By Barbara Smith
Photos: Earl Edwards

Antamix Photo: Edwards

CES 2026 once again underscored its role as the world’s most influential technology showcase, drawing more than 145,000 attendees from 160 countries and roughly 4,100 exhibitors to Las Vegas. Artificial intelligence dominated the show, not as abstract theory but as a practical tool shaping everyday life in wearables, robotics, and adaptive hardware.

Many of the headline devices reflected a shift toward usefulness over spectacle. The lightweight Rokid Style smart glasses, a 2026 CES-award winner, priced at $299, promise to be a worthy alternative to the Meta Ray-Ban models, emphasizing voice-driven AI rather than bulky displays. Assistive wearables like the .lumen Glasses for the Blind demonstrate how sensors can enhance mobility and independence for people with disabilities, using features that detect safe walking paths and direct the user with a gentle pull of the head simulating a guide dog. Samsung’s newly unveiled Galaxy Z Tri-Fold phone generated big buzz (yes, it opens to 3 panels, much like a brochure) as did Lenovo’s Legion Pro laptop, which amazingly expands from 16 inches to an impressive 21.5 inches at the press of a key. Such innovations highlight a growing emphasis on adaptability, allowing technology to conform to users’ needs. Robotics ranged from practical home tools to playful demonstrations, reinforcing how far AI reasoning and precision have advanced. The Sharpa blackjack-dealing robot drew large crowds with some attendees actually playing a simulated round of the card game as the robot dealt and collected cards and accurately determined winning hands. While entertaining, it also illustrates how far robotic reasoning and tactile sensitivity have advanced. The humanoid RealHand robots, performing a perfectly in-synch piano duet, highlighted fine motor control with implications far beyond entertainment, including prosthetics development and surgical training. Electric vehicles and automotive tech also maintained a strong presence, showcasing smarter, safer, and more personalized driving experiences.

Smart Watch Photo: Edwards

Yet amid the innovation, issues of representation remain front and center. While CES has increased its focus on inclusion, African American presence in tech continues to lag behind broader population numbers. According to The Black Chronicle, Black Americans represent 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for just 7 percent of tech workers and only 4 percent of tech executives. Attendee Malcolm Marzett, a Phoenix-based tech exec, noted the reality of navigating the convention halls as one of the few Black faces in the room. “It’s not like it’s not there,” he said of Black participation in tech, “but we just need to galvanize each other.”

Several prominent African American voices helped elevate conversations that connected technology, culture, and equity. NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson addressed social implications of emerging technologies, while tennis legend Serena Williams, a spokesperson for Lingo, an over-the-counter glucose monitoring device she uses, spoke about her work investing in inclusive innovation through her Serena Ventures. Williams’ focus on women and underrepresented founders reinforced the idea that diversity is not just a moral imperative but a driver of future growth. “I love investing in women,” she shared, “,,, in underrepresented founders, and I also love investing in the future.”

Entrepreneur and computer scientist Omi Bell, CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), led an Innovation for All panel exploring how AI is shaping culture, cities, and communities. Under Bell’s leadership, BGV has supported more than 400 underrepresented founders, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions in revenue and social capital. Panel discussions acknowledged AI’s dual reality for African American communities: significant promise in healthcare access and economic opportunity alongside serious risks of bias and inequity if these technologies are not developed intentionally.

Not everything at CES was futuristic. One of the most eye-catching non-tech sights came not from a booth, but from the streets—a bus driver stopped in traffic, calmly crocheting while waiting for the gridlock to ease. Despite all the innovation inside the convention halls, there is still no high-tech solution for Las Vegas traffic.

CES 2026 ultimately reflected an industry evolving beyond flash toward purpose with the most meaningful conversations centered on who is building the future of technology and who still needs greater access to the room where those decisions are made.