Did you know that? The first VCR Debuted at CES in 1970? The tech trade show has always been about what’s next, but over the past few years, it’s also become a car show – the most important one we cover here at InsideEVs. But this year, we expect much less from battery-powered cars and much more from the industry’s favorite new buzzword: “physical AI.”
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Now we’re back in action, covering the biggest trade show in the tech industry. I’m here and so is Kevin Williams, and we’ll be bringing you updates throughout the week. For now, here’s what’s on our radar.
25%: The era of “physical AI” is now here for cars, in one form or another
General Motors Center for Autonomous Robotics – Cobot
Photo by: General Motors
That’s the thing about CES: it showcases fantasies as much as what’s next. People have had VCRs (if you don’t know what they are, ask a grandparent or nearby millennial) in their homes for decades. I’m still waiting for flying cars to become a thing. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take what you see in this demo with a grain of salt. Or a gallon of it.
However, there is an undeniable trend happening in the automotive industry right now: the convergence of cars, autonomous driving, robotics, and artificial intelligence. “Physical AI” is the buzzword on everyone’s lips, just as the phrase “software-defined vehicle” was a decade ago. The term refers to artificial intelligence technologies that go beyond software and exist in the real world, actually moving and performing all kinds of tasks.
You may remember a few months ago when General Motors held a big presentation in New York about its future technologies, including… Eyes off Super Cruisein-car AI assistants, and eventually, vehicles smart enough to do so Get your dry cleaning done when you’re not at it. The car as a kind of personal robot, in other words; This is physical AI.
Of course, to do this, you need advanced artificial intelligence, cutting-edge chips, next-generation sensors like lidar and radar, and better batteries. But it appears that the focus of the show will be less on individual cars and in-car technology, As was the case in 20232024 and last yearAnd more about automating mobility itself and turning cars into something more.
Again, it all seems very conceptual, especially at a time when people are just looking for less expensive ways to get their kids to school on time. But that shift is happening now, even if it looks like a Wall Street play rather than a concrete product plan. No wonder that The main event features Jensen HuangCEO of Nvidia, who is Now auto power By itself.
50%: The debut we expect, from Afeela to Zoox
Sony-Honda Avila 1 CES 2025
Photo by: Sony Honda Mobility
So what car news can we expect from the show? Well, CES mainstay Sony Honda Mobility will be back with updates to its upcoming Afeela brand. The EV joint venture will bring “exciting new updates to its first model, Avila 1is now offered as a pre-production model, showcasing an all-new concept model.”
Alphabet-owned Waymo will have a booth at the show, though it’s not immediately clear if it will make any announcements there. Maybe expansions to new cities? Chinese car company Geely It will be around as well. BMW will display New category EV platform And the new iX3, meaning Mercedes-Benz can’t miss it either; The show will mark the American debut of the new product GLC electric SUV.
I would add that Las Vegas has it now Zoox wheel-free Robotaxi roams around the city. We got a short ride last year, but in 2026, taxis look ready for prime time. I hope to report on one of the Amazon-owned taxis later this week and will let you know when I do.
75%: Hyundai wants to become a robotics powerhouse
Photo by: Hyundai
Then there’s Hyundai, which wants to show off a car that looks almost like a Tesla (Or like Xpeng) An automated and AI-powered future that goes beyond cars. Hyundai’s press conference will be held later this afternoon and we’ll be dropping some updates as they happen. But remember: The Korean automaker also owns robotics giant Boston Dynamics and uses some of its machines in factories already, so we expect Hyundai to double down there.
Until then, here it is Korea Herald With more:
At the CES Media Day on Monday, Hyundai Motor will present its AI robotics strategy under the theme “Partnering in Human Progress: AI Robots, Beyond the Laboratory Scale to Everyday Life.” Among the highlights of the event: the world’s first live public demonstration of the next generation humanoid robot Atlas, developed by Boston Dynamics, a US-based subsidiary of Hyundai Robotics. The all-electric Atlas system replaces hydraulic actuation with advanced electrical systems, enabling more precise movement, including joints capable of 360-degree rotation.
Beyond hardware upgrades, the Atlas reflects a shift toward learning-based control. The robot incorporates reinforcement learning, allowing it to improve movements through trial and error, a hallmark of physical AI that contrasts with static, pre-programmed movement systems.
Hyundai Motor will also unveil plans to expand its AI robotics ecosystem through its Software Defined Factory, a data and software-driven manufacturing model designed for maximum flexibility. By integrating robotics, vehicles, logistics and AI software, the group aims to position itself as a one-stop provider that includes robot development, training and deployment.
But what, if anything, will translate to the automotive space? This is what I want to know.
100%: In the future, your car will be a robot (maybe). How do you feel about this?
Photo by: Hyundai
See: It’s easy to see why automakers, some of the most powerful manufacturing operations on Earth, would want to move beyond the capital-intensive, heavily regulated, low-margin business of just making and selling cars. In fact, artificial intelligence has achieved tangible and amazing growth in the autonomous vehicle sector in just the past few years. I can definitely see how and why this convergence is happening.
But how realistic is that to you? Do you think people want more automated cars and more automated cars? Or have we not even scratched the surface of what is possible here, and perhaps people don’t know what they want until they see it? Come up with some theories about where the actual AI breakthrough could go and drop them in the comments.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
