NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang delivered his highly anticipated keynote address at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on January 5, 2026, showcasing the company's latest innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and computing technology. As the world's most valuable publicly traded company with a staggering $4.6 trillion valuation, NVIDIA's announcements set the tone for what promises to be a transformative year in technology.
The 90-minute presentation, delivered at 4 PM Eastern Time, focused heavily on what NVIDIA calls "physical AI" – artificial intelligence systems designed to interact with and understand the real world. Huang unveiled new developments in the company's Cosmos foundation model platform, which is designed to accelerate how AI systems are built and deployed across various industries.
"2026 will be the year that AI moves from the cloud to the physical world," Huang declared to the packed audience. "We're witnessing the dawn of a new era where robots, autonomous vehicles, and intelligent machines will become part of our everyday lives." The presentation included more than 20 demonstrations showcasing cutting-edge applications in data centers, robotics, simulation, gaming, and content creation.
Industry analysts from Wedbush Securities, led by Dan Ives, highlighted the significance of Huang's focus on data centers and autonomous technology. "This is a critical year for Nvidia's AI strategy," Ives noted. "The company is positioning itself not just as a chip maker, but as the foundational infrastructure provider for the entire AI economy."
The CES 2026 keynote comes after a remarkable year for NVIDIA, whose stock performance has made it the poster child of the AI revolution. The company's graphics processing units (GPUs) have become essential components in data centers worldwide, powering everything from ChatGPT to complex scientific simulations.
While many observers expected updates on next-generation consumer GPUs, NVIDIA's messaging suggested the keynote would focus primarily on enterprise and industrial applications. The company's website stated that Huang would share "what's next in AI," leading analysts to speculate that consumer hardware announcements might be saved for later events.
The broader CES 2026 conference, which officially opens on January 6, is expected to feature robotics as a major theme. Kinsey Fabrizio, president of the Consumer Technology Association, confirmed that "Robotics is going to be talked about big time at CES." Other major announcements at the show include LG's ultra-thin OLED evo W6 Wallpaper TV and Samsung's 6K glasses-free 3D display.
NVIDIA's dominance in the AI chip market has attracted significant attention from competitors and regulators alike. The company's success has spurred Intel, AMD, and numerous startups to accelerate their own AI chip development programs, promising a more competitive landscape in the years ahead.
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