When AI stopped being a tool and became a partner – CES trends shaping our future

When AI stopped being a tool and became a partner – CES trends shaping our future  

Every year, I look forward to the CES in Las Vegas – the world’s premier consumer electronics showcase. This year’s show didn’t disappoint with an impressive array of innovation. From humanoid robots promising to handle household chores, to tri-fold smartphones, laptops with extending screens and creaseless OLED displays, to Lego’s Smart Brick – CES was again a global barometer for technological innovation. Yet beneath the excitement of these consumer-facing innovations, I observed deeper trends that will fundamentally shape our future.

1. From hype to market maturity: AI becomes invisible

While some might look for a single ‘defining’ moment of CES 2026, the truth is that the year of the single ‘Big Bang’ is over. This year, we witnessed a simultaneous explosion of breakthroughs across every sector. From the arrival of truly capable humanoid robotics to the integration of seamless ‘Physical AI’ in our homes, there were so many paradigm-shifting AI-related innovations that it became impossible to crown just one. Experimentation with AI has matured into a total, industry-wide revolution. AI is no longer an abstract concept – it now permeates every industry branch, be it healthcare, mobility, manufacturing, or smart homes. 

The goal now is “invisible interaction” with AI. We’re moving beyond chatbots and standalone applications toward systems where AI operates seamlessly in the background. On-device AI is becoming standard: PCs, smartphones, and wearables can perform inference locally, processing data directly on the device rather than relying solely on cloud computing. This shift toward AI at the edge – a topic I’ve explored in one of my previous blogs – brings critical advantages in latency, privacy, and energy efficiency.

Embedding thinking and decision-making capabilities directly into devices brings along a fundamental transformation in our relationship with technology: from users and tools to genuine collaboration and co-working. AI is transitioning from something we consciously activate to an ambient presence that proactively anticipates our needs.

2. From investment to ROI: AI to deliver tangible economic value

AI’s maturity extends beyond technology to economics. AI is being pragmatically integrated directly into applications rather than existing as isolated models and systems. This shift makes AI easier to monetize and has the potential to transform it into a genuine economic factor.

Consider the examples across industries: In manufacturing, predictive maintenance systems prevent costly downtime by identifying potential failures before they occur. In healthcare, continuous patient monitoring systems provide real-time insights that improve outcomes while reducing hospital stays. These aren’t futuristic concepts – they’re operational realities delivering measurable returns.

In a recent Handelsblatt interview, US economist Joseph Stiglitz attributed economic growth in the United States to the AI boom and datacenter construction. Do we see a one-time boost to the economy without sustainable economic impact? Or does this mark a first step toward the 10% global GDP growth that Microsoft’s Satya Nadella has defined as benchmark for AI’s economic impact? In my point of view, AI creates value, but it remains to be seen how quickly organizations can translate its enormous potential into sustainable business models and corresponding growth. 

3. Breakthroughs happen through ecosystems, not silos

One of the most striking themes at CES 2026 was the emphasis on collaboration. Progress accelerates when science, technology, and practice work hand in hand. 

In semiconductor development, collaborative AI-powered approaches are accelerating materials testing by a factor of five. This isn’t simply about faster computers – it’s about fundamentally reimagining how we discover and optimize new material formulations. AI expands the design space, automates complex verification tasks, and extracts insights from vast datasets at scales previously impossible. However, as discussions at CES made clear, human judgment remains indispensable. AI acts as a force multiplier for scientists, not a replacement.

The same dynamic is transforming drug as well as material discovery. We’re moving toward AI-amplified methods that deliver answers through comprehensive data processing, pattern recognition, and digital simulation. The result: faster, higher‑confidence decisions in early drug discovery, with AI enabling months‑rather‑than‑years cycles for target identification and prioritization – and improving success rates by focusing development resources on the most promising therapeutic opportunities. 

4. Convergence: where biology meets silicon

Perhaps the most profound trend I observed at CES 2026 was the convergence of domains. Data processing and digital simulation – combined with scientific expertise that has always been foundational – are merging into an integrated research model that’s fundamentally changing how we discover and develop new solutions.

Consider the challenge: On average, bringing a new drug to market takes more than a decade, costs an estimated $2 - 3 billion, and has an overall probability of success below 10%. A major reason? We can’t accurately predict how human organs will respond to new drug candidates until we reach costly human trials.

Our Microphysiological System (MPS) technology platform addresses this by combining human organoid biology with advanced semiconductor chips. These systems aim to accurately mimic human body responses to new drug candidates. This dynamic, microfluidic-based platform replicates blood flow and cell sheer stress found in the human body while simultaneously providing continuous, sensor-driven insights that open new pathways to personalized medicine while reducing uncertainties early in development.

We’re witnessing the shift from biological discovery to biological engineering – a transformation driven by the convergence of biology, AI and high-performance computing.

Looking ahead

CES 2026 reinforced a conviction I’ve held throughout my career: true innovation happens when deep scientific understanding is combined with digital systems, data, and human ingenuity – and turned into real world impact. Whether it’s the advanced materials enabling AI chips, the display technologies powering augmented reality, or the Microphysiological System accelerating drug discovery, our science and technology touch the foundational layers that make innovation possible.

The future belongs to companies that can bridge domains, connect ecosystems, and translate scientific excellence into real-world impact. As I prepare to lead Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Group into its next chapter, I’m energized by the opportunities ahead – and confident that our integrated approach across Life Science , Healthcare, and Electronics positions us to shape the technologies that will transform how we live, work, and heal.