CES 2026 concludes: Physical AI and robotics define the next era of technology

LAS VEGAS — CES 2026 concluded this week with a definitive shift in the tech landscape, as "physical AI" and robotics replaced last year’s focus on generative software as the event's primary theme.

Industry giants Nvidia, Sony, and AMD led the exhibition with major hardware announcements. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced "Rubin," a new computing architecture designed to meet escalating AI processing demands. Huang also unveiled Alpamayo, an open-source AI model developed specifically for autonomous vehicles.

AMD CEO Lisa Su countered with the debut of the Ryzen AI 400 Series processors. Su emphasized that the new chips are designed to broaden the reach of artificial intelligence within personal computers.

The push toward automation extended into the industrial and automotive sectors. Caterpillar and Nvidia announced a partnership to develop autonomous construction equipment, while Ford showcased a new integrated AI assistant for its vehicles.

In mobile hardware, the Clicks Communicator phone drew attention for its return to tactile design, featuring a built-in physical keyboard.

LAS VEGAS / HANOI — The defining narrative of CES 2026 is not merely the ubiquity of Artificial Intelligence, but a fundamental strategic pivot: the migration of AI from the digital cloud to the physical world. As industry titans like Nvidia move to establish an “Android for robotics” framework—underscored by high-profile industrial partnerships with the likes of Caterpillar—the global tech race has shifted. The focus is no longer on generative chatbots, but on integrating intelligence into the "embodied AI" that powers construction machinery, autonomous fleets, and industrial automation.

For Vietnam, this evolution presents a critical inflection point for its dual role as a global manufacturing hub and a rising software outsourcing destination. To remain competitive, Vietnamese manufacturers must aggressively upgrade production lines to accommodate the sophisticated hardware components required by the next generation of robotics.

Simultaneously, the country’s tech talent pool—particularly AI engineers and systems programmers—faces a surge in demand. The new mandate will be the development of control software and real-time applications that bridge the gap between digital models and physical systems. Vietnamese firms are well-positioned to secure niche markets by localizing and customizing global AI models for specialized industrial sectors across Asia.

Furthermore, the projected dominance of advanced architectures, such as Nvidia’s Rubin, underscores the geopolitical and economic necessity for Vietnam to move up the value chain. Hanoi’s strategic ambitions in semiconductor manufacturing and integrated circuit (IC) design are no longer just aspirational; they are essential requirements for participation in a global supply chain increasingly defined by physical automation.

The surge of AI and robotics at CES 2026 may not have an immediate, direct impact on traditional Vietnamese-American cornerstones like the nail salon industry or phở restaurants, but it highlights a significant evolution within the community. There is a growing wave of Vietnamese-American engineers, tech professionals, and entrepreneurs making their mark in high-tech sectors. For the younger generation in Little Saigon and across the U.S. currently pursuing STEM careers—whether they are second-generation citizens or newcomers arriving on H-1B or EB-5 visas—this event serves as both a benchmark and a source of inspiration, showcasing vast professional opportunities that extend well beyond our community’s historical business strongholds.