The world’s largest tech stage, CES 2026, concluded on January 9 in Las Vegas, marking a historic shift as artificial intelligence moved from screens into "Physical AI" and robotics.
The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) concluded on January 9 in Las Vegas with a clear and unmistakable message: artificial intelligence has moved beyond screens and algorithms into the physical world.
This transformation, widely described as the rise of “Physical AI,” was powered largely by China’s expanding dominance in robotics, prompting urgent discussions among global competitors about strategy, security, and technological leadership.
China’s Dominant Presence at CES 2026
Chinese companies commanded the CES 2026 show floor in both scale and visibility. More than 1,000 Chinese technology firms participated in the event, representing approximately 55% of all humanoid robotics exhibitors.
Their presence was especially pronounced in the Central Hall and North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center prime exhibition zones typically reserved for industry leaders.
Electronics giant TCL underscored this dominance by unveiling its largest-ever CES booth, covering 3,368 square metres, a physical statement of China’s ambition in next-generation hardware and AI-driven systems.
CES 2026 “Physical AI” Takes Centre Stage
Across panels, product launches, and keynote sessions, the focus remained firmly on Physical AI, artificial intelligence embedded in robots, autonomous vehicles, industrial machines, and smart infrastructure capable of interacting directly with the real world.
Unlike traditional digital AI applications, Physical AI blends perception, decision-making, and motion, allowing machines to perform complex tasks in dynamic environments.
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Calls a Defining Moment
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, speaking during his CES keynote on January 5, described the moment as a potential “ChatGPT moment for physical AI.”
He unveiled Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin computing architecture, alongside new AI models specifically designed for robotics, autonomous driving, and intelligent machines signalling a major push to support real-world AI deployment at scale.
Growing Strategic Concerns
China’s commanding role at CES 2026 has sparked renewed debate among policymakers, technology leaders, and investors, particularly in the United States and Europe, about the long-term implications for global competitiveness, supply chains, and national security.
With Physical AI now moving rapidly from concept to reality, CES 2026 may be remembered as the point where artificial intelligence decisively stepped into the physical world and where China emerged as a central force shaping that future.
CES 2026 confirmed that the next phase of AI innovation is physical, not digital and China is currently leading that race.
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