CES 2026: A deep dive into technology innovations

Back at CES in Las Vegas for this 2026 edition, this week of immersion in one of the world’s largest technology trade shows enabled me to observe and analyze the major trends reshaping our technological and industrial future.

Summary of observed trends

This week of intensive observation at CES 2026 identified several major structural trends for the coming years:

1. Mobility continues its transformation with the Software Defined Vehicle continuing to deploy with increasingly mature solutions, massive electrification, and an impressive diversification of vehicle formats. The maturity of platforms offered by major players (Bosch, Microsoft, Aptiv) demonstrates an industry moving from experimentation to large-scale deployment.

2. Geography and mapping reach unprecedented levels of precision, essential for autonomous driving and location-based services. Solutions like Dynamic Map Platform, with their centimeter-level precision, open new possibilities for advanced use cases.

3. AI is everywhere - from enterprise to home, from vehicles to children’s toys - but with a significant failure rate (95% according to MIT) that underscores the importance of properly defining use cases and not succumbing to hype. The most convincing solutions are those that solve concrete and measurable problems.

4. Robotics is no longer science fiction but industrial reality and soon domestic, with impressive performance and falling costs. The demonstrations observed, particularly on quadruped and humanoid robots, show a technological maturity that allows us to envision broader deployment in the coming years.

5. Energy remains critical with numerous innovations in batteries and their optimization. Technologies like cellulose-based batteries or sound-to-energy conversion demonstrate active research to diversify sources and improve energy efficiency.

6. Ecosystem interconnection is accelerating: home, car, work - our different living spaces are progressively integrating into a single ecosystem. This convergence creates new opportunities but also raises important questions in terms of security, privacy, and interoperability.

Identified points of attention:

• The proliferation of similar solutions in certain segments (wearables, smart glasses, robotic mowers) raises questions about upcoming market consolidation
• Privacy and ethics issues become central with the multiplication of sensors and recording capabilities
• The decline of Web3/crypto is confirmed, indicating a refocusing of innovation on technologies with more immediate added value

The 2026 CES edition demonstrates that we are at a technological tipping point where many innovations are moving from prototype to commercially viable product. The coming months will be decisive in identifying which technologies will successfully achieve large-scale adoption.

Major mobility trends

Software Defined Vehicle (SDV): Consolidation and maturity

The Software Defined Vehicle remains omnipresent at CES, confirming its central place in automotive evolution. We mainly observe a maturation of proposed solutions and platforms.

Microsoft clearly states its positioning: providing infrastructure while the rest is developed in partnership with other companies. This open ecosystem approach seems to be establishing itself as the dominant model.

Bosch is particularly impressive with its “Software Driven Mobility” platform. Their offer presents remarkable maturity for SDV management, with particularly interesting R&D topics. The range of platforms offered demonstrates that they are ahead in this segment.

Aptiv, a supplier providing sensors to most major automotive manufacturers (OEMs), also displays strong maturity on data collection and analysis topics. Their expertise was particularly interesting to explore.

Smart cockpit solutions

The show confirmed the abundance of Smart Cockpit solutions. The cabin is becoming an intelligent, connected, and personalized space. This trend is intensifying with increasingly sophisticated solutions.

AWS presented several notable innovations:

• Automotive Data Platform: a platform allowing data queries in natural language
• Amazon Leo: satellite connectivity for vehicles
• Amazon Autos: online car sales
• In-vehicle assistant based on Alexa

Aiola is working on voice recognition specifically adapted to automotive, a crucial improvement for human-machine interaction in vehicles.

Sensors and environmental perception

A large number of companies offer sensors, lidars, and other perception systems. This diversification of supply demonstrates the sector’s growing maturity.

Cerebrum develops intelligent tire sensors, enabling better maintenance and safety management.

Sentistic offers sensors to analyze space and what happens there, enriching vehicles’ environmental perception.

Embedded AI has developed sensors capable of verifying presence in a space (car, cabin), ensuring a seatbelt is fastened, or monitoring vital signs and occupant health.

