In short
- AI dominated CES pattern predictions, with widespread adoption reported throughout workplaces, houses, automobiles and healthcare.
- Futurist Brian Comiskey outlined a future constructed on steady monitoring, personalised programs and software-defined merchandise.
- But questions stay over acceptance of AI within the office and return on funding, regardless of heavy enterprise spending on generative AI.
Blockchain obtained solely a short point out at a Client Electronics Present (CES) discuss centered on know-how pattern predictions, as synthetic intelligence dominated dialogue about the way forward for client and enterprise know-how.
The CES 2026 Tendencies to Watch discuss, held Monday, featured Brian Comiskey, senior director of innovation and tendencies on the Client Know-how Affiliation (CTA). Comiskey described the 2020s as a decade of “clever transformation,” pushed primarily by advances in AI.
“It is a wave of innovation led to by the rise of synthetic intelligence and its growing capabilities, which is altering the operations of enterprises, the features of staff and the lives of shoppers,” Comiskey mentioned.
Blockchain was referenced solely in passing close to the top of the dialogue, described as providing “unhackable layers of safety,” with out additional clarification or elaboration.
“Clever platforms”
Regardless of ongoing financial uncertainty, together with inflationary pressures and tariffs, the CTA initiatives U.S. client know-how trade income will attain $565 billion {dollars} in 2026, indicating continued client demand for brand spanking new applied sciences.
He outlined a future during which {hardware} gadgets more and more operate as adaptive, data-driven platforms. Comiskey mentioned sensible glasses and prolonged actuality headsets are being deployed in industrial settings, together with warehouse optimization, distant surgical help, and medical purposes.
“We’re going to see clever transformation driving a elementary shift,” he mentioned. “The gadgets and {hardware} we all know and love have gotten clever platforms designed to ship deeply customized, adaptive experiences.”
Vehicles are present process the same transformation, Comiskey mentioned, arguing that they are evolving into “software-defined ecosystems,” that includes over-the-air updates, modular {hardware} and open working programs.
“Vehicles are now not simply machines,” he mentioned. “Shoppers now count on their automobiles to adapt to them, not the opposite manner round.”
He highlighted AI-powered driver profiles, predictive upkeep and partnerships between automakers, know-how firms and content material platforms as central to this shift. Simply this week, Nvidia introduced a set of open AI fashions designed for self-driving automobiles.
Healthcare and sensible houses
In healthcare, Comiskey predicted elevated use of steady monitoring applied sciences. He mentioned psychological well being instruments are transferring from “passive monitoring to proactive help,” with startups utilizing voice biomarkers to detect early indicators of melancholy and anxiousness. He additionally cited conversational AI for cognitive behavioural remedy, biometric sleep monitoring and personalised vitamin platforms.
The panel additionally centered on the evolution of the sensible residence, which Comiskey described as changing into each extra customized and extra built-in into well being monitoring.
Related residence programs, he mentioned, are more and more designed to anticipate consumer wants by studying every day routines and preferences, adjusting lighting, local weather and leisure robotically. Gadgets akin to sensible mirrors, smoke detectors and doorbells are being positioned as well being, security and productiveness instruments.
The session additionally addressed adjustments in enterprise fashions enabled by these applied sciences. Comiskey mentioned “hybrid monetization” is changing into customary, combining subscriptions with promoting, premium add-ons, tipping and creator-focused income streams.
“This flexibility helps platforms attain broader audiences whereas giving creators extra methods to monetize,” he mentioned, although it additionally suggests clients shall be squeezed for more cash for companies they may as soon as simply pay for outright earlier than subscription companies grew to become customary.
Comiskey additionally introduced knowledge suggesting AI adoption within the office is now widespread. In line with CTA analysis masking European, South Korean and US markets, consciousness of AI exceeded 90% in all surveyed areas. Greater than 40% of staff in each nation surveyed reported utilizing AI at work, with the US main at practically 63%.
“Our knowledge is exhibiting that AI is evolving from one thing experimental into one thing important for the enterprise and staff,” Comiskey mentioned, including that US staff who use AI reported saving a median of 8.7 hours per week.
A blended outlook
Regardless of Comiskey’s optimism, past CES AI has met with a blended reception, with questions remaining about how staff and shoppers are responding to widespread AI deployment. Some workers have criticised AI office instruments as inefficient, dubbing what it produces “workslop” and arguing that correcting AI-generated errors can enhance workloads reasonably than cut back them.
A July research by the MIT Analysis Lab discovered that regardless of between 30 and 40 billion {dollars} in enterprise funding in generative AI, 95% of organisations surveyed reported no measurable return on funding.
Utilizing AI to foretell human actions and conduct additionally raises points round privateness and knowledge safety.
“Most organizations fall on the improper aspect of the GenAI Divide,” the MIT report concluded. “Adoption is excessive, however disruption is low.”
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