Even on the 9th, the closing day of CES 2026, the world's largest IT expo, "physical AI" (artificial intelligence embedded in robots and devices that perceives physical space and makes decisions on its own) products drew the eyes of many visitors. As "humanoid" robots resembling humans were introduced at exhibition halls set up across Las Vegas, they took center stage at this year's event. "Atlas," unveiled by Hyundai Motor Group, and LG Electronics' "LG Cloid" were representative examples.
However, humanoids are still seen as premature for immediate application in industry and daily life. LG Electronics unveiled the humanoid-style home robot "LG Cloid" at CES 2026, and President Lyu Jae-cheol said at a local press briefing, "We will begin field verification starting next year and decide the launch timing based on the results." Various humanoid robots deployed across the show floor, including Cloid, often moved sluggishly and failed to carry out their assigned purposes.
Although overshadowed by robots and drawing relatively less attention, products that incorporate physical AI technology were exhibited throughout the venue. Devices that integrate physical AI to perform fixed actions in specific domains demonstrated, unlike humanoids, a level ready for immediate commercialization at this year's event. In fact, various corporations announced that they set the release timing for products showcased at CES 2026 for the first half of this year. While humanoids are cited as a representative field where physical AI technology is applied, it is also being integrated into health care, manufacturing, maintenance, and sports, and is expected to transform industry and daily life across the board.
◇ Physical AI that takes on dangerous tasks
Among the physical AI equipment unveiled at CES 2026, products built for industrial sites were the most ready for commercialization. Oshkosh Corporation, a U.S. manufacturing company that produces special-purpose vehicles and equipment, introduced the boom lift, a work-platform-style AI robot. Winner of the CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award, the product automatically performs welding at heights. Without human control, it uses an AI camera to see, autonomously identifies where welding is needed, and executes the task. By changing the end effector, it can also be used for painting or moving objects. An Oshkosh official said, "This product shows the future of industrial worksites," adding, "Because it works on its own, people only need to monitor it."
Scan & Go, unveiled by Doosan Robotics, is a device that combines a robot arm with a body equipped with Autonomous Driving technology. AI can recognize the surfaces of large structures such as building exteriors, turbine blades, and aircraft fuselages using 3D vision. It then determines the optimal work path on its own to grind or smooth the surface. The product won the Best of Innovation Award in AI and an Innovation Award in robotics at CES 2026.
Startups that grew in Korea, where manufacturing is central, also showcased various devices that can bring physical AI to industrial sites. AeiROBOT demonstrated technology in which Alice 4 and Alice M1 divide processes and perform actions in sequence, and ROBOTIS showed a robot gripper recognizing and sorting randomly placed empty bottles. The corporation also staged a demo of a fixed robot writing characters on a jar with a brush.
◇ "Daily companions" that clean and care for emotions
Physical AI technology is penetrating not only industrial sites but also various areas of daily life. Robots that reduce household burdens or offer emotional engagement drew attention at this year's CES.
U.S.-based Aiper introduced new AI-based pool-cleaning robots, irrigation systems, and water-quality management systems at CES 2026, saying it would "create a smart backyard ecosystem." It unveiled three models in the Scuba V3 series of pool-cleaning robots, and the top-end Ultra won an Innovation Award in the home appliances category at CES 2026. The product uses AI to determine pool size, shape, and cleaning history and even considers weather conditions to optimize cleaning paths, frequency, and suction power. The company plans to roll out the Scuba V3 in the first quarter of this year at $1,100 (about 1.6 million won), followed by the rest of the series. The Ultra is priced at $2,300 (about 3.35 million won).
Physical AI devices focused on the role of "daily companions" also drew attention. U.S.-based Tombot unveiled Jenny, a puppy robot resembling a retriever, at CES 2026. Designed to provide "emotional companionship" for people who have difficulty keeping pets due to dementia, anxiety, or isolation, it mimics the appearance and reactions of a real dog. It features voice command recognition and body sensors that respond to the user's touch. Tombot plans to begin sales to pre-order customers within the year. A Tombot representative said, "We will expand AI features further if needed."
China's Sentigent Technology also exhibited ROVER X3, an approximately 45-centimeter outdoor companion robot that can provide emotional comfort. It is equipped with AI that follows the user and recognizes the user's gaze and gestures to respond to a person's interest or emotions. The company demonstrated the robot traversing rough terrain and fetching a ball after the user threw it.
Robots designed to reduce housework also filled the show floor. China's SwitchBot unveiled Onero H1 and demonstrated the robot putting laundry into a washing machine and tidying up items. Moving on wheels and equipped with a head, body, and two arms to assist with household chores, it is similar to LG Cloid.
Other examples of physical AI in daily life included a robot that plays table tennis with people, unveiled by Singapore's Sharpa Robotics, and an Autonomous Driving delivery robot for residential complexes, showcased by Korea's GORE Robotics.