CES 2026: The Anti-Consumer Electronics Show with Steve Burke

A Disappointing CES 2026

• 📉 The consensus is that CES 2026 was the worst CES witnessed, characterized by a lack of genuine consumer news and an overemphasis on AI buzzwords.
• 💡 Keynotes from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel were described as repetitive, lacking substance, and failing to deliver significant new consumer-facing announcements.
• 🚫 The event felt like a departure from its consumer roots, with a strong focus on enterprise and government policy discussions, particularly around AI.

Nvidia's Keynote: Missed Opportunities

• ⏳ Nvidia's keynote, despite having actual news like DLSS 4.5, buried important consumer and enterprise updates deep within the presentation.
• 🌌 Significant time was dedicated to Nvidia's Omniverse, described as a platform for digital twins, but its practical application and benefits remained unclear to many.
• 🤖 The presentation included a lengthy segment with robots, which felt bizarre and disconnected, with Jensen Huang's interactions with them being particularly strange.

AMD and Intel: AI Dominance Over Innovation

• 📊 AMD's keynote featured a discussion with a White House advisor on AI regulation, overshadowing any actual product announcements like their new CPU refresh.
• 🏛️ Intel reannounced its Panther Lake CPU and discussed its new 18A process node, but these technical advancements received minimal airtime compared to AI discussions.
• 🚫 Both companies, like Nvidia, seemed to prioritize AI as a buzzword over showcasing tangible consumer benefits or technological breakthroughs.

The AI Hype and Its Consequences

• 🗣️ There's a pervasive feeling of gaslighting in the tech industry, with companies pushing AI narratives that feel disconnected from reality and user needs.
• 💸 The focus on AI has led to a