The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) signalled a decisive shift in how technology anticipates, interprets and shapes human decision-making.
From intelligent home systems to adaptive screens, in-vehicle assistants and AI-enhanced wearables, this year’s innovations demonstrated a world where artificial intelligence is no longer an added feature, but the core logic powering consumer experiences.
What once felt like isolated advancements now converges into a cohesive ecosystem: devices learning in real time, processing context on-device and mediating choices with increasing autonomy.
AI is becoming the operating system for daily decision journeys by interpreting intent, generating signals and influencing what gets suggested, selected and trusted.
In the days following CES, countless hot-takes have attempted to capture “the future of AI.” But cutting through the noise, several trends emerged with clear immediate implications for media, marketing and consumer engagement.
Rather than re-state announcements, our article highlights the shifts we believe will have the most profound industry impact.
- Signal Ownership: How AI-Powered TVs Are Turning Television into a Programmatic Marketplace.
- In-Car AI Automation: When Navigation Becomes Negotiation.
- Meta Ray-Ban Display: When a Simple Journey Generates Continuous Brand Signals.
- From Media Buying to Decision Influence: The Signal Stack Revealed.
