CES showed me why Chinese tech companies feel so optimistic

January 12, 2026

TL;DR

Chinese exhibitors accounted for nearly a quarter of companies at CES 2026, with a notable presence in AI hardware and robotics.
AI was the biggest theme at CES, with many products controversially marketing "added AI" features.
Consumer AI gadgets, particularly educational devices and emotional support toys, are emerging from China.
Chinese companies are leading in sophisticated household electronics, with brands dominating the US market for home cleaning robots.
Humanoid robots were a major attraction, with Chinese companies showcasing stability, balance, and dexterity in their designs.
Despite advancements, many humanoid robots are currently single-task focused and face challenges with real-world data for AI training.
China's manufacturing scale, supply chains, and adjacent industry expertise position it strongly in robotics and AI innovation.
Chinese tech companies are focusing on innovation across the tech stack, from end products to frameworks and cloud services.
Headline innovations at CES were in cloud platforms, ecosystems, and hybrid AI applications, with companies like Lenovo, Nvidia, and AMD introducing data-center solutions.
The prevailing strategy for Chinese tech companies is to build in China and sell to the world, viewing the US market as a proving ground.

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