CES Media Days 2026
CES 2026 Media Days Recap: LEGO's Smart Revolution and Hyundai's Robot Army
The CES 2026 media days are in the books, and what a whirlwind it’s been. From revolutionary LEGO technology to humanoid robots ready for mass production, here’s what went down—and what you absolutely need to see when the conference floor opens.
The Unveiled Event: Chaos Over Substance
Kicking off the media days, the Unveiled event delivered on the chaos but fell short on the jaw-dropping moments. While plenty of exciting companies showcased their innovations, the sheer volume of attendees made it nearly impossible to get close to anything meaningful. Tables were mobbed, and frankly, most of what was on display wasn’t groundbreaking enough to warrant the crush. It set the stage, but it wasn’t the main act.
LEGO: Building the Future, One Smart Brick at a Time
Now this is where things got interesting. LEGO’s announcement is genuinely revolutionary for the company. Their new Smart Brick technology allows bricks to be programmed with a simple click, interact with each other, and remain intuitive for both kids and adults. The potential applications across LEGO’s entire product line are staggering—this is just the beginning.
In a power move, LEGO brought out executives from Disney and Lucasfilm to announce that LEGO Star Wars sets will be the first to feature Smart Play technology, launching this March. If you’re a LEGO fan or a parent, this is the innovation you’ve been waiting for.
Hyundai: The Robotics Bombshell
I walked into the Hyundai event expecting new car tech. What I got was something far more significant.
Turns out, Hyundai is a major investor in Boston Dynamics (news to me!), and they just unveiled the production model of Atlas—the humanoid robot—for the first time. While the demo unit was stationary, they brought out a working beta model to showcase its capabilities, complete with dancing Spot robots as an opener.
Here’s what makes this groundbreaking: Hyundai will produce over 30,000 Atlas units per year. They’re collaborating with Google DeepMind and NVIDIA to create one of the world’s first fully capable humanoid robots.
The specs are impressive:
- Reaches over 7 feet tall
- Lifts over 100 lbs
- Operates in temperatures from -4°F to 104°F
- Water-resistant
- Self-swapping dual batteries with ~4 hours of combined runtime
This isn’t a concept. This is happening.
Sony Honda Afeela: High Expectations, Modest Delivery
After the excitement of LEGO and Hyundai, the Sony Honda event felt… flat. While the vehicle concept is solid, the focus on PlayStation streaming in-car, PlayStation-themed sounds, and Qualcomm-powered AI just didn’t deliver the “wow” factor I was hoping for after the previous presentations. I ended up leaving before it wrapped—not out of disrespect, but because I’d seen the highlights, and they weren’t highlight-worthy enough.
What to Watch at CES 2026
Here’s your must-see list for the conference days:
Hyundai’s Robot Demos: The Atlas robots will be live on the show floor. Do not miss this.
LEGO Smart Play Demos: LEGO will have hands-on demos, but word is you’ll need to reserve your time slot in advance. Plan accordingly.
Samsung Display: They’re showcasing foldable displays with no creases. If that’s real, it’s a game-changer.
LG Display: I didn’t make it to their unveiling this year, but LG’s booth is always a spectacle worth visiting.
Hidden Gems in the Outer Wings: Don’t sleep on the smaller brands. Case in point: Sense Robot, a company I’d never heard of until Unveiled, had an incredible chess robot with smooth robotics and impressive gameplay. These under-the-radar companies typically set up in the outer wings and different floors of the convention center—they’re worth the trek.
What's Next
Tomorrow, I’ll be at The Sphere with the CEOs of NVIDIA, Lenovo, Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and more. Stay tuned for exclusive coverage all week long.