Tag: CTA

CES 2026 Opens in Las Vegas With All Eyes on AI’s Real-World Impact and Deployment

LAS VEGAS — CES 2026 officially opens Tuesday (Jan. 6) at a time when AI is no longer a shiny new toy, but, rather, an integrated — and integral — part of every day life.

This year the world’s largest technology show will present AI not as a trend, but as a foundational technology that is revolutionizing industries by becoming embedded in everything from TVs, autonomous vehicles and advanced robotics to energy management and personalized healthcare. Even more so than at last year’s show, the focus has shifted from hype to real-world deployment, with keynotes, new product launches, and dedicated zones such as the “CES Foundry” highlighting AI’s pervasive deployment.

“CES is where innovators show up, and this year AI is at the center of nearly every conversation,” Gary Shapiro, executive chair and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of CES, told Media Play News. “From the show floor to the keynote stage, leaders from across industries are demonstrating how these innovations move into the real world and how together we solve the world’s biggest challenges.”

Independently audited data for last year’s show, CES 2025, revealed a total of 142,465 participants from across the globe. This year, Shapiro said, “all signs point to a phenomenal CES, with thousands of exhibitors, a record 3,600+ Innovation Award submissions, and innovation across 13 venues and 2.6 million net square feet.”

New this year is the CES Foundry, located at Fontainebleau Las Vegas and aimed at uniting innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and media to explore how AI and quantum technologies are defining the next era of innovation.

“This year, AI is accelerating innovation across every sector,” Shapiro said. “CES Foundry will serve as a hub for the innovators leading that charge, and I’m looking forward to the ideas that will emerge.”

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The CES Foundry will feature two stages, the Breakthrough Stage and the Discovery Stage. Programming will alternate between the two, including panel discussions, fireside chats, and thought-leader conversations featuring influential voices in technology.

Entertainment hasn’t been in the CES spotlight since the heyday of DVD and Blu-ray Disc, but the rise of streaming — and the growth in ad-supported models — hasn’t gone unnoticed. At the Jan. 4 Tech Trends to Watch presentation, Melissa Harrison, VP of marketing and communications for CES producer the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), called out “the rise of ad-supported streaming” as a primary driver in a projected 4.2% uptick for 2026 in consumer spending on software and services.

Accordingly, the cluster of streamers and their enablers typically holed up at the Aria-Cosmopolitan-Vdara complex in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip includes Amazon Prime Video, Disney Advertising Sales, Netflix, Xumo, and NBCUniversal Media (parent of Peacock), along with Meta, Reddit, Roku and X.

Netflix’s presence isn’t as showy as it was two years ago, when it took out a massive booth on the CES 2024 show floor for an immersive activation to promote the series “3 Body Problem.” But the top streamer promises a raft of private meetings, many of them centered around its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets. Netflix is also focusing on emerging technologies such as AI, gaming and metaverse experiences, leveraging its recent acquisition of avatar AI technology company Ready Player Me.

CES 2026 will also feature more than 350 conference sessions and over 1,300 speakers. Sessions will focus on the pervasive integration of AI and robotics across various industries. Other major topics include digital health, advanced mobility, smart homes, energy, and the creator economy.

Keynote addresses at CES 2026 will be delivered by such high-powered business executives as Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO of AMD; Siemens president and CEO Dr. Roland Busch; Havas CEO and chairman and Vivendi chairman Yannick Bollor; Lenovo chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang; and Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed.

In addition, an assortment of celebrity guests will participate in conference programming, sponsored sessions and special events throughout the show. Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian will participate in the Great Minds session “Back to the Future: Tech’s Nostalgic Revolution.” Hank Shocklee, a member of the hip hop group Public Enemy, will speak on an “Innovation for All” panel. RZA (Bobby Diggs), rapper, producer, actor, filmmaker and leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, will speak on the panel “From Concept to Reality: Creatives Using AI to Bring Big Ideas to Life.” And Serena Williams, entrepreneur and 23-time Grand Slam champion, will speak on the “Insights to Action: The Power of Biowearables” panel.

