CES opened with a clear theme: in 2026, AI is at the infrastructure of consumer tech from PCs to toys. The show’s first full day in Las Vegas delivered a torrent of announcements illustrating how artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and hardware ingenuity are shaping the products we’ll be using regularly.
Lenovo’s Hybrid AI Comes Alive
At Lenovo Tech World at CES, held in the marvel known as The Sphere, Lenovo revealeda strategy for how AI will power devices, cloud infrastructure, and personal experiences in 2026 and beyond.
The centerpiece of Lenovo’s message was Lenovo and Motorola Qira, a cross-device personal AI agent designed to work across laptops, tablets, phones, and wearables. More than a chatbot, Qira is positioned as a Personal Ambient Intelligence System that learns from context and transitions tasks seamlessly between devices.
This announcement builds on the broader Hybrid AI strategy Lenovo is advancing, which ties personal AI, enterprise AI infrastructure, sports analytics, and immersive entertainment together under a unified vision. Among other highlights from Lenovo’s sphere staged presentation were:
- Adaptive device concepts like agent-native wearables and rollable display proofs-of-concept tailored to different workflows.
- An expanded portfolio of AI-ready PCs and flagship hardware, including new Aura Edition PCs, next-gen ThinkPads, and Motorola-branded smartphones featuring on-device AI.
- Lenovo AI Cloud Gigafactory with Nvidia, a joint initiative that promises to cut deployment times for AI data center environments from months to mere weeks.
Taken together, these announcements signal Lenovo’s bid to be more than a PC maker and become the platform for AI that adapts to users and enterprises alike.
LEGO Smart Play Spotlighted
In a surprise twist on Day 1, LEGO, a timeless brand not traditionally known as a CES headline act, delivered one of the more memorable unveilings with its new Smart Play platform.
The star of the show is the Smart Brick, a standard-sized LEGO 2×4 block packed with advanced hardware: sensors, LEDs, built-in audio, and wireless connectivity that let it respond to motion, orientation, and nearby components. While not a fully AI-driven system in the generative sense, these Smart Bricks bring physical play to life by producing lights and sounds that correspond to actions during real-world building sessions.
LEGO’s CES debut also spotlighted Smart Tags and smart minifigures that communicate identity and context to the Smart Bricks via a mesh networking protocol, marking a clever step toward interactive, screen-free play.
The first sets, themed around Star Wars, are slated for March 2026, signaling LEGO’s intent to marry classic hands-on creativity with digital-style interactivity without screens.
Day 1 Highlights & Showstoppers Buzz
CES’s first day was a packed showcase of future tech, and industry buzzmakers included:
AI Chips & Platforms
- Nvidia’s “physical AI” push for new AI architectures and robotics integrations truly won the day, alongside emerging AI models for autonomous vehicles.
- AMD and Intel both revealed next-generation AI chips and platforms aimed at gaming, productivity, and embedded intelligence.
Robotics & Mobility
- Uber unveiled a luxury robotaxi prototype with customizable cabin experiences, signaling autonomous transport ambitions.
- Boston Dynamics and LG both brought robots that span from industrial utility to home assistance, although performance varies widely.
Novelty & Lifestyle Tech
- Quirky gadgets from musical lollipops to pet-focused wearables stole attention on the floor.
- Massive foldable screens from Samsung and smart home integrations from GE and others showed how AI is leaking into every category.
ShowStoppers & Innovation Awards
Early word from ShowStoppers, the official media kickoff event where editors and reviewers spotlight breakout products, suggests there will be standout winners in categories ranging from AI tech to robotics, PCs, smart home, and toys. Winning a Gadgety Award here is seen as a badge of innovation across multiple verticals at CES.
Key Takeaways
Across press rooms, keynotes, and the show floor, Day 1 of CES 2026 reaffirmed the trajectory of consumer tech this year: AI is foundational. Whether it’s Lenovo’s cross-device super agent strategy or LEGO’s reinvention of iconic bricks with interactive tech, the future feels less like concept demos and more like products ready for real life.
Stay tuned for full hands-on reports and ShowStoppers winners, but if Day 1 is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for tech, innovation, and blurred lines between hardware and intelligence.
