After years of chatbots and image generators, AI is finally leaving the screen. At CES 2026, that shift became impossible to ignore. The annual tech showcase in Las Vegas was dominated by physical AI and robotics.
This ranged from Boston Dynamics’ newly redesigned Atlas humanoid robot to AI-powered ice makers. The companies in attendance clearly want consumers to know that AI isn’t just capable of answering questions anymore. It is now ready to move car parts in factories, catch drones with net guns, and even dance in automaker booths.
The event highlighted how artificial intelligence is transitioning from a digital tool into a physical force in the real world.