Policymakers from across the world will discuss domestic and global tech policy issues including privacy, trade, competition, and more. More than 200 international, federal, state and local government officials and staff participate in the Leaders in Technology Program and attend the Innovation Policy Summit (IPS) at CES.

Exhibits in the Las Vegas Convention Center are, as usual, grouped by industry segment. The LVCC Central Hall will showcase the latest innovations in home entertainment and living. This is where the big CE companies set up their massive booths to showcase the latest innovations in televisions. The Central Hall is also home of the CES Creator Stage.

Exhibits in the North Hall focus on smart communities, IoT, AI and robotics. The South Hall is home to accessories and gadgets. And the West Hall is devoted to mobility, from self-driving cars to construction, agriculture, boating and advanced air travel.

The C Space at the Aria, Cosmopolitan and Vdara hotels is where top brands, advertisers, media platforms, and content creators meet to forge deals, explore trends and unveil the latest technologies.

The Venetian is home to smart living, including digital health, smart home, energy management, security, education, lifestyle and food tech. The Venetian is also home to the CES Innovation Awards Showcase.

And Eureka Park at The Venetian is CES 2026’s Startup Hub, with global pavilions and emerging companies from the United States, the European Innovation Council (EIC), France, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and others.

 

Tech Market Growth Seen in 2025, Driven by AI, CTA Report Says

LAS VEGAS — AI promises to drive the technology market in 2025, CES executives said at the pre-show Tech Trends presentation Jan. 5 in advance of CES 2025.

The forecast, prepared by show organizer the Consumer Technology Association, cited research showing that 93% of U.S. adults are familiar with generative AI, 64% use AI when shopping online (with 40% more likely to purchase with AI personalization), and 61% have used an AI tool at work.

Presenters Brian Comiskey, the CTA’s senior director of innovation and trends, and Melissa Harrison, VP of marketing and communications, said the CTA report projects that consumer spending on technology in 2025 will grow to $537 billion from $520 billion in 2024. Hardware spending is projected to come in at $353 billion, with software spending at $184 billion.

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Comiskey noted that based on a study of purchasing habits, 60% of Generation Z consumers are early adopters of technology.

Aside from AI, other big technology trends discussed at the presentation included mobility, smart homes, healthcare and wearables.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino Joins Keynote Speaker Slate at CES 2025

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X Corp., will be a keynote speaker at CES 2025.

Linda Yaccarino

Yaccarino will join Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist Catherine Herridge in a keynote conversation on Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian.

Yaccarino is making waves as CEO of X Corp., the Bastrop, Texas-headquartered tech firm established by Elon Musk in 2023 as the successor to Twitter Inc. The company owns the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), and has announced its intent to use it as a base for other offerings.

“X is the global newsroom in your pocket,” Yaccarino said. “It’s the only real place for free dialogue between everyone — the public and the powerful.”

“Linda’s career exemplifies the spirit of CES — innovation, resilience, and vision,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CTA. “Her leadership and contributions to the media and tech world makes her uniquely suited to inspire and challenge our audience to think boldly about the future.”

Herridge will interview Yaccarino. Herridge, formerly with CBS News, is an independent journalist with a growing audience of more than 850,000 on X.  The keynote will be streamed on Live.CES.Tech, X, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. 

CES and CTA Launch New Shared Logo, New Site Design

For the first time in its history, CTA and CES are launching a shared logo, “unifying the brands and the power behind them,” according to a press release from the Consumer Technology Association.

“The new mark pays homage to our roots — the iconic ‘CES fins’ — while embracing the future,” according to the CTA. “The intersecting elements symbolize our industry’s connections with society, creating a frame to envision a world where technology seamlessly integrates with our lives to make it a better place. The space between the intersecting elements symbolizes the profound, yet often invisible, relationship of technology and humanity — a bond that CTA and CES have championed for decades.”

