Every year, CES serves as a massive, high-decibel preview of where the world is headed. But in my role as Global Head of Automotive and Manufacturing at Globant, my job isn’t to just watch the spectacle; it’s to look past the neon and the hype to see what will actually move the needle for our customers and the broader industry.
I spent the last week in Las Vegas in constant conversation with OEMs, prospects, and experts, testing the reality of the tech on display against the strategic roadmaps we are building every day. Now that the dust has settled, it’s clear that we’ve reached a tipping point where the “possible” has finally become the “operational.” Here is what matters for 2026:
The “Experimental Era” of AI is officially over. We have entered the era of Deployment
In 2025, we talked about what AI could do. In 2026, we are seeing what it is doing on the assembly line and behind the wheel. We have moved past the “EV hype” into a hard-nosed, pragmatic reality where software-defined everything isn’t just a goal, it’s the baseline for survival.
Here are the five tectonic shifts from CES 2026 that every leader needs to internalize.
1. From “Connected” to “Agentic”: The Car as a Co-Pilot
The industry has finally moved beyond simple voice commands. At CES 2026, we saw the vision of the “Third Space” materialize through Agentic AI. Mercedes-Benz and BMW showcased vehicles that don’t just wait for instructions; they reason. By monitoring biometrics and cross-references, the car proactively adjusts the cabin and reroutes you in real time. The car is now a proactive partner.
2. The Invisible Revolution: Bosch’s Laser-Scanning AR
One of the most profound “aha” moments happened at the Bosch booth. For years, AR glasses have struggled with the “Cyborg” look. Bosch’s Light Drive system is a game-changer. Using a tiny MEMS-based laser scanner, it projects holographic-like info directly onto the wearer’s retina.
- The Industry Impact: In manufacturing, this is a total disruptor. Technicians on complex lines can receive hands-free, high-brightness schematics beamed directly into their field of vision without the fatigue of a heavy headset. It is the ultimate bridge between the digital twin and the physical worker.
3. “Physical AI”: The Rise of the Full-Stack Ecosystem
Walking through the West and North Halls, it was impossible to ignore the massive footprint of Chinese robotics firms like Unitree, AgiBot, and UBTech. We are no longer looking at prototypes; we are looking at a full-stack robotics ecosystem. With Unitree’s G1 performing everything from martial arts to assembly tasks at a fraction of the cost of Western competitors, the narrative has shifted from “can they do it?” to “how fast can they scale?” China’s dominance in sensors, actuators, and “Large Behavior Models” (LBMs) means they are now the ones setting the pace for industrial automation.
4. The “EV Realism” Pivot
2026 is the year of EV Realism. The show floor reflected a more sober approach to electrification. Automakers are now laser-focused on SDV (Software-Defined Vehicle) monetization. The focus has shifted from “How many EVs can we launch?” to “How can we make the software inside them profitable?” The revenue is no longer in the sale; it’s in the continuous, over-the-air evolution of the experience.
5. The Industrial Metaverse is Open for Business
Siemens’ launch of the Digital Twin Composer was a watershed moment. The “Metaverse” has finally found its killer app: Predictive Simulation. We saw giants like PepsiCo and automotive OEMs simulating entire factory upgrades in physics-perfect virtual worlds before moving a single piece of hardware. This reduces CAPEX by 15% and validates designs with 100% accuracy.
The Globant Perspective: Are You Ready for the “Physical” Turn?
At Globant, we’ve always said that technology is only as good as the human experience it enables. As I leave Las Vegas, my message to our partners is this:
The digital and physical worlds have finally merged. You cannot have a world-class manufacturing process without a world-class AI strategy. You cannot build a competitive vehicle without an agentic software architecture. The winners of 2026 won’t be the ones with the best hardware…they will be the ones who successfully bridge the gap between bits and atoms.
The future isn’t coming. After a week at CES 2026, I can tell you: It’s already on the road, and it’s already on the factory floor.
Are you driving, or are you just a passenger?
At Globant, we want CPG industry leaders to be the drivers, not the passengers, of this transformation. Explore our CPG Studio and discover how AI-powered consumer goods and manufacturing companies stay ahead in this new era of phygital services and solutions.
