[CES 2026] CES as a Microcosm of Tech Supremacy: China’s Numbers Game, US Discourse Leadership, and ‘Practical Gains’ for K-Tech

Despite Fears of a 'Watered-Down CES,' Global Heavyweights Gather to Compete for Technological Supremacy
US Semiconductor Titans Stand on Lenovo's Stage, Signaling a Shift in Tech Power Toward Execution
Business Leaders Like Hyun Jeeson and Roh Taemoon Push Ahead, KOSPI Surges Past 4,600 in Response

After a four-day run in Las Vegas, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2026, concluded on January 9 (local time). This event was not just a showcase for new technologies; it served as a microcosm of the intense US-China technological rivalry, where the two powers clashed head-on over technological supremacy.

This year's CES saw some skepticism and concerns about a reduced scale due to changes in participation by major corporations. However, once the event began, industry leaders from around the world gathered in force, demonstrating CES's unrivaled influence. On the exhibition floor, China dominated with an overwhelming display of hardware, while in the keynote speeches, the United States led the software discourse, creating palpable tension and proving the fierce strategic maneuvering between the two nations over technological sovereignty.

Notably, this year's exhibition featured symbolic moments suggesting that Chinese companies are now sharing the leadership of the technology discourse, which had previously been monopolized by American Big Tech. The highlight was Lenovo's keynote event, held on January 6 at the Sphere, Las Vegas's new landmark spherical venue.

On the 6th (local time), at the Sphere in Las Vegas, USA, the upper screen of the stage for Lenovo's 'Tech World' keynote speech displayed images of global semiconductor industry giants such as Lisa Su, CEO of AMD; Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm; and Ripbu Tan, CEO of Intel. Following Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, these leaders sequentially presented their visions for artificial intelligence (AI) execution combined with Lenovo's infrastructure. This unprecedented scene, where semiconductor emperors symbolizing the United States stood side by side as 'AI collaborators' on a stage orchestrated by a Chinese company, demonstrates that the center of gravity in global technological hegemony is shifting toward execution capability. Las Vegas, USA ? Photo by So-Yeon Park

On this stage, presided over by Lenovo Chairman Yang Yuanqing, industry giants such as Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia; Lisa Su, CEO of AMD; Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm; and Ripbu Tan, CEO of Intel, appeared one after another as panelists. The unprecedented sight of American semiconductor leaders standing as enablers on a stage orchestrated by a Chinese hardware company marked a turning point, signaling that the center of gravity in global tech supremacy is shifting from design and discourse to a contest of execution-specifically, who can deploy AI on more devices in the real world.

In fact, on this day, CEO Jensen Huang shared his vision for an "AI Gigafactory" to revolutionize manufacturing in partnership with Lenovo, while CEO Lisa Su pledged to enable businesses to immediately experience the benefits of AI through Lenovo's infrastructure. This symbolically highlighted the reality that even US Big Tech companies with foundational technologies cannot achieve widespread AI adoption without joining forces with Chinese platforms that possess massive mass-production supply chains.

'From TVs to Robots'... China Dominates the Exhibition Floor with Sheer Numbers

On the 7th (local time), the Hisense booth was set up at the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, USA. Photo by Park Junyi.

China asserted its presence at this year's CES with 942 participating companies, the second largest contingent after the United States. In particular, the Central Hall and North Hall-core areas of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC)-were effectively dominated by Chinese companies. Near the prime location where Samsung Electronics has maintained a presence for over 20 years, TCL set up its largest-ever booth, spanning 3,368 square meters, while Hisense filled the surrounding area, dramatically illustrating Chinese expansion in the television and home appliance sectors.

The North Hall was also essentially the stage for Chinese robotics companies. Unitree showcased its mass-produced humanoid robot G1, and numerous innovative Chinese firms unveiled physical AI products such as boxing and marathon robots that are ready for immediate commercialization. This approach, which goes beyond conceptual demonstrations to leverage vertically integrated supply chains and cost competitiveness, reflects China's unique strategy of overwhelming the market through sheer scale.

US Sets the Rules of the Game by Leading the AI Discourse... Global Heavyweights Gather

While China focused on quantitative expansion, US and European companies prioritized defining the philosophy and ecosystem standards of AI through keynotes and main events, rather than through the physical scale of their exhibitions, maintaining their leadership in the discourse.

Lisa Su, who delivered the opening keynote, announced a comprehensive AI strategy spanning data centers and on-device applications, positioning herself as a compass for the tech industry. Jensen Huang also took the stage to reaffirm Nvidia's AI platform strategy across industries, while Germany's Siemens, represented by Chairman Roland Busch, unveiled a "digital twin" blueprint that integrates AI infrastructure from US Big Tech like Nvidia into its manufacturing processes. This strategy aims to set a new standard for industrial AI by combining European manufacturing expertise with American AI technology.

Korea Secures Practical Gains Amid US-China Rivalry... 'K-Tech' Fever Drives KOSPI Past 4,600

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun shakes hands with Akashi Palkiwala, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Qualcomm, at the Qualcomm booth in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in Las Vegas, USA, on the 6th, the opening day of CES 2026, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

As the US and China engaged in sharp competition for technological leadership, Korean business leaders moved swiftly to secure tangible benefits.

Hyun Jeeson, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, unveiled a roadmap to deploy Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot in mass production processes and announced collaborations with Google DeepMind and Gemini Robotics, solidifying alliances in autonomous driving and robotics. In the home appliance sector, Roh Tae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics, presented a vision for everyday companionship with the 130-inch Micro RGB TV and on-device AI, while Ryu Jaechul, President of LG Electronics, showcased the home robot CLOi, which autonomously reads user context and acts accordingly, demonstrating a significant technological lead. Park Ji-won, Chairman of Doosan Group, and Kwak Nojeong, President of SK Hynix, also held a series of meetings with global clients, focusing on securing a foothold in the AI infrastructure market.

The excitement on the ground quickly spilled over into Korea's financial markets. News of major partnerships and technological achievements by Korean companies during CES propelled the KOSPI index past the 4,600 mark for the first time in history. In particular, semiconductor giants such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the rally, making the "CES rally" palpable. An official from an economic organization, interviewed on-site, summarized, "Amid the US-China rivalry, Korea has firmly established itself as a key execution partner capable of actualizing these advancements."