show floor, AI-dominated product positioning was hard to miss — from PC chips and edge devices to robotics and smart home. Major announcements from chipmakers continued to ripple through Day 1 conversations and coverage, even though many headline reveals landed during Media Days.
What stood out today was how robotics moved closer to practical use cases — from household assistance concepts to industrial automation demos — alongside the classic CES “quirky innovation” layer that keeps the show buzzy and shareable.
Among the broader mix of Day 1 highlights reported by major outlets were:
- Robots and automation concepts aimed at everyday tasks and assistive roles
- Mobility and autonomy narratives returning to the spotlight, including fresh partnership announcements in the robotaxi space
- Big-screen and premium display innovations, foldables, and “living room as an experience hub” positioning
- A steady stream of playful CES-grade inventions designed to go viral — a reminder that consumer delight still matters
If Day 1 is the baseline, CES 2026 is shaping up as a show defined by AI moving from digital to real-world deployment — across industry and consumer contexts — with robotics, automation and intelligent devices sitting at the centre of the narrative. CES’ own framing of the show spans AI, robotics, mobility, digital health, energy and more — and the first official day already reflected that breadth.