Hybrid vehicles and innovations

We observe more hybrid vehicles and flying car-drones this year. Urban air mobility seems to be progressing, although it remains experimental.

Aemotion, a French startup, offers an interesting small vehicle that sits between a motorcycle and a car, with very narrow wheels. It combines the advantages of a motorcycle (agility, compactness) with the protection of a car. A product particularly suited to urban environments.

Electric and soft mobility

The show presented an impressive amount of electric mobility solutions:

• Electric bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles of all sizes, including for children
• A huge amount of soft mobility with electric devices: bicycles, motorcycles of all sizes and powers
• Scooters sometimes larger than certain bicycles
• Tiny bicycles
• Electric rolling suitcases that you can sit on, functioning like a small scooter

Capow offers on-the-go charging solutions, responding to a growing need for autonomy.

Innovative leisure vehicles

Expandable motorhome: A remarkable vehicle concept that extends and widens, offering substantial living space once deployed.

Adventure caravan: A trailer that unfolds, oriented towards high adventure with oversized tires and a trunk that opens into an awning. Far from the classic caravan image, this one is designed to attach to a large 4x4 for off-road.

Geography, mapping, and location

High-precision mapping solutions

Dynamic Map Platform particularly stands out. This company scans roads with lidar-equipped vehicles to create high-definition maps. Coverage mainly in North America with an incredible level of precision (down to the centimeter), but also exists in Europe and the Middle East with lower precision. This solution could be interesting for use cases requiring very precise data. A demonstration with the team is planned after CES.

Geomate, a Canadian HD mapping company, offers aerial imagery analysis solutions. Notable point: they don’t rely on any data from OpenStreetMap or TomTom - they do everything themselves. Potentially interesting for particular data analyses like gated areas.

TomTom maintains a strong presence at the show, confirming its central role in the navigation and mapping ecosystem.

Mapsea was also present, expanding the range of mapping solutions.

Location and tracking

Where offers a GPS-free location system that also works inside buildings - an important innovation for environments where GPS is limited or inaccessible.

Adaptive Recognition develops cameras for license plate or passport number recognition, useful for many security and management applications.

Artificial Intelligence: Ubiquitous and transformative

Generative AI and content production

Havas Conference: Havas’ CEO spoke about AI’s impact on production and communication. Announcement of a new production tool and demonstration of a video generation tool. Key message: stay curious, take nothing for granted, think out of the box, and remain humble.

Accenture presented its Technology Vision, citing an MIT study revealing that 95% of generative AI pilots fail. The conference also discussed “the end of software as we know it,” highlighting the profound transformation AI brings to software development.

Embedded AI and voice assistants

Artificial intelligence integrates into all aspects of daily life, including vehicles with voice assistants and homes with IoT.

AI for children

Artificial intelligence is clearly entering the world of childhood:

• Companion solutions for children that kids can consult and question, in a kid-friendly interface (different from Google Home or Alexa)
• Luka AI offers Luka Sing, a small square device with a screen specifically designed for children’s learning
• Solution allowing real-time reading and translation of books in any language, with on-the-fly quiz generation to verify comprehension

Security and deep fakes

Steg.ai develops security tools to fight deep fakes, a growing concern in the age of generative AI.

Robotics: Acceleration and industrialization

The North Hall: Robotics hub

The visit to the North Hall, entirely dedicated to robots, offered a complete vision of the state of the art in robotics.

Humanoid robots: Numerous robots with or without legs. We observe a democratization of robots with:

• Heavy machines for industry and logistics, capable of carrying and moving significant loads
• Small robots for domestic, family, recreational, or assistance use
• Platforms allowing you to test and develop your own robot at home, combining AI and traditional programming

Humanoid robot combat demonstrations: Demonstrations of robots in combat situations were particularly revealing of current robotics capabilities. The robots inflict significant blows on each other, their external structure showing visible marks from several days of demonstrations. Most remarkable is their recovery capability: when unbalanced, they manage to reposition themselves, stand back up, and regain balance. Even when falling, they systematically get back up (except in case of major structural damage). This mechanical resilience contrasts with human fragility, as the robot cannot be knocked out like a human would be.

