What CES 2026 Signals for Entrepreneurs in Nevada and Beyond
By Alter New Media, Nadya Rousseau and Lauren Jones | Global Entrepreneurship Week Nevada
CES 2026 was not simply a showcase of emerging technology. It was a reflection of how innovation is evolving to address real human needs, cultural transformation, and sustainable leadership.
From AI infrastructure and creator ecosystems to anti-aging technology and immersive platforms, the strongest signals from this year’s CES pointed to a clear shift: technology as an enabler of meaningful progress, not spectacle.
For entrepreneurs across Nevada, this distinction matters.
Lauren Jones co-founder of Alter New Media with Jensen Huang Nvidia co-founder and CEO
NVIDIA, Creative Intelligence, and Cultural Influence
CES 2026 also reinforced NVIDIA’s central role as the backbone of modern AI infrastructure. Beyond enterprise and compute conversations, NVIDIA’s presence extended into culture and creative intelligence, underscoring how deeply AI is shaping not just systems, but storytelling, music, and creative expression.
A notable moment was will.i.am’s involvement at CES, where conversations bridged artificial intelligence, creativity, and cultural influence. As an artist, entrepreneur, and technologist, will.i.am has consistently explored how emerging technology can expand human creativity rather than constrain it. His presence highlighted a growing reality: cultural leaders are increasingly part of the technology conversation, helping translate complex systems into accessible, human-centered narratives.
Together, NVIDIA and voices like will.i.am illustrated a broader shift taking place at CES—where AI infrastructure, creative expression, and cultural leadership intersect. For entrepreneurs, this convergence signals an important opportunity: innovation scales faster when technical excellence is paired with cultural fluency and trusted messengers.
In Nevada and beyond, this blending of technology and culture points to new models of adoption, education, and engagement—especially as AI becomes embedded into everyday life.
Mission-Driven Innovation Over Flash
While artificial intelligence was present across nearly every hall, the most compelling companies were not chasing novelty. They were solving practical problems tied directly to human outcomes.
Founders who stood out focused on:
- Longevity and quality of life
- Creative decision support and predictive analytics
- Privacy, trust, and responsible AI
At the AARP AgeTech activation, participants showcased solutions designed for dignity and independence rather than novelty. Aging technology was reframed as proactive empowerment, not reactive care, highlighting an important opportunity for founders building in health, wellness, and care infrastructure.
Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring technologies, such as BP GO, reinforced how preventative health is becoming a daily, data-informed practice rather than a clinical afterthought.
Anti-Aging and Longevity Technology Enters the Mainstream
CES 2026 confirmed that anti-aging and longevity technology is no longer a niche category. It is becoming a core innovation vertical.
Bodyfriend emerged as a prominent presence across the show floor, showcasing robotics-enabled massage and recovery systems designed to support circulation, muscle health, and long-term physical resilience. Their approach positions anti-aging not as cosmetic intervention, but as a preventative, daily wellness routine accessible to consumers.
Across CES, Bodyfriend’s visibility signaled increasing demand for recovery, stress reduction, and physical maintenance as foundational components of long-term health.
This trend was reinforced by companies such as Ceragem, whose large-scale demonstrations focused on regeneration, circulation, and lifelong wellness, further emphasizing that longevity is becoming integrated into everyday life.
Signal from CES: Wellness as Infrastructure
The presence of companies like L’Oréal, Bodyfriend, and Ceragem highlighted a central theme of CES 2026: wellness, beauty, and longevity are no longer adjacent to technology. They are becoming core innovation categories. As AI and advanced systems integrate into daily routines, the boundaries between health, lifestyle, and technology continue to dissolve.
The Creator Economy as Core Infrastructure
The Creator Space at the Las Vegas Convention Center demonstrated how deeply the creator economy is now embedded within CES.
Panels, demos, and conversations centered on the tools and systems that enable creators to scale community, insight, and monetization. The Creator Tech Stack session featured Uptin Saiidi, Lucