Blockchain received only a brief mention at a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) talk focused on technology trend predictions, as artificial intelligence dominated discussion about the future of consumer and enterprise technology.
“This is a wave of innovation brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence and its increasing capabilities, which is changing the operations of enterprises, the functions of workers and the lives of consumers,” Comiskey said.
"Intelligent platforms"Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, including inflationary pressures and tariffs, the CTA projects U.S. consumer technology industry revenue will reach $565 billion dollars in 2026, indicating continued consumer demand for new technologies.
He outlined a future in which hardware devices increasingly function as adaptive, data-driven platforms. Comiskey said smart glasses and extended reality headsets are being deployed in industrial settings, including warehouse optimization, remote surgical assistance, and medical applications.
“We’re going to see intelligent transformation driving a fundamental shift,” he said. “The devices and hardware we know and love are becoming intelligent platforms designed to deliver deeply personalized, adaptive experiences.”
Cars are undergoing a similar transformation, Comiskey said, arguing that they're evolving into “software-defined ecosystems,” featuring over-the-air updates, modular hardware and open operating systems.
“Cars are no longer just machines,” he said. “Consumers now expect their cars to adapt to them, not the other way around.”
In healthcare, Comiskey predicted increased use of continuous monitoring technologies. He said mental health tools are moving from “passive tracking to proactive support,” with startups using voice biomarkers to detect early signs of depression and anxiety. He also cited conversational AI for cognitive behavioural therapy, biometric sleep monitoring and personalised nutrition platforms.
The panel also focused on the evolution of the smart home, which Comiskey described as becoming both more personalized and more integrated into health monitoring.
Connected home systems, he said, are increasingly designed to anticipate user needs by learning daily routines and preferences, adjusting lighting, climate and entertainment automatically. Devices such as smart mirrors, smoke detectors and doorbells are being positioned as health, safety and productivity tools.
The session also addressed changes in business models enabled by these technologies. Comiskey said “hybrid monetization” is becoming standard, combining subscriptions with advertising, premium add-ons, tipping and creator-focused revenue streams.
“This flexibility helps platforms reach broader audiences while giving creators more ways to monetize,” he said, though it also suggests customers will be squeezed for more money for services they could once just pay for outright before subscription services became standard.
Comiskey also presented data suggesting AI adoption in the workplace is now widespread. According to CTA research covering European, South Korean and US markets, awareness of AI exceeded 90% in all surveyed regions. More than 40% of workers in every country surveyed reported using AI at work, with the US leading at nearly 63%.
“Our data is showing that AI is evolving from something experimental into something essential for the enterprise and workers,” Comiskey said, adding that US workers who use AI reported saving an average of 8.7 hours per week.
A mixed outlook“Most organizations fall on the wrong side of the GenAI Divide,” the MIT report concluded. “Adoption is high, but disruption is low.”
