CES 2026 recap with Marc Aflalo and Mitchell Whitfield, covering the shift from AI buzzwords to real outcomes, the return of BlackBerry-style typing with Clicks, Pebble’s comeback with a color e-ink watch and a $70 voice memo ring, LG’s household robot, Dell reviving XPS, Samsung’s trifold and a no-crease folding display preview, and Lego Smart Bricks that add lights, sound, sensors, and on-brick logic.

Marc and Mitchell kick off the new year with CES, and a simple question: what will actually show up in real life after the hype?

They agree the tone around AI changed. AI is still everywhere, but brands are selling results instead of shouting “AI.” Marc points to privacy concerns and recent headlines as part of the reason. The show floor feels less like one giant theme and more like a mix of ideas that let people chase what interests them.

They run through the biggest standouts.

Clicks returns with two products. First, an updated MagSafe slide-out QWERTY keyboard accessory that works across devices. Second, the Clicks Communicator, a prototype Android 16 phone built around distraction-free communication, with a stripped-down interface and a clear “secondary device” pitch. Mitchell likes the idea, but questions whether most people want to carry two phones.

Pebble makes a comeback at CES with the Pebble Round 2, a round watch with a full color e-ink display, built as an accessory, not a phone replacement. They also flag Pebble’s new smart ring, priced around $70 to $75, with a microphone for quick voice memos and one-button reminders, positioned as a lower-cost, less intrusive option compared to higher-priced rings.

Robots show up again, this time with a practical angle. Marc calls out LG’s household robot, aimed at folding laundry, helping with kitchen tasks, and interacting with smart appliances. Mitchell immediately jumps to security risks, then lands on the real question: cost. These robots need to become mainstream enough to stop feeling like luxury items.

Dell revives the XPS brand in a more serious way than a simple rebrand. Marc highlights the clean XPS branding, new 14- and 16-inch models, and fixes to past complaints. Mitchell adds that XPS still matters for people who want high-end performance without the gamer look.

Samsung’s Galaxy Trifold gets its official moment, but the bigger story is the booth teaser, a folding screen preview with no visible crease. They both want real video proof, not marketing images. The conversation turns to hinge engineering, materials, and the likely premium pricing of folding hardware.

Then they hit the moment Mitchell has been waiting for: Lego Smart Bricks. They describe bricks with chips that recognize other bricks, plus built-in lights, sounds, music, and sensors that detect movement, rotation, pressure, and orientation. Marc adds the key detail: logic can run on the bricks themselves, triggering actions when parts tilt, separate, or reconnect. They predict companion app control, Bluetooth customization, and a big wave of sets starting with Star Wars, then Marvel.

Subscribe and follow Your Tech Report for ongoing CES 2026 follow-ups, including interviews with CTA’s Allie Fried and more guests from the show floor, plus check-ins with companies featured in past years.

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CES 2026 is back in full force. Marc Aflalo speaks with Allie Fried live from the show floor about the energy at CES, the expanded Las Vegas Convention Center, the shift from AI hype to real outcomes, humanoid robots, accessibility breakthroughs, startups at Eureka Park, and why CES still matters to business and humanity.

After three intense days on the CES 2026 show floor, Allie Fried joins Marc Aflalo to share what feels different this year. With 17 in-person CES events behind her, Allie describes a show that feels energized, optimistic, and more human-focused than ever.

They discuss the newly expanded Las Vegas Convention Center, including the debut of the Central Hall Grand Lobby, and how CES has evolved far beyond consumer electronics. From AI-powered agricultural equipment and construction machinery to mobility, digital health, and marine tech, CES now represents nearly every industry.

The conversation dives into the changing role of AI at CES. Instead of buzzwords, companies are focusing on outcomes and real benefits. AI has moved from headline feature to embedded teammate. Allie also shares standout moments from the robotics halls, including humanoid robots with improved balance, dexterity, and real-world use cases in hospitality and service industries.

One of the most meaningful highlights is accessibility technology. Allie describes a product designed for blind, low vision, and autistic users that uses smart glasses paired with a haptic wearable to interpret facial expressions. It is a powerful example of technology improving human connection.

They also explore the scale of CES business activity, including over 4,000 exhibitors, 2.6 million square feet of space, 1,400 startups at Eureka Park, and an average of 29 business meetings per attendee. The episode closes with reflections on CES’s economic impact on Las Vegas, the focus on digital health and longevity, and why CES no longer has one single theme, but an overarching focus on improving the human experience.

Chapters

0:00 – Live from CES 2026 with Allie Fried

0:58 – First impressions and show floor energy

1:43 – From TVs to every industry at CES

2:44 – AI hype vs real outcomes

3:12 – Robots, humanoids, and real-world use

4:42 – Can anyone actually see all of CES?

5:23 – Eureka Park and startup energy

6:35 – The business of CES and industry meetings

7:03 – Planning for CES 2027 already

7:44 – CES impact on Las Vegas post-pandemic

9:05 – Accessibility tech that stood out

10:44 – Final days on the show floor

11:39 – Is there a single theme for CES 2026?

Subscribe for more CES 2026 coverage, accessibility-focused tech conversations, and in-depth interviews from the people shaping what’s next.

Relevant Links

CES: https://www.ces.tech

Las Vegas Convention Center: https://www.lvcva.com

CTA Foundation Accessibility Stage: https://www.cta.tech

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CES 2026 trends take center stage in this conversation with tech journalist Jon Cohen. You hear how AI has shifted from hype to practical, on-device use, why privacy now matters more, and which products feel close to real-world adoption.

From the show floor in Las Vegas, Marc Aflalo sits down with Jon Cohen to unpack what CES 2026 actually delivered. AI is still everywhere, but the tone has changed. Companies now focus on local, on-device AI instead of cloud-first systems, driven by privacy concerns and faster processing power.

Jon highlights two future-facing ideas that stood out. The first is a non-invasive breath sensor that aims to estimate blood glucose levels using molecular analysis. It is still in clinical trials, but the potential impact for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes is clear. The second is a new generation of exoskeletons designed for daily life, work environments, and aging in place, rather than extreme activity or sports.

They also explore the rise of assistive and age-focused tech, the growing accessibility presence at CES, and why augmented reality glasses are evolving more quietly than expected. Jon shares insights on new smart glasses designs that address privacy concerns, the explosion of robots on the show floor, and even a blackjack-playing robot built for Vegas.

The conversation wraps with hands-on impressions of the Clicks physical keyboard phone, nostalgia-fueled BlackBerry design cues, and a clever new audio concept from Soundcore that blends open-ear listening with active noise cancelling.

Chapters

0:01 – CES 2026 overview and AI maturity

0:45 – On-device AI and privacy shift

2:45 – Non-invasive glucose monitoring by breath

4:44 – Exoskeletons for work and aging in place

6:17 – Accessibility and age tech at CES

7:00 – Smart glasses and privacy-first design

8:20 – Robots everywhere at CES

9:29 – AI ethics and public perception

10:48 – Gesture control and wearable interfaces

11:18 – Blackjack-playing robot in Las Vegas

11:36 – Clicks keyboard phone hands-on impressions

14:45 – Soundcore AeroFit Pro 2 audio concept

Like and subscribe for weekly coverage of tech, accessibility, and real-world innovation. New CES insights continue all year as these products reach the market.

Relevant Links

Jon Cohen website: https://johncohen.ca

This Is My Tech on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisIsMyTech

CES: https://www.ces.tech

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