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CES 2026 in Las Vegas marked a noticeable shift compared to recent editions. If previous shows focused on what AI might enable someday, this year was about where AI is already delivering value in real products and systems. Across the show floors—from robotics and smart home to digital health and edge devices—artificial intelligence was everywhere. Not as a slogan, but as a functional component embedded into products people can deploy, use, and rely on.

A recurring theme at CES was “physical AI”: systems that perceive, decide, and act in the real world, combining AI with robotics, mobility, and on-device processing. This reflects a broader industry transition. The emphasis is no longer on building ever-larger models, but on integrating intelligence into products that must operate under real constraints—power, cost, latency, and reliability.

What resonated strongly with attendees was the rise of edge AI and on-device intelligence as practical complements to cloud-based approaches. Many products illustrated this shift clearly: health wearables processing data locally, smart appliances adapting in real time, and machines operating autonomously within defined environments. The focus has moved toward AI that works where the data is generated, delivering responsiveness, efficiency, and privacy. For us at Sequans, this perspective closely mirrors how IoT solutions mature: value is created when technology becomes operational, scalable, and dependable.

This pragmatic view of AI also explains why healthtech, wearables, and digital wellness stood out at CES 2026. Solutions that analyze biomarkers, support metabolic insights, or assist personal care demonstrated clear use cases and measurable outcomes. These were not concept demos, but products designed for deployment.

Overall, CES 2026 suggested that AI is entering a new phase—less about experimentation, more about execution. And as intelligence becomes embedded into products, connectivity increasingly becomes part of the equation.

The Sequans Crew in Vegas — Execution at Full Speed

For the Sequans team of six, CES was intense and focused. Anyone who has navigated between the LVCC, the Venetian, and meeting-heavy hotel corridors during CES week knows the pace. With two meetings running in parallel in our suite—and occasionally a third—every day was full. Demanding, yes, but productive.

Most conversations centered on our 4G cellular IoT portfolio, built around LTE-M/NB-IoT and Cat 1bis. These technologies are now in mass production, widely deployed, and proven across global IoT applications. Customers value stability, certification coverage, and solutions that work today, at scale.

At the same time, many discussions naturally turned toward what comes next. As IoT deployments grow and lifecycles extend, the market is preparing for a gradual evolution toward 5G—without disruption. Customers are looking for continuity: familiar architectures, predictable pricing, and partners that can support long-term transitions rather than abrupt technology jumps.

This is the context in which we discussed our next platforms. Following our MWC 2025 announcements, we shared more detail on Calliope 3 and Monarch 3—5G NR eRedCap platforms designed as evolutions of existing LTE-M and Cat 1bis solutions. With pin-to-pin compatibility to Calliope 2 (GC02S1) and Monarch 2 (GM02S), these platforms reflect the same principle seen across CES: progress through continuity.

Seeing Solutions in Action — Ecosystem Momentum

Another strong signal at CES was seeing Sequans technology live in partner products. Modules were integrated into solutions or demos from Skyworks, DP Technics, SG Wireless, Cognosos, Ambiq, Kigen, and others. Seeing real products operating in real demonstrations reinforced how mature today’s IoT ecosystem has become.

These integrations also sparked forward-looking discussions—especially where edge intelligence meets low-power, wide-area connectivity.

Where Edge AI and Cellular IoT Converge

One of the clearest takeaways from CES was how edge AI and connectivity are beginning to move together. Devices that process data locally still need secure, efficient, and ubiquitous communication.

As outlined in our recent work on edge AI and IoT, this convergence opens new categories of connected products—well served by LTE-M and Cat 1bis today, and by eRedCap tomorrow:

• Smart health and wearable diagnostics
• Industrial monitoring and automation
• Smart buildings and infrastructure
• Agriculture and environmental sensing
• Autonomous and mobile systems

CES 2026 showed that when technologies mature, they don’t replace what came before—they build on it. AI, IoT, and cellular connectivity are now following that same path.