The CTA has also updated its CES.tech website.

“In conjunction with a refreshed mark, we have redesigned and rebuilt CES.tech — a new hub for tech innovation, a place to showcase the people and technology that are making the world a better place,” according to the CTA.

As part of the reason for the new logo, the CTA cited its 100th anniversary and “a time of unprecedented momentum for CTA, CES, and you, the industry we support and represent.”

“Just as the industry continually transforms so must our perspective, our approach and our vision for the future,” according to the CTA.

CES 2024 Opens in Las Vegas With Traditional ‘Wow’ Factor and AI Everything

LAS VEGAS — CES 2024 officially opened Jan. 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and early indications are that the show is back to its pre-pandemic size and scope.

The concourse was packed an hour before the show floor opened at 10 a.m., and walking through Central Hall that morning was a lot like moving through Times Square on a Friday night — except there was even more neon and flash.

Big consumer electronics mainstays such as Sony, Panasonic and Samsung battled it out with relative newcomers such as Hisense and TCL for the vaunted show floor “wow” factor, with the former touting its AI-enabled line of massive television sets and the latter capitalizing on its NFL partnership by bringing in such football legends as Bo Jackson and Brian Bosworth to sign autographs and snap photos with guests.

As expected, the big buzz this year is around AI — not so much to replace the human touch but to embellish it.

The Consumer Technology Association, which produces CES, said there are more than 4,000 exhibitors and expects more than 130,000 attendees, a significant jump from last year. Exhibitors this year, according to the CTA, including a record number of startups in Eureka Park, a dedicated area for breakthrough technology.

“At CES 2024, we’re thrilled to bring together exhibitors, attendees and media to display and dream up the technology of tomorrow, and the innovations that are solving today’s greatest challenges,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CTA. “CES is where business and policy converge.”

During the CTA’s State of the Industry Address on the morning of Jan. 9, Shapiro recognized the 100th anniversary of CTA and underscored the importance of technology that can enhance human capabilities to address issues such as access to clean air and water, food, healthcare, and technology.

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CES Media Days on Jan. 7 and 8 at Mandalay Bay featured 23 press conferences, including presentations by Hyundai, Hisense and the UHD Alliance. CES Unveiled Las Vegas, a preview of the products launching at CES 2024, featured technology from 180 companies ranging from Palmplug’s Theraplay virtual reality game, which helps rehabilitate stroke patients, to Xpeng AEROHT’s flying car.

“Unveiled Las Vegas is such a great way to kick off CES each year and to get a sneak peek into some of the early trends at the show, and it was no surprise to see AI everywhere amid diverse offerings across accessibility, digital health, food tech, mobility and smart home,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA’s SVP of CES and membership.

CTA’s director of thematic programs, Brian Comiskey, and director of research, Jessica Boothe, presented 2024’s Top Tech Trends to Watch. This year’s presentations showcased how AI, sustainability and inclusive tech design will advance tomorrow’s technologies such as mobility, digital health, content, gaming and agrifood tech. Underpinning these trends and evolution in the industry is the rise of Gen Z as a sizable and influential segment, especially in emerging market nations where they’re rapidly connecting to the internet to shape worldwide trends. In turn, innovation in both the consumer and the enterprise will advance to a more intelligent, greener, and more inclusive tomorrow.

In addition to more than 250 conference sessions and the Innovation Policy Summit for global policymakers, CTA on Jan. 9 launched the Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative (CTCI), a voluntary industry initiative to reduce waste, encourage more reuse, enhance recycling, reduce climate impact, and see less disposal of consumer electronics. Founding partners include Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony Electronics Inc.

CTA Tech Trends: Gaming Growing, Services Ascendant

LAS VEGAS — Gaming is increasingly taking over leisure time for the average gamer, said Steve Koenig, VP of research at the Consumer Technology Association.

Speaking during the opening “Tech Trends to Watch” presentation Jan. 3 on the eve of the CES event, he noted that in 2019 the average gamer spent 16 hours a week gaming.

