The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 has signaled a shift in focus away from consumer technology, raising concerns among PC hardware enthusiasts. Notably, AMD's new Ryzen 7 9850X3D received no mention during the keynote, which primarily targeted institutional partners and enterprise buyers rather than retail consumers.
Major players like AMD and Nvidia showcased AI infrastructure and data-center ambitions, overshadowing consumer interests. AMD's presentation featured prominent partners such as OpenAI and Blue Origin, emphasizing their commitment to shareholders rather than end users. This trend was echoed by Nvidia, which did not announce any new consumer GPUs for the first time in five years, marking a clear departure from their previous consumer-focused keynotes.
As the tech landscape evolves, CES 2026 reflects a worrying precedent where the industry’s largest events prioritize corporate interests. The saturation of AI across all sectors, from appliances to computing, highlights a growing disconnect with the everyday consumer's needs.