Quadruped robots

Many four-legged robots, on legs or with wheels. The demonstrations are impressive:

• Robots that flip over
• Perform backflips
• Always land on their feet
• Extremely sturdy: you can stand on them
• Particularly convincing demonstrations in action

Industrial robotics and components

The future of logistics and production lines clearly lies with robots. The quantity, performance, reliability, and cost reduction are impressive.

• Many articulated robotic arms
• Development of a component ecosystem: companies providing joints and other parts for robots
• Numerous companies working specifically on robot hands: movements, strength, gesture precision

Exoskeletons

WiRobotics presents lightweight exoskeletons, facilitating physical work.

Reflection on robot morphology

An interesting observation concerns the morphological standardization of humanoid robots: most adopt a two-arm configuration (sometimes completed by two legs). This limitation raises a design question: why not equip robots with additional arms? A configuration with three, four, or five arms would significantly reduce operational constraints. The most likely hypothesis lies in social acceptability: humans seem to need to project themselves into a familiar morphology to facilitate robot integration into their environment. Technically, however, nothing prevents more versatile configurations.

Batteries and energy: At the heart of innovation

Battery, storage, and energy optimization solutions are omnipresent. Energy management is clearly central to IoT and all connected objects.

E-magy: New technology for lithium batteries with higher density, enabling better autonomy and faster charging.

Lindt Flint: Cellulose-based batteries - interesting and much more ecological technology.

LV Energy: Converts sound into energy - a particularly promising innovation.

Dracula Technologies: Mini solar panels operating with only 5 lux (very little light) to power IoT devices.

Health and wearables

Explosion of health trackers

Enormous quantity of smartbands and health trackers in various forms:

• Bracelets
• Connected rings
• Connected watches

Competition is particularly intense in this segment, raising questions about the long-term economic viability of all these players.

Innovative solutions

Peri Body Decoded: Advanced health solutions.

Oraigo (Italy): Road safety device alerting drivers in case of drowsiness, in the form of a headband to place on the head.

Xenra: Uses WiFi to measure and detect presence, wellness, sleep.

Medical innovations

The Korean and Japanese pavilions are well-stocked with many startups in healthcare.

Several companies offer optical technologies allowing you to feel materials or textures from a stylus - particularly promising applications in the medical field.

IoT and connected home

IoT is very present with many devices allowing home control: lights, televisions, heating, the entire domestic experience.

Notable point: the connection also occurs between home and vehicles to anticipate arrival. The progressive interconnection between home, car, and work demonstrates a convergence of living and activity spaces toward a unified ecosystem.

Aida Platform (Italy): IoT data platform.

Polyn Technology: Various IoT solutions.

Security and authentication

Veintree: Vein authentication (blood flow) - bio-cryptography device.

Airudit: Platform using AI to interact with machines - particularly useful framework for human-machine interaction.

Maintenance and inspection

2ad: Image processing for damage identification. Maintenance of supports and surfaces, for example by drone.

Connected glasses: The trend is confirmed

Impressive quantity of glasses with cameras, similar to Meta Smart Glasses, but with many other suppliers. This diversity of players confirms that the smart glasses market is entering a large-scale development phase.

Rokid stands out with very attractive glasses that really look like normal glasses, more serious than average.

Audio and sound

Numerous companies offering audio equipment, speakers, and loudspeakers. Competition is fierce in this segment.

Recycling and sustainability

Wes-tec Global: Waste recycling system transformed into resistant materials, for example for construction. Promising solution for recycling plastics and polymers.

Web3 and crypto: In decline

The space dedicated to Web3 and crypto is even smaller than last year. Not many technologies in this area.

Home appliances

Extremely well-stocked section with brands present and major products (vacuum cleaners, washing machines, refrigerators, ovens). This sector demonstrates strong commercial dynamics with growing connectivity adoption in all these appliances.

Domestic robotics and gardening

The number of companies offering automatic mowers was particularly notable, demonstrating the maturity of this domestic robotics segment.