“Today it’s a full day. 24 hours. 24 hours a week,” he said.

Why are people spending so much time gaming?

It’s for escapism, entertainment and competition, but it’s also for socializing, he said.

“Increasingly, it’s about connection and socialization,” he said. “The game is really a construct for socialization.”

After the pandemic, consumers signed up for more services and “consumers really are sticking with those,” he said, showing a chart that indicated the level of video streaming services would remain stable from 2021 through an estimated 2022 and 2023.

It’s “more about services and less about the hardware itself,” he said, adding “I think the whole ad-supported business model” will help extend the entertainment streaming business.

He presented CTA research that showed that 59% of consumers planned to use video streaming more post-pandemic, with 36% planning to use it about the same and only 5% planning to use video streaming services less. As for video game services, 50% indicated they planned to use them more, 39% about the same and 10% less.

Source: CTA

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CTA: CES on Track for Record Post-Pandemic Growth

The Consumer Technology Association Nov. 30 reported that the 2023 CES show is on track for record post-pandemic growth.

Owned and produced by the CTA, CES 2023 will take place in Las Vegas on Jan. 5-8, 2023. 

As of Nov. 28, the CTA reported: 

  • 2 million-plus net square feet of exhibits (50% bigger than CES 2022)
  • nearly 1,000 new exhibitors and more than 2,400 in total
  • one of the largest global auto shows
  • a record 2,100 CES 2023 Innovation Award entries
  • a 100,000 attendee goal with one-third from outside the United States
  • sold out Media Days on Jan. 3-4
  • 3,000-plus media registered

 

“The growth of, and excitement for, CES 2023 continues as we get closer to the moment where the world’s most influential technology innovators meet in person with customers, media, investors and policymakers,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CTA. “We are thrilled with the show’s momentum and look forward to opening the halls of innovation in January. We’ll learn about emerging global economic trends, what’s next in healthcare, automotive, Web3/metaverse and see the nexus of technology for good.”

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Adena T. Friedman, president and CEO of Nasdaq and the first woman CEO to lead a global stock exchange, will join Shapiro for a Great Minds session, “What’s Next for the 21st Century Economy,” on Jan. 6.

CoinDesk is the title sponsor and producer of the “CES Web3 Studio Presented by CoinDesk.” The company will curate a half-day Web3 conference program, and the studio will feature interviews with some of the most influential Web3 voices. It will cover the latest cryptocurrency and blockchain news and innovations from CES. The show will also feature Web3 programming by the Blockchain Association.

Dozens of conference tracks and 200 sessions will cover the key show themes that include digital health, Web3/metaverse, sustainability and human security for all. Registration is open and prices increase on Dec. 5.

CTA: CES 2023 on Track to Grow Footprint More Than 40% From 2022

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Oct. 6 announced that CES 2023, taking place Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, will likely be the largest in-person, audited business event in the United States since early 2020. The show footprint is on track to grow more than 40% larger than CES 2022, the CTA announced.

“People are excited to head back to Las Vegas for CES 2023, and it will rock,” Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CTA, said in a statement. “We are optimistic we can hit our attendance goal of 100,000, which would make it the largest independently-audited post-pandemic tech event. This year’s show will feature keynotes from tech visionaries and the opportunity to see and touch the tech that’s shaking up industries and changing our lives for the better.”

“Global brands including Abbott, Amazon, AMD, Google, John Deere, LG, Qualcomm, Roku, Samsung, Sony, Stellantis, Verizon — they and many others are committed to CES to launch new products and display cutting-edge technologies,” Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA SVP of membership and CES sales, said in a statement.

“The robust conference program shows momentum beyond the show floor at CES,” John T. Kelley, VP and acting show director for CES, said in a statement. “Hundreds of sessions with industry leaders will highlight advancements in transportation and mobility, digital health, metaverse and sustainability. And new at this year’s show: sessions focused on the creator economy, including NFTs, and Web3.”

