Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, anticipates groundbreaking advancements in robotics this year, stating that we will witness “some pretty amazing things.” His remarks highlight the rapid evolution of AI technologies, promising robots with human-like capabilities that could transform various industries. As the tech landscape evolves, these advancements fueled by Nvidia's innovations may redefine automation and human-robot interactions, significantly impacting the workforce and everyday life.
China's regulatory body has announced an investigation into Meta's recent acquisition of AI startup Manus, citing concerns over competition and market dominance. The acquisition, valued at approximately $300 million, aims to enhance Meta's AI capabilities. Analysts stress the importance of market transparency, with technology expert Mei Zhao stating, "Ensuring fair competition is vital for innovation." This scrutiny highlights China's growing focus on regulating foreign tech mergers within its borders.
Arm has launched a new “Physical AI” unit, reorganizing its business to deepen its push into robotics and automotive technology. The move comes as humanoid robots dominate the show, with companies demonstrating machines for factory work and everyday tasks. Physical AI will combine Arm’s automotive and robotics efforts, reflecting shared needs like safety, power efficiency, and reliability. Arm sees robotics as a major long-term growth driver and plans to expand staffing as demand accelerates.
At CES 2026, executives Bob Sternfels of McKinsey & Company and Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst emphasized how AI is rapidly transforming the workforce, stating, “The world has completely changed.” Taneja cited Anthropic’s growth from a $60 billion to “a couple hundred billion” valuation in just a year, foreseeing new trillion-dollar companies. They stressed that continuous skilling and adaptability are crucial for success, as traditional career paths become obsolete.
OpenAI has unveiled ChatGPT Health, designed to securely integrate users' medical records and wellness applications. This initiative aims to enhance health awareness, providing users personalized health insights without replacing professional medical advice. OpenAI emphasizes that ChatGPT Health serves as a supportive tool for health management. By prioritizing user privacy and data security, the platform seeks to empower individuals while maintaining their trust in healthcare professionals. This development marks a significant step in AI-assisted health technology.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently urged a shift in perception regarding AI, from being viewed as "slop" to "bicycles for the mind." In his blog, he emphasized that AI should enhance human potential rather than substitute it. Nadella pointed to a need for a new equilibrium in understanding AI's role, despite concerns of rising unemployment due to automation. His call reflects a broader industry dialogue on leveraging AI as productivity tools instead of job threats, all amid evolving job market dynamics.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk aim to establish solar-powered AI data centres in space, addressing Earth’s resource limitations. However, Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, cautions that the rise of on-device AI could render such projects obsolete. Speaking on a podcast, he asserts, “The biggest threat to data centres comes from growing on-device capabilities.” As technology evolves, AI may increasingly operate directly on personal devices, shifting the landscape dramatically.
Google DeepMind and Boston Dynamics are collaborating to enhance the Atlas humanoid robot, with plans to shift from demonstrative showcases to real-world industrial applications. The partnership focuses on creating visual-language-action models that improve robot adaptability in dynamic environments. The latest Atlas, unveiled at CES 2026, will begin deployment with Hyundai Motor Group and Google DeepMind. DeepMind is aggressively hiring, including former Boston Dynamics CTO Aaron Saunders, to accelerate robotics integration.
Google and Microsoft are implementing revised performance evaluation frameworks, prioritizing AI investments over broad employee rewards. Google's new GRAD system expands top ratings but reduces bonuses for "Significant Impact" and "Moderate Impact" employees. Similarly, Microsoft has eliminated DEI from assessments, focusing on security contributions, which recently led to layoffs of 2,300 staff. Analysts suggest these changes serve dual purposes: boosting accountability and subtly shrinking the workforce, reflecting a shift towards prioritizing measurable results in a competitive landscape.
AMD unveils the Helios Rack, featuring a 72-GPU setup aimed at challenging Nvidia's dominance in AI. CEO Lisa Su emphasized the next-generation MI500 series, targeting a performance increase of nearly 1,000 times over the MI300X. Despite Nvidia's 30% stock growth in 2025, AMD's data center revenue surged by 122% year-over-year, reaching $3.5 billion. The competitive landscape suggests an imminent reduction in AI hardware costs as AMD projects a data center market worth $1 trillion by 2030.