CES has always been the weird one. Half science fiction showroom, half gadget graveyard. But this year felt different. Not louder. Not flashier. More serious. AI was still everywhere at CES 2026, but the tone shifted. Fewer gimmicks. Fewer pointless “AI inside” stickers. More real products. More infrastructure. More companies putting their cards on the table about where AI actually goes next.

CES has always been the weird one. Half science fiction showroom, half gadget graveyard. But this year felt different. Not louder. Not flashier. More serious. AI was still everywhere at CES 2026, but the tone shifted. Fewer gimmicks. Fewer pointless “AI inside” stickers. More real products. More infrastructure. More companies putting their cards on the table about where AI actually goes next.