AI Titans and Industrial Giants Set the Tone: CES 2026 Keynotes Map Out the Future of the Global Tech Economy

CES 2026 will open in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9, 2026, bringing together global technology leaders, policymakers, and innovators to outline the next chapter of the AI-powered digital economy. While the exhibition officially runs for four days, the most influential keynotes are scheduled between January 5 and 7 (Las Vegas time), framing the strategic direction of the event and the broader tech industry.

Flagship Keynote Lineup

The CES 2026 keynote stage is headlined by some of the most powerful figures in semiconductors, industrial technology, media, and heavy equipment, underscoring how AI is reshaping every sector. AMD Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su will deliver the official opening keynote, setting the tone for the show with AMD’s vision for next-generation AI computing across data centers, PCs, and edge devices. Other high-profile speakers include Siemens CEO Roland Busch, Havas and Vivendi executive Yannick Bolloré, Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang, and Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed, alongside leaders from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), McKinsey, General Catalyst, ŌURA, and prominent investors such as Jason Calacanis.

Keynote Schedule and Themes

The centerpiece opening keynote by Dr. Lisa Su is scheduled for the evening of January 5 at The Venetian/Palazzo ballroom, where AMD is expected to showcase its latest AI-centric processors and platforms aimed at powering everything from cloud services to immersive consumer experiences. On the same day, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will host a special session focused on AI, advanced simulation, gaming, and content creation, highlighting the company’s expanding role as a core enabler of the AI era.

On January 6, the CTA’s “State of the Industry” session will be paired with a keynote from Siemens CEO Roland Busch, emphasizing the convergence of AI, automation, and digital twins in manufacturing, infrastructure, and smart cities. That day will also feature a C Space keynote from Havas, spotlighting how data, AI, and new platforms are transforming media, advertising, and content businesses, followed by Lenovo’s major evening event at the Las Vegas Sphere, where Yuanqing Yang will present the company’s “Smarter AI for All” strategy, including sports and World Cup–related applications.

The January 7 program will see Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed take the stage to illustrate how AI, autonomy, and connectivity are redefining construction and heavy industry, from job sites to large-scale infrastructure projects. In parallel, senior U.S. government and CTA leaders, including the president’s science and technology adviser and CTA’s Kinsey Fabrizio, will discuss “America’s AI Future,” focusing on regulation, innovation, and national competitiveness in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Strategic Focus of CES 2026

Collectively, the CES 2026 keynotes make clear that the event is no longer just a showcase of futuristic gadgets but a strategic forum for operational, scalable, and regulated AI deployment across real-world industries. Chipmakers such as AMD and NVIDIA are positioning their hardware and platforms as the foundational infrastructure of the AI economy, while companies like Siemens, Lenovo, Havas, and Caterpillar demonstrate how that infrastructure translates into new services, business models, and productivity gains on the ground. At the same time, the presence of consulting firms, investors, and government officials on the keynote stage underscores that policy, governance, and capital allocation are now as central to the tech conversation as the underlying engineering breakthroughs themselves.