Day 2 of CES 2026 in Las Vegas put an upbeat spotlight on consumer tech headed toward shelves this year, with companies showing off everything from robots and AI companions to health and longevity-focused gadgets. A headline business moment came from Nvidia, which used the CES stage to introduce its Vera Rubin architecture and said it is already in production, with volume expected to ramp in the second half of 2026. Across the show floor, exhibitors leaned into “physical” AI—machines that can move, assist at home, or simply entertain—underscoring how AI demand is spilling from data centers into everyday products.

Highlights:

• Home automation: Among the more practical demos, CES featured a laundry-folding robot aimed at turning a repetitive chore into a push-button task.
• AI pet trend: A startup-style twist on companionship tech appeared in the Sweekar AI pet, which the exhibitor said can physically “grow,” blending toys, robotics and AI into a new kind of consumer category.
• Display design: Ultra-thin televisions also grabbed attention, including a “wallpaper” TV the exhibitor said measures 0.35 inches thick, highlighting ongoing competition in premium home entertainment hardware.
• Robot variety: Showgoers encountered an unusually wide range of robots—including designs described as “hipster” and “cuddly”—reflecting how product teams now differentiate not just on function, but on personality and aesthetics.
• Mobility showcase: Autonomous-vehicle technology remained part of the CES mix, with on-the-ground reporting flagging continued exhibitor focus on next-generation transportation systems.

Vera Rubin is designed to address this fundamental challenge that we have: The amount of computation necessary for AI is skyrocketing, - Dion Harris

Perspectives:

• PBS NewsHour: Frames CES as a major commercial opportunity for companies of all sizes to showcase products they plan to sell during the year. (PBS NewsHour)
• ABC News: Emphasizes the on-floor experience: large crowds and a broad mix of robots, AI companions/assistants, wearables, and health-longevity technology. (ABC News)
• Financial Times: Portrays CES as a playful “smorgasbord” of futuristic products, spotlighting how robotics and friendly-looking AI are becoming mainstream showpieces. (Financial Times)
• Business Insider: Spotlights Nvidia’s platform announcement alongside quirky consumer gadgets like an AI pet and specialty robots, tying spectacle to the AI infrastructure boom. (Business Insider)

Sources:

• The highlights from Day 2 of CES 2026 - pbs.org
• Hipster robots and cuddly AI take over Las Vegas - Financial Times - google.com
• The coolest technology from Day 2 of CES 2026 - abcnews.go.com
• The biggest — and weirdest —tech coming out of the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, from robots to AI pets - businessinsider.com
• Hipster robots and cuddly AI take over Las Vegas - ft.com