Four years after the launch of ChatGPT, the chatbot that popularized artificial intelligence, everything at the 2026 edition of CES was tied to AI.

But unlike 2025, when AI-enabling software took center stage, this year the spotlight was on physical AI: robotics, humanoids, and autonomous driving technologies.

Both major tech companies and dozens of startups and lesser-known firms joined this new race, competing throughout the week in Las Vegas to capture the attention of an audience made up of experts, analysts, and investors, as well as influencers and general enthusiasts, with AI-powered devices designed for tasks ranging from cutting hair to providing emotional support.

In this context, analysts say AI is driving an entirely new cycle of innovation and demand. Interest in humanoid robots, for example, has been rising as companies see human-shaped machines as the next frontier for AI and automation. At CES, robots from South Korea’s LG dealt poker games and danced with attendees.

Many challenges remain. Robots are still slow to respond to commands, processing power is limited, longer-lasting batteries are needed, and little progress has been made in handling situations outside predefined scenarios.

This suggests that humanoid robots are unlikely to be available at affordable prices anytime soon, but it also signals that the path is already being charted.

Against this backdrop, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and other chipmakers are positioning themselves to lead the delivery of the hardware needed to bring physical AI into action. All three showcased new developments at CES aimed at bridging the software and physical worlds.