Self-Driving Technology and AI Take Center Stage at CES as Automakers Pull Back on EV Plans

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Autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence are expected to dominate this year’s CES trade show in Las Vegas, as automakers and investors look beyond electric vehicles for growth amid rising costs, safety concerns, and regulatory pressure.

With many carmakers scaling back electric vehicle strategies, suppliers and startups are using CES to showcase advances in self-driving hardware and software. Industry observers expect a wave of partnerships and announcements focused on reducing driver involvement — or eliminating the human driver altogether.

“This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous,” said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive industry leader at PwC, adding that the industry’s ability to deploy driverless technology safely will be closely scrutinized. He noted that connectivity and AI-driven autonomy will be “front and center” at the event.

AI is also spreading well beyond vehicles, with applications ranging from robotics and wearable devices to smart home systems and healthcare technology. Among the headline speakers at CES are Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Lisa Su of Advanced Micro Devices.

CES 2026 runs from January 6 to 9 and has in recent years become a major platform for automakers to debut new EVs. This year, however, the show will feature far fewer electric vehicle launches. A rollback of EV-friendly incentives under the Trump administration — including the removal of a $7,500 tax credit — has cooled consumer demand and forced automakers to rethink their strategies. As a result, most major manufacturers are not planning new EV unveilings at CES, marking a sharp shift from previous editions.

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Despite years of heavy investment, commercializing autonomous vehicles has proven difficult. Regulatory hurdles, high development costs, and investigations following crashes have pushed several companies out of the market. Still, momentum has returned following Tesla’s limited robotaxi rollout in Austin and the continued expansion of Waymo, owned by Alphabet.

Advanced driver-assistance systems have also improved, with hands-free highway driving and automated lane changes becoming more common. Automakers such as Rivian are aiming to introduce “eyes-off” driving features and autonomous operation on city streets.

At the same time, cost pressures remain a major concern. Automakers are reassessing capital spending after absorbing billions of dollars in EV-related write-downs and grappling with tariffs on imported vehicles and parts. Many have chosen to absorb tariff costs rather than pass them on to consumers, squeezing profit margins.

“The main theme we expect to see emerging at CES is cost and cost competitiveness,” said Felix Stellmaszek, global automotive and mobility leader at Boston Consulting Group, noting that competition from Chinese automakers is also weighing on industry strategies.

Investors Look Beyond Big Tech in 2026 as AI Rally Shows Signs of Maturity

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Global investors are expected to turn to undervalued areas of the market in 2026 as concerns grow that the artificial intelligence rally has become crowded and expensive, according to analysts. While U.S. equities recovered to record highs in late 2025 after volatility tied to tariffs from Donald Trump, strategists say gains going forward will require greater selectivity.

Strategists at BlackRock say the environment favors active investing, with opportunities emerging outside highly valued technology stocks. U.S. small-cap shares are seen as potential beneficiaries as earnings growth improves and borrowing costs ease, helped by expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in 2026.

Gold is also attracting attention after its strongest year since the late 1970s. Analysts at major banks forecast further upside, supported by central bank buying and diversification away from the U.S. dollar, though gains may come at a slower pace than in 2025.

Sector-wise, healthcare and financials are viewed as attractive. Analysts point to policy support, growth in weight-loss drugs, rising merger activity and deregulation as potential tailwinds, particularly for mid-sized banks with relatively low valuations.

A weaker dollar could also lift emerging market assets and currencies, while corporate and high-yield bond markets are expected to remain active as companies seek financing for acquisitions and AI-related data center investments.

Overall, analysts say 2026 is likely to reward investors willing to look past headline AI names and focus on value, diversification and fundamentals as the market cycle evolves.

Dell Revives XPS Brand With New Laptops to Regain PC Market Share

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Dell has brought back its XPS laptop lineup, reversing a decision made last year to retire the premium brand, as it seeks to revive demand in a sluggish global PC market.

Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show, the new XPS 14 and XPS 16 are Dell’s thinnest laptops yet, with plans to introduce a lighter XPS 13 later this year. The move follows what Dell executives described as “very broad” feedback from partners and customers who favored the XPS name.

Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke acknowledged the misstep, saying Dell had been wrong to abandon the brand when it consolidated products under the Dell and Dell Pro labels.

The revived XPS models target the premium segment, where Dell faces stiff competition from HP and Lenovo. Prices start at $2,049.99 for the XPS 14 and $2,199.99 for the XPS 16 in the U.S. and Canada.

Both laptops use Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors with integrated Arc graphics, which Dell says significantly boost AI and graphics performance over prior generations.

Dell also said it is simplifying its branding strategy, keeping entry-level and mainstream devices under the Dell name, premium systems under XPS, and gaming products under Alienware, as it looks to better position itself in a crowded PC market.