The CES 2023 digital experience will offer access to more than 75 conference sessions and keynotes, digital activations, and a network of CES exhibitors, media and attendees. Digital registration opens later this year.

Key show themes include transportation and mobility, digital health, Web3/metaverse and sustainability. Another theme is “Human Security for All,” in which CES, partnering with the World Academy of Art and Science, will shine a spotlight on how technology helps people tackle the world’s most-pressing problems. Support of United Nations efforts to advance “Human Security for All” will be a theme throughout the show, from conference programming to keynotes highlighting innovation and products improving the lives of people around the world.

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Other details the CTA revealed about the upcoming show include:

  • 1,300-plus exhibitors confirmed;
  • 100,000 attendee goal, with one third traveling internationally to attend;
  • two announced keynotes, John Deere and AMD, with a third keynote announcement set for Oct. 13 at Unveiled Amsterdam;
  • four curated floor tours include Automotive, Startup, Healthcare and (new for 2023) the Metaverse Combo Tour; and
  • 200-plus conference sessions featuring more than 750 speakers.

Gary Shapiro: Five Takeaways From CES 2022

CES 2022 was unlike any show we’ve hosted in our 55-year history. 

As we prepared our return to Las Vegas for the first in-person CES in two years, we could feel the momentum and excitement building in the consumer tech community. Hundreds of companies signed on to exhibit, even after the emergence of the Omicron variant around Thanksgiving. We were confident in the strong health protocols we’d put in place, including a vaccination requirement announced in the summer of 2021, masking requirements and free Abbott BiNAX Now rapid tests that would be made available to attendees.

Gary Shapiro

Months of planning by CTA staff and consultants meant that we were ready to put on a show, but we couldn’t be certain our guests would arrive. A few big-brand companies withdrew from in-person participation, but many more reached out to tell us just how much they wanted the show to go forward.

Thousands of companies rely on CES to pitch new, innovative and life-changing technologies. After an all-digital show in 2021, this was an opportunity for them to make connections and build the relationships that are so critical to business success.

We also listened to President Biden’s Dec. 21 call for schools and businesses to remain open — with precautions in place — which seemed a strong message that business should continue. That encouragement, along with advice from various expert consultants, supported our decision to move ahead with an in-person show.

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Opening day demonstrated the strong excitement and desire by so many to convene again in person. More than 2,300 exhibitors showcased incredible innovation on the show floor, joined by over 40,000 industry executives and thought leaders. We knew this year’s CES would be messy, and it was no surprise to see some gaps on the show floor. But by the time we wrapped on Friday, it was clear that even a smaller show punched well above its weight.

Here are my key takeaways from CES 2022:

People Have Different Views on Pandemic Precautions

This statement won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but we watched it play out in real time as we organized CES 2022. We lost some exhibitors over the summer when we announced our vaccine requirement, though several executives thanked me for pushing their CES-loving employees to get vaccinated. We lost some attendees in December over health and safety concerns surrounding the Omicron variant, especially those from the worst-hit coastal cities and COVID-cautious countries. Given the uncertainty of the pandemic throughout our planning process, we decided to meet people where they were by investing further in our digital event for those who could not, or chose not to, travel to Las Vegas. That decision paid dividends in our enhanced capacity to capture content and make it available to attendees virtually both during and after the event.

 

Companies Rely on CES — Especially Startups, Small and Mid-Size Companies

I wasn’t completely sure what to expect at CES, but I was shocked by the nearly universal excitement and enthusiasm. I did not receive one complaint during the show, and the 100+ exhibitors I spoke to all expressed their gratitude for our decision to go forward with CES. Many small and mid-sized companies use CES to connect with customers, partners, investors and media. While our attendee numbers were down, exhibitors reported the quality of participants, especially CXOs and international, was strong. In fact, the decision by some big companies to withdraw from the show created new opportunities to shine for many of our startups and small companies.

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As an executive from one large multinational corporation put it, “this was the show of small and medium-sized companies.” Another executive from a smaller company emphasized the important role CES plays for innovators trying to “break-into the industry.”

