The CTA's Brian Comiskey and Melissa Harrison gave journalists a preview of the trade group's annual technology forecast Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4, at Mandalay Bay. (Photo by Media Play News staff)
Media Gets First Look at CES 2026 Ahead of Show’s Jan. 6 Opening
January 5, 2026
LAS VEGAS — CES 2026 officially opens Jan. 6 with the spotlight firmly focused on AI, but the world’s largest technology show actually got underway over the weekend with a variety of pre-show events and presentations, mostly aimed at the media.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which produces the annual CES, on Sunday gave journalists a preview of Tech Trends to Watch, followed by CES Unveiled, with previews of innovative products ranging from robotic dogs, a “smart” pet dryer and vacuum cleaners equipped with germ-eliminating UV-C light technology to AI interpreter earbuds, a ring that takes notes, and something called the Body Scan 2, “the first science-backed longevity station.” A Korean company promoting an AI-powered pill prescription app was even handing out samples of natural sleeping pills.
A number of major brands also scheduled press conferences over the weekend and Monday to introduce new products and technologies, including Bosch, Doosan Bobcat, Geely Auto, Hisense, Hyundai Motor Co., LG Electronics, Sony Honda Mobility Inc. and The Lego Group.
In the Tech Trends presentation, CTA futurist Brian Comiskey shared findings from the trade group’s new U.S. Consumer Technology Industry Forecast, which projects the industry will reach $565 billion in revenue in 2026, 3.7% more than last year.
Hardware revenues are expected to grow 3.4%, while consumer spending on software and services is projected to rise 4.2%, reaching nearly $194 billion.
CTA marketing and communications chief Melissa Harrison acknowledged that streaming is giving the industry a boost, noting that “software and services are getting record revenue, even as subscriber growth slows, especially with the rise of ad-supported streaming.”
Later in the Tech Trends presentation, she elaborated: “As we look at the future of video, streaming is no longer just disrupting traditional television. It’s evolving into a more complex ecosystem. I mean, for example, the Oscars just announced that they are moving to YouTube in 2029.”
“One of the biggest things we’re seeing is that ad-supported streaming has become the industry’s main growth engine,” Comiskey added. “At CES, that shows up in a lot of innovation around better targeting, improved measurement, and more sophisticated connected TV advertising.
“Second, short-form video content continues to define how audiences discover and engage with the content they enjoy. Short form isn’t just a complement to long-form streaming. It’s a funnel, a testing ground, and, increasingly, a standalone entertainment category.”
“And we’ll even see that in our living rooms,” Harrison noted. “Instagram Reels are coming to Amazon Fire through a new dedicated app called Instagram for TV.”
“Exactly,” Comiskey said. “That’s a huge change in the ecosystem.”
He continued: “And, finally, AI is transforming how video is produced. From automated editing and localization to virtual production and generative content creation, AI is expanding creative possibilities.”
The two Tech Trends to Watch presenters also identified three major forces shaping the next phase of the consumer technology industry:
Intelligent Transformation — Artificial intelligence is becoming foundational across devices, platforms, and services, enabling smarter systems and more personalized consumer experiences;
Longevity Technologies — Advances in digital health, remote care, and wellness tools are accelerating as consumers seek technologies that support longer, healthier lives; and
Engineering Tomorrow — Continued investment in electrification, mobility, energy management, and infrastructure modernization is laying the groundwork for future innovation.
Regarding the first trend, intelligent transformation, Comiskey said, ” Over the past 20 years, digital transformation, defined by the pivot of enterprises to the cloud, shaped technology and innovation. The digital lives of consumers also greatly increased through the rise of global connectivity, e-commerce, and more.
“In the 2020s, we find ourselves in a new era, intelligent transformation. This is a wave of innovation brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence, and it’s increasing capabilities, which is changing the operations of enterprises, the functions of workers, and the lives of the consumers. So that makes it feel like we’re in the middle of a truly foundational leap.”
The Tech Trends to Watch presentation also affirmed the pervasiveness of AI.
“AI has become a collaboration tool for many workers across multiple markets,” Comiskey said. “We surveyed several European, Korean and U.S. markets, and awareness of AI exceeded 90% across all of them. It’s incredible.
“But more notably, people ate rapidly adopting the use of AI at their work places. In each of the markets, more than 40% of people in every country have used AI at work. The U.S. led the way, with nearly 63% of U.S. workers saying that they’ve used AI at work, which saved them 8.7 hours of work per week.
“Our data is showing that AI is evolving from something experimental into something essential for the enterprise and workers.”
More importantly, he added, “AI isn’t static. It’s dynamic, with multiple avenues for innovation.”
Pre-show activities continue Monday with more than a dozen presentations and keynotes.
The day begins with a repeat of the CES 2026 Trends to Watch presentation, this time for all badge holders.
The CTA presentation will be followed by “Transforming Industries with Physical AI,” presented by McKinsey, which explores how AI is reshaping industries, work, and the future of automation.
In the afternoon come “The Electric Vehicle to Grid Ecosystem: Unlocking EVs’ Full Potential,” presented by EY; “Lights, Camera, Algorithm: Creators Go Cinematic”; “Beyond the Algorithm: Gen Z’s New Digital Habits”; “Blueprint of Innovation: The Tech Shaping Tomorrow,” presented by Invesco QQQ and Nasdaq; “Driving Trust and Innovation in Connected Health with Standards,” presented by ULSE; “Why Creators Are Every Brand’s Most Valuable Media Channel”; “Building the Enterprise AI Blueprint: From Startup Speed to Scale,” presented by Cox Automotive; “AI Unleashed: Creativity That Inspires and Stays Human,” presented by Monks; and CES 2026’s first keynote, by AMD chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su, who will present her vision for delivering future AI solutions — from cloud to enterprise, edge and devices.”
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