As the doors close on CES 2026, the narrative has shifted. If previous years were defined by “AI as a feature,” 2026 was the year of Physical AI where intelligence finally gained a body and a sense of space.

Silicon and Screens: The New Foundations

The battle for the “AI PC” reached a fever pitch. Intel officially launched its Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) processors, the first built on the Intel 18A node, claiming massive gains in local AI inference. Not to be outdone, Nvidia introduced Cosmos, a foundation model designed to help robots understand physical laws, while its Vera Rubin GPUs began powering a new generation of autonomous systems.

Display technology took a turn toward the flexible. Lenovo’s ThinkPad Rollable XD stole the show, featuring a screen that expands vertically to provide a 21:9 aspect ratio on demand.

Meanwhile, Samsung showcased “crease-free” foldable panels that finally resolve the long-standing durability concerns of the form factor.

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Look inside CES with this video from Created Tech:

Robotics and the “Zero-Labor” Home

The home was a primary focus for physical AI. LG’s CLOiD robot, a two-armed humanoid assistant, demonstrated its ability to fold laundry and unload dishwashers, signaling a shift from vacuum-only robotics to multi-tasking domestic helpers.

For those with multi-story homes, Roborock’s Saros Rover introduced a stair-climbing mechanism that allows the vacuum to navigate between floors autonomously.

The Unexpected Highlights

Beyond the heavy hitters, several “small” innovations made big waves:

• Lego Smart Bricks: Integrated ASIC chips and sensors allow Lego builds to react to light, motion, and proximity with lightsaber-clashing sounds and engine roars.
• Flint’s Paper Battery: A thin, biodegradable zinc-manganese battery that offers a non-toxic alternative for low-power wearables.
• Withings Body Scan 2: A smart scale that tracks 60 different biomarkers, providing a 90-second metabolic and cardiovascular “check-up” from your bathroom.

CES 2026 proved that technology is no longer just something we look at it is something that lives, moves, and grows alongside us.