Nvidia and AMD improvements at CES 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nvidia, AMD and Intel all had necessary chip and AI platform bulletins on the primary day of CES 2026, however all audiences needed to see extra of was Star Wars and Jensen Huang’s little robotic buddies.

CES is a large alternative yearly for firms each massive and small to parade merchandise they plan to placed on cabinets this yr. As predicted, synthetic intelligence was anchored in practically all the things as tech companies proceed to search for AI merchandise that may appeal to clients.

Here are the highlights from Day 1:

Nvidia will get bodily

The greatest buzzword within the air at CES is “physical AI,” Nvidia’s time period for AI fashions which can be skilled in a digital atmosphere utilizing pc generated, “synthetic” knowledge, then deployed as bodily machines as soon as they’ve mastered their goal.

CEO Jensen Huang confirmed off Cosmos, an AI basis mannequin skilled on huge datasets, able to simulating environments ruled by precise physics. He additionally introduced Alpamayo, an AI mannequin particularly designed for autonomous driving. Huang revealed that Nvidia’s subsequent era AI superchip platform, dubbed Vera Rubin, is in full manufacturing, and that Nvidia has a brand new partnership with Siemens. All of this exhibits Nvidia goes to struggle elevated competitors to retain its popularity because the spine of the AI business.

But as soon as Huang known as for 2 little, waddling, chirping robots to hitch him on stage, that’s all of the viewers needed to see extra of.

The chips are again on the town

AMD CEO Lisa Su introduced a brand new line of its famed Ryzen AI processors as the corporate continues to develop its footprint on the planet of AI-powered private computer systems.

For players, AMD additionally confirmed off the most recent model of its gaming-focused processor, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

Meanwhile, Intel introduced its new AI chip for laptops, Panther Lake (also referred to as the Intel Core Ultra Series 3), and mentioned the corporate has plans to launch a brand new platform to handle a rising marketplace for handheld video gaming machines.

Intel, a Silicon Valley pioneer that loved a long time of progress as its processors powered the private pc increase, fell right into a hunch after lacking the shift to the cell computing period unleashed by the iPhone. It fell additional behind after the AI increase propelled Nvidia into the highlight.

President Donald Trump’s administration stepped in not too long ago to safe a ten% stake within the firm, making the federal government certainly one of Intel’s greatest shareholders. Federal officers mentioned they invested in Intel to help U.S. expertise and home manufacturing.

Uber dives again into the robotaxi recreation

Uber is giving the general public a primary have a look at their robotaxi at this CES this week. Uber, together with luxurious electrical automobile producer Lucid Motors and automobile tech firm Nuro, launched an autonomous automobile with an Uber-designed in-cabin expertise.

Uber calls it probably the most luxurious robotaxi but. It options cameras, sensors and radars that present 360-degree notion and a low-profile roof “halo” with built-in LEDs that may show riders’ initials to assist them spot their automobile and monitor their trip standing. Inside, riders can personalize all the things from local weather and seat heating to music, whereas real-time visuals present precisely what the automobile is seeing on the street and the route it plans to take.

Autonomous on-road testing started final month in San Francisco, led by Nuro, marking a significant step towards what the businesses mentioned is a deliberate launch earlier than the tip of the yr.

Star Wars and Lego announce a brand new partnership

When Lucasfilm chief inventive officer David Filoni introduced out an array of X-Wing pilots, Chewbacca, R2D2 and C-3PO, he received the Star Wars fandom for Lego.

Lego introduced its Lego Smart Play platform on Monday, which introduces new good bricks, tags and particular minifigs on your assortment. The new bricks comprise sensors that allow them to sense gentle and distance, and to offer an array of responses, basically lights and sounds, when they’re utilized in unison.

Combine this with a newly introduced partnership with the Star Wars franchise and now you’ll be able to create your individual interactive area battles and light-saber duels.

LG reveals a brand new robotic to assist across the residence

File this one beneath intrigued, for now.

The Korean tech big gave the media a glimpse Monday of its humanoid robotic that’s designed to deal with family chores resembling folding laundry and fetching meals. Although many firms have robots on show at CES, LG actually is likely one of the greatest tech firms to vow to place a service robotic in properties.

It will likely be on show starting Tuesday, so we’ll have extra to report quickly.

What’s new with lollipops?

Music you’ll be able to style was on show Monday at CES: Lollipop Star unveiled a sweet that performs music when you eat it. The firm says it makes use of one thing known as “bone induction technology,” which helps you to hear songs — like tracks from Ice Spice and Akon — by the lollipop as you lick it or chew it behind your mouth, in accordance with spokesperson Cassie Lawrence.

The musical lollipops will go on sale after CES on Lollipop Star’s web site for $8.99 every. And if that wasn’t sufficient star energy, Akon was anticipated to go to the corporate’s sales space Tuesday when CES opens to the general public.

Atlas holds up Hyundai’s (manufacturing) world

Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics publicly demonstrated its humanoid robotic Atlas for the primary time on the CES tech showcase, ratcheting up a contest with Tesla and different rivals to construct robots that appear like folks and do issues that individuals do.

The firm mentioned a model of the robotic that may assist assemble automobiles is already in manufacturing and will likely be deployed by 2028 at Hyundai’s electrical automobile manufacturing facility close to Savannah, Georgia.

Delta will get spherical

Delta Air Lines is taking leisure to new heights because the “official airline” of the Sphere in Las Vegas. The airline introduced a brand new multiyear partnership with Sphere Entertainment Co. that it says will ship premium experiences to the venue, together with a Delta SKY360° Club lounge.

The service mentioned SkyMiles members can unlock unique entry to different experiences on the Sphere, beginning throughout the ultimate weekend of the Backstreet Boys’ residency in February with options together with personal suite seating, meals and drinks. The partnership brings Delta branding to the Sphere’s huge exterior LED display screen. Delta says extra unique SkyMiles experiences will roll out in 2026 and past.