Las Vegas is gearing up for CES 2026, and all eyes are on self-driving technology. As electric vehicle (EV) rollouts slow down, big names in the auto industry are betting that artificial intelligence (AI) will inject new life into a business facing challenges like sluggish progress, high costs, safety worries, and tight regulations.
Instead of showcasing new EVs, this year’s show is packed with suppliers and startups eager to unveil their latest breakthroughs in autonomous driving tech. Experts expect plenty of fresh partnerships—and even deals that could make human drivers obsolete.
“This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous,” said C.J. Finn, the US automotive industry leader at PwC. “That connectivity on autonomous, I do think will be front and center.”
But it’s not just about cars. AI will pop up everywhere from robots to home gadgets, wearable technologies, and health tech. Industry heavyweights like Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and AMD’s Lisa Su are two of the big speakers on the agenda.
Electric Vehicles Take a Back Seat
CES 2026, running from January 6 to 9, has long been known for splashy launches of TVs, laptops, and wearables. In recent years, automakers have used it to roll out shiny new EVs. But things are changing.
Thanks to the Trump administration’s scaled-back incentives for EVs, consumer demand has dropped, and automakers are shifting gears. This year, the biggest car brands won’t be revealing any new EV models—a stark departure from the trend in recent years.
At the show, tech really takes the spotlight—one example seen was an exhibitor shaking hands with a robotic dog at the Hengbot Innovation booth during the event’s preview.
Betting Big on Autonomy
Bringing self-driving cars to the market is no easy feat. The price tag is steep, red tape is everywhere, and the threat of investigations after crashes has forced some promising ventures to shut down.
Despite the setbacks, the mood is shifting. Tesla has rolled out a small robotaxi service (with safety monitors) in Austin, Texas, while Alphabet’s Waymo is expanding at breakneck speed. Personal cars are also getting smarter—think highway hands-free driving and automatic lane changes. Rivian is even working towards “eyes-off” operation and city street self-driving.
“That’s starting to align with where people are putting forward their money and
