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 makers (yes, really). The companies in attendance clearly want consumers to know: AI isn't just capable of answering questions anymore. It's ready to movecar parts in factories, catchcatching drones with net guns, and dance in automaker booths. 

 

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 eye. 

 

Listen to the full episode to hear about:  

• Discord’s rumored IPO, years after shutting down a Microsoft acquisition 

• xAI's massive $20 billion raise and the dark side of Grok's content moderation failures 

• How Mobileye is getting into the humanoid robotics game with its acquisition of Mentee Robotics 

• OpenAI's potential shift toward audio-first, screenless AI experiences 

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. 

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