Gaming and immersion

Very dense gaming section with many innovations around immersion:

• Augmented vision
• Virtual reality headsets
• Articulated cockpits that move and reproduce sensations (airplane, car)

Photography

The presence of major camera manufacturers was relatively limited. Observed:

• Agfa
• Kodak (consumer equipment)

The absence of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and other major brands was notable.

Mobile accessories

Huge hall dedicated to mobile accessories.

Marketing and platforms

Scalable: Vibe marketing platform.

Intelligent note-taking

Several AI-assisted note-taking and recording solutions:

• Plaud (fairly well-known)
• Other solutions with very powerful miniature devices

Point of attention: with such small devices, it’s very easy to record any conversation potentially without people’s knowledge - privacy questions to consider.

Notable innovations

3D Chocolate Printer: Allows reproducing any shape or object in chocolate.

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Appendix: Companies and Startups Observed

Major companies and conferences

Havas - Communication and Advertising
Conference with the CEO on AI’s impact on production and communication. Announcement of a new production tool and demonstration of a video generation tool. Key messages: stay curious, take nothing for granted, think “out of the box,” and remain humble in the face of technological transformations.

Accenture - Consulting and Technology Services
Presentation of their Technology Vision. Mention of a particularly revealing MIT study indicating that 95% of generative AI pilots fail. Their analysis proves relevant compared to field observations at the show.

AWS/Amazon - Cloud Computing and Technology Services
Presentation of several innovations: Automotive Data Platform allowing data queries in natural language, Amazon Leo for vehicle satellite connectivity, Amazon Autos for online car sales, and in-vehicle assistants based on Alexa for the in-vehicle experience.

Microsoft - Cloud Infrastructure and Partnerships
Clear strategic positioning: Microsoft provides technological infrastructure while everything else is developed in partnership with other companies. Open ecosystem approach.

Bosch - Automotive Supplier and Technologies
Software Driven Mobility with a particularly impressive choice of platforms for SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) management. Very good technological maturity with advanced and promising R&D topics.

Aptiv - Automotive Supplier and Sensors
Sensor supplier for most major automotive manufacturers (OEMs). Strong maturity on data collection and analysis topics. Particularly interesting expertise in the connected automotive ecosystem.

TomTom - Mapping and Navigation
Strategic shift toward artificial intelligence with an extended offering beyond traditional mapping services, notably with MCP (Model Context Protocol) solutions.

Mobility and automotive

Aemotion - Hybrid Motorcycle-Car Vehicle (France)
French startup offering an innovative vehicle concept situated between motorcycle and car, with very narrow wheels. Combines motorcycle advantages (agility, compactness) with car protection. Product particularly suited to urban environments.

Capow - Mobile Charging Solutions
On-the-go charging responding to the growing need for electric vehicle autonomy.

Aiola - Automotive Voice Recognition
Works specifically on voice recognition adapted to automotive, a crucial improvement for human-machine interaction in vehicles.

Cerebrum - Intelligent Tire Sensors
Develops intelligent tire sensors enabling better maintenance and safety management.

Sonatus - Connected Vehicle Software
Software solutions for the connected vehicle ecosystem.

Waymo - Autonomous Vehicles
Major player in autonomous driving.

Samo Motors Group - Automobiles and Mobility
Automotive mobility solutions.

Roam - Electric Mobility
Electric mobility solutions.

Mapping and location

Dynamic Map Platform - High-Definition Lidar Mapping
Scans roads with lidar-equipped vehicles to create high-definition maps. Coverage mainly in North America with an incredible level of precision up to 10 centimeters. Also exists in Europe and the Middle East with lower precision. Particularly interesting solution for use cases requiring very precise data.

Geomate - HD Aerial Imagery Mapping (Canada)
Canadian HD mapping company offering aerial imagery analysis solutions. Notable point: doesn’t rely on any data from OpenStreetMap or TomTom, everything is developed in-house. Potentially interesting for particular data analyses like gated areas.

Mapsea - Maritime Mapping
Mapping solutions for the maritime sector.

Where - GPS-Free Location
Location system operating without GPS and also indoors, important innovation for environments where GPS is limited or inaccessible.

