CES 2026: Day 1’s Mind-Bending Tech That Changed Everything

Innovation took center stage as CES 2026 kicked off its first day with groundbreaking technology across multiple categories.

Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics showcased their Atlas humanoid robot with impressive specs including AI control, human-scale hands, and 360° cameras. The robot can work in temperatures down to -4°F and features water resistance. What’s most remarkable is Atlas’s ability to learn complex tasks in about a day using NVIDIA-powered AI systems.

Atlas isn’t just humanoid—it’s nearly human-capable, mastering complex tasks in 24 hours with NVIDIA-powered learning systems.

Humanoid robots weren’t alone in the spotlight. Doosan Bobcat introduced their “Jobsite Companion,” an AI feature for construction equipment that provides real-time support. Geely revealed their Full-Domain AI 2.0 and G-ASD, next-generation vehicle intelligence systems for automated driving. Segway also made a strong showing with their humanoid robots A2 capable of walking, waving, and dancing confidently for hospitality and educational applications.

Smart glasses made waves with Lenovo teasing AI eyewear that looks like normal glasses. They claim an 8-hour battery life and features like live translation and image recognition. Razer’s “Project Motoko” concept headset blends gaming gear with AI wearables, offering real-time object recognition and support for multiple AI assistants.

Meta demonstrated an EMG wrist-based neural controller that reads muscle signals to recognize finger and wrist gestures. This technology was integrated into a Garmin concept car cockpit, enabling hands-free control of infotainment systems.

Gaming technology advanced with NVIDIA showcasing AI-enhanced graphics, ray tracing, and reduced latency. AMD’s CEO Dr. Lisa Su introduced the Ryzen AI 400 Series for next-gen AI PCs and the MI440X GPU for enterprise AI applications. The keynote highlighted new AI collaborations that will accelerate development in gaming and creative applications.

The smart home sector wasn’t left behind, with LEGO revealing their “Smart Play” platform featuring NFC-equipped smart bricks. Other exhibitors focused on ambient intelligence systems that aim to make homes more responsive and intuitive. These systems leverage multimodal AI to integrate visual, audio, and text inputs for more contextually aware responses to household needs.

CES 2026’s first day highlighted extended reality gear, foldable displays, and AI integration across all technology categories. The convergence of neural interfaces, AI processing, and humanoid robotics signals a major shift toward more natural human-computer interactions and automated assistance.