By WIRED
Publication Date: 2026-02-12 17:00:00
The Annual Consumer The Electronics Show, commonly known as CES, loves spectacle. In the past, it was digital satellite systems that streamed sports games live to a television and consoles that brought video games from arcades into people’s homes. Today, robots dance, screens bend, and virtual assistants hold conversations with people. It’s a sight to behold. But rarely do these gadgets change the way we live our lives. The most impactful technologies are often not those that shock or delight, but those that are so integrated that they are almost imperceptible. They become quiet.
AI – considered by many to be the most significant innovation in decades – is poised to do just that. The change is already happening. As Traci Gusher, head of AI and data at EY Americas AI & Data, walked through this year’s show between speaker sessions and booth demos, she noted the difference between last year’s show and 2026.
“Last year…
