To The Moon

1. Artificial Intelligence as the Central Theme

CES 2026 is widely characterised by the pervasive presence of artificial intelligence across sectors. AI technologies are expected to be showcased not merely as academic demonstrations but as tangible products and systems with real-world relevance in robotics, healthcare, mobility, entertainment, smart homes and productivity tools. This reflects a shift from novelty to practical deployment. 

2. Major Keynotes from Nvidia and AMD

Chief executives from Nvidia and AMD are both confirmed to speak at CES, signalling the strategic importance of the event for the industry. Their addresses are anticipated to outline broader AI strategies, with emphasis on next-generation hardware platforms, AI infrastructure and expanding use cases. 

3. New Chip Announcements and Roadmaps

Leading semiconductor vendors are expected to reveal or discuss new silicon:

Nvidia may highlight progress on the Blackwell and Rubin platforms, with specific reference to AI compute and robotics-focused capabilities.

AMD is anticipated to discuss products spanning cloud, enterprise, edge AI, and devices, including refreshed CPU and GPU offerings for AI workloads.

Intel and Qualcomm also figure into the chip narrative with new processors that target AI PCs and mobile AI applications.

These developments underscore an industry-wide push to harness advanced process technologies—predominantly TSMC’s 3 nm and 5 nm nodes—to deliver improved performance and efficiency in AI contexts. 

4. Broader Technology Trends

Beyond chips, CES 2026 will showcase innovations such as ultra-thin displays, AI-enhanced consumer electronics, automation solutions, digital health tools and energy technologies, indicating that AI integration extends across traditional product categories. 

Nvidia or AMD: Who Might Surprise Investors?

Nvidia

Nvidia is expected to anchor its CES presence around:

Consolidating leadership in data centre AI compute.

Extending its AI ecosystem through software platforms, agentic AI solutions, and robotics demonstrations.

Reinforcing its narrative that AI is shaping industries far beyond traditional personal computing.

Given Nvidia’s size and established position, surprises may take the form of expanded use cases or incremental but highly impactful announcements, rather than completely new product categories. The company’s presentations often emphasise ecosystem breadth, which could resonate strongly if matched with commercial traction. 

AMD’s keynote under Dr Lisa Su could deliver market-moving insights if it unveils:

Clear product roadmaps across cloud, enterprise and edge AI.

New Ryzen AI and GPU offerings that materially challenge Nvidia in performance or cost efficiency.

Strategic partnerships or ecosystem announcements that broaden its competitive position.

AMD’s announcements have potential to reshape investor expectations if they signal scaling into higher-end segments or carve out distinct advantages in areas like heterogeneous compute and mid-tier AI workloads. 

Comparative Outlook

Nvidia may surprise with application-level innovation and expanded ecosystem integration extending into robotics and autonomous systems.

AMD could surprise with competitive hardware in price-performance or broader enterprise/edge AI solutions that reposition it relative to Nvidia.

The intensity of market reaction will likely depend on the degree to which announcements translate into credible commercial roadmaps and adoption signals rather than visionary rhetoric alone. The broader tech landscape’s response at CES 2026 should provide a clearer sense of which narratives are gaining traction into 2026 earnings cycles and strategic investment decisions.