Futuresource announces its 'what to expect at CES' Future Sessions video, previewing the year ahead for consumer electronics

CES 2026 is almost here, and the consumer tech world is awash with stories of the next shiny devices, where the value is moving, how AI is being embedded, and what happens when hardware stops being the main differentiator.

In the second Futuresource Future Sessions CES video, CES 2026 and beyond: Previewing the year ahead for CE and Entertainment, Dave Watkins, Principal Analyst, chats with Rasika D’Souza, Guy Hammett and Simon Forrest. Together, the Futuresource team maps out the themes set to define the show floor in January, and the commercial realities that will crystallise as we move through 2026 and beyond.

Instead of running through product categories in isolation, the discussion connects the dots across personal electronics, home audio, AI compute and broader industry strategies, delivering a clearer view of what will emerge after the CES headlines fade.

What’s likely to change at CES 2026?

The Futuresource experts explore why 2026 may feel more evolutionary than previous years in personal electronics, even as AI becomes deeply woven into experiences. Expect a look at how hearing health and inclusive tech are moving mainstream, and why technologies like Auracast are rising up the agenda.

In home audio, the discussion leans into the tensions between convenience and quality, and how new technologies are trying to deliver both. Immersive formats, flexible rendering, and the growing role of software all feature, alongside the question many brands are now grappling with: how do you stand out when hardware starts to look and feel the same?

AI goes from headlines to hard economics

AI is central, but not as a buzzword, and it will pervade CES. Yet the panel tackles the real challenge of how to pay for AI. As on-device processing and edge intelligence open up new features, the cost of embedding AI is rising. At the same time, the consumer’s willingness to pay is far less clear-cut. That creates a big commercial dilemma for manufacturers, platform players and the silicon ecosystem that underpins them.

The new power shift, from devices to ecosystems

The conversation also widens to explore the value chain. As replacement cycles stretch and margins tighten, the panel examines how brands are pursuing revenue beyond the initial hardware sale, through ecosystems, services, partnerships and new monetisation routes. It’s a timely exploration of what it takes for smaller brands to compete in a landscape increasingly shaped by big tech.

You can watch the video right now. CES 2026 and beyond: Previewing the year ahead for CE and Entertainment gives you a sharper, more strategic view of what to look for at CES, and what it signals for the year ahead. Sign up to download here.

About Futuresource

Futuresource Consulting provides the insights that power the world’s leading technology and media companies. For more than 30 years we’ve been combining rigorous data, sector expertise and a forward-looking view of market change, to help organisations understand what’s happening, why it’s happening and what’s likely to come next. Our syndicated research, consulting services and industry partnerships span consumer electronics, entertainment, Pro AV, education and emerging technologies.

More information is available at www.futuresource-consulting.com .

Press Contact: Nicola Finn, Marketing Manager, Futuresource Consulting, nicola.finn@futuresource-hq.com