Based on CES 2026 Insights
The Future of Industry Revealed by Technology Trends
"Strengthening Organizational and Talent Capabilities Is Key"
On January 15, Samil PwC announced the release of its report, "The Future of Industry as Shown by Technology Trends," based on its visit to CES 2026, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, held in Las Vegas, United States, from January 6 to 9 (local time). The report comprehensively presents the global industrial restructuring trends and strategic responses for companies, focusing on five major technologies: artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, mobility, digital health, and quantum technology.
The report emphasizes that changes observed at CES-such as the widespread adoption of AI across industries, advancements in robotics, and the resurgence of autonomous driving technologies-are driving a transformative shift that goes beyond simple efficiency improvements. These changes are fundamentally reshaping business structures, organizational operations, and investment strategies. In particular, it was found that global leading companies are rapidly setting market standards through AI-driven development, dominating data, platform, and partnership ecosystems, and thereby widening the competitive gap. The report especially highlights that AI is establishing itself as an "invisible foundational infrastructure" by integrating edge-based real-time processing with industrial systems.
In the field of robotics, humanoid and collaborative robots are rapidly spreading across manufacturing, logistics, and services. The mobility industry is seeing a shift in competition toward software, driven by the resurgence of autonomous driving and the rise of AI Defined Vehicles (AIDV). In digital health, the trend toward advanced personalized management and integrated healthcare platforms was particularly notable. Quantum technology is emerging as the next-generation infrastructure, especially with the rise of post-quantum cryptography (PQC)-based security technologies and the convergence of AI and cloud computing.
The report points out that, in response to these changes, companies must undertake a comprehensive transformation by integrating technology as a core component of top management decision-making, rather than as an individual business unit strategy. It stresses that an integrated response system-covering technology maturity assessment, global regulation and standard monitoring, internalization of data and AI capabilities, and the establishment of strategic partnerships-will be crucial for future competitiveness across technology, business, and organizational domains.
Additionally, the report evaluates this year's CES as having "completely transformed from a home appliance-centered exhibition into a stage for experiences combining people and technology." It analyzes that the focus of the exhibition has shifted from traditional home appliance companies to those in mobility, robotics, energy, and AI semiconductors, making it clear that technological advances are redefining industry boundaries. In robotics, Chinese companies are shaking up the competitive landscape through large-scale investments and growing their presence. The report also notes that autonomous driving technologies are signaling a revival, led by global big tech companies. It defines these changes as "a stage where technological advancement is reconstructing the identity of industries," explaining that the industry structure is rapidly shifting from a supplier-centric product sales model to a user-centric structure focused on data-driven personalized services and experiences.
Meanwhile, the Samil PwC Unicorn Support Center published a field report highlighting the key achievements and onsite activities of Korean startups at CES 2026. The report details the innovative technologies and global expansion successes of Korean startups that stood out at CES. It also includes insights and experiences shared during a roundtable hosted by Samil PwC CEO Yoon Hunsu and Unicorn Support Center partners with Korean startup leaders at the event.
CEO Yoon emphasized, "Through our onsite visit to CES 2026, we could sense that we are entering a period of transformation where technology is reshaping not only industries but also our daily lives. As major technologies redefine the identity of industries, the true drivers of technological realization and change are people. For companies to secure competitiveness, it will become even more important to strengthen the organizational and talent capabilities needed to implement and absorb these technologies, beyond just developing them."
The full report and field review are available on the Samil PwC website.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
