CES 2026 was all about ‘physical AI’ and robots, robots, robots

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, from Boston Dynamic’s newly redesigned Atlas humanoid robot to AI-powered ice cream makers (yes, really). The companies present clearly want consumers to know: AI is no longer just able to answer questions. He’s ready to move car parts in factories, capture drones with net guns and dance in the booths of car manufacturers.

Today on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane break down everything we saw at CES 2026, and more deals from the week that caught our attention.

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