 

International Attendees and Media Flocked to CES

This was perhaps my biggest surprise. Over 14,000 international visitors came to CES 2022, along with over 600 members of the international media. I am not sure the U.S. has had any event in the last two years with this type of showing. Those are some 14,000 people who were willing to undergo extra testing and challenging travel requirements because they recognized that CES presents such a unique opportunity. As one international participant put it, “CES 2022: inspiring. We had all been more or less hesitant to come to Vegas despite the pandemic. … I issued and canceled several plane tickets before flying. In the end, we were rewarded. [CES 2022 was the] edition that will serve as a reference for other world events in the coming months.”

 

We Need Leadership and Real Life Experiences

I heard from executives of companies big and small thanking me for taking a stand. They recognize the importance of getting back to in-person interactions where relationships can be fostered, investments made and new products discovered. While I’ll be the first to praise the tech companies who made virtual meetings and workplace collaboration possible in the early stages of the pandemic, it can’t replace the value and importance of face-to-face conversations.

Ultimately, COVID will be with us for some time, and we have to find ways to live with that reality. Several CEOs made precisely that point to me in commending CTA on our leadership in hosting an in-person CES. As one wrote to me, “It is not easy making the decisions you are making and I wanted to lend my support. You are taking all the right measures to ensure everyone’s safety as best as you can to greatly reduce risk. … For what it’s worth, I personally believe that if we don’t start moving to some level of what it was like, we will be doing damage that can’t be measured in charts and graphs.”

Leadership requires taking a stand and our stand resonated with many business executives across multiple industries.

 

Innovation is Blossoming and Changing the World

Since our last gathering in Las Vegas in 2020 the world has changed, and tech has evolved along with it — especially in areas like health care, mobility, food and entertainment. The pandemic accelerated many existing trends, pushing us towards telehealth services and streaming and increased reliance on artificial intelligence. We’ve seen breakthroughs in robotics, delivery, and the virtual reality. In the home entertainment sector alone, CES 2022 introduced new trends in audio, such as Noveto’s “invisible headphones” that beam audio directly into your ears; video and display, such as Sony’s Bravia Cam that optimizes TV picture quality and brightness; and virtual and artificial reality tech that can bring live events and sports to the metaverse and into homes via smartphones and VR headsets.

Despite our time apart, innovation has not stopped. Instead, it appears to have sped up, spurred by entrepreneurs from around the globe who have committed their expertise and know-how to solving some of the world’s biggest challenges. After walking the show floor this year, I’m more optimistic than ever in the capacity of innovation and technology to change millions of lives for the better.

I can’t wait for CES 2023 — and hope to see you there!

Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the trade group that produces the annual CES.

CES Closes With 40,000 In-Person Attendees; 2,300 Exhibitors

The Consumer Technology Association announced that CES 2022 in Las Vegas, which concluded Jan. 7, tallied 40,000 in-person attendees.

The show also registered more than 2,300 exhibiting companies from around the world, including more than 800 startups, according to the CTA.

In January 2020, just before COVID-19 hit, the show drew more than 170,000 attendees and 4,400 exhibitors. The show went virtual in January 2021.

The 2022 show opened Jan. 5 with a smaller footprint and a shorter run, three days instead of the usual four, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, which the week before Christmas saw 42 exhibitors opt for a virtual rather than a physical presence, including such heavyweights as Amazon, AT&T, Google, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook) and T-Mobile. 

Attendees included 1,800 global media, across 11 indoor and outdoor venues, with 30% of attendees traveling from outside the United States, representing 119 countries, according to the CTA.

“We hope to see you at CES 2023, Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas,” read an email from organizers.

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Through Jan. 31, registered CES 2022 attendees can replay events from the show, access keynotes, select session recordings, exhibitor showcases and show floor content with Brian Tong through the digital venue. Starting Jan. 10, look out for newly added session recordings that were not previously available in the venue.

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