Adaptive Recognition - Automatic Recognition
Cameras for license plate and passport number recognition, useful for many security and management applications.

Artificial Intelligence and security

Steg.ai - Fighting Deep Fakes
Develops security tools to fight deep fakes, a growing concern in the age of generative AI.

Embedded AI - Intelligent Space Sensors
Sensors capable of verifying presence in a space (car, cabin), ensuring a seatbelt is fastened, or monitoring vital signs and occupant health.

Luka AI - Educational Devices for Children
Devices specifically designed for children and learning. Notably “Luka Sing,” a small square device with screen, both functional and attractive for young users.

Xenra - WiFi Detection
Uses WiFi to measure and detect presence, wellness, and sleep, a non-intrusive monitoring approach.

Energy and batteries

Dracula Technologies - Low-Light Mini Solar Panels
Mini solar panels operating with only 5 lux (very little light) to power IoT devices. Really very impressive technology, particularly suited to all IoT use cases where battery management, recharging, or replacement is problematic.

E-magy - High-Performance Lithium Batteries
New technology for lithium batteries with higher density, enabling better autonomy and faster charging.

Lindt Flint - Ecological Batteries
Cellulose-based batteries, interesting and much more ecological technology than traditional solutions.

LV Energy - Sound-to-Energy Conversion
Converts sound into energy, a particularly promising innovation for ambient energy recovery.

Stryten Energy - Battery Solutions
Battery and energy storage solutions for various applications.

Robotics

WiRobotics - Lightweight Exoskeletons
Lightweight exoskeletons facilitating physical work, notably targeting people needing walking assistance.

Kawada Robotics - Industrial and Humanoid Robotics
Robotics solutions for industry and humanoid robot development.

Mammotion - Robotic Mowers
Automatic mowing solutions for gardening.

Monobot - Robotics
Development of robotic solutions.

Starbot - Robotics
Advanced robotic solutions.

Doosan - Heavy Equipment and Robotics
Heavy equipment and robotic solutions for industry.

Dreame - Intelligent Home Appliances
Intelligent home appliances and robotic vacuum cleaners for the general public.

Health and wellness

Peri - Body Decoded
Advanced health technologies for body monitoring.

Oraigo - Drowsiness Detection (Italy)
Road safety device alerting drivers in case of drowsiness, in the form of a headband to place on the head. Innovative solution for accident prevention.

Veintree - Biometric Authentication
Vein authentication using blood flow. Bio-cryptography device offering a high level of security.

Sentistic - Space Analysis Sensors
Sensors to analyze space and events occurring there, enriching environmental perception.

Recycling and sustainability

Wes-tec Global - Advanced Recycling
Waste recycling system transformed into resistant materials, for example for construction. Promising solution for recycling all plastics and polymers.

Technologies and platforms

2ad - Image Processing for Maintenance
Image processing for damage identification. Applications for support and surface maintenance, notably by drone.

Airudit - Human-Machine Interaction Framework
Platform using AI to interact with machines, particularly useful framework for facilitating human-machine interaction.

Polyn Technology - Advanced Technologies
Diversified technological solutions.

Scalable - Digital Marketing
Vibe marketing platform for digital marketing solutions.

Rokid - Connected Glasses
Very aesthetic connected glasses really resembling normal glasses. Much more serious brand than other small brands that mainly focus on hardware.

Vaonis - Astronomical Observation
Telescopes and solutions for consumer astronomical observation.

Luma - Imaging Technologies
Advanced imaging technology solutions.

Industrial equipment and construction

Oshkosh - Specialized Vehicles
Manufacturer of specialized vehicles for industrial applications.

Bobcat - Construction Equipment
Construction equipment and compact machines for the construction sector.

Other observed companies

SMS Sehomarine Solutions - Maritime Solutions
Technologies and solutions for the maritime sector.

ARIVIA - Technologies
Various technological solutions.

Littlebird - Technologies
Technological developments.

Dnsys - Technologies
Technological solutions.

Lumistar - Technologies
Innovative technologies.

Donut Lab - Innovative Technologies
Technological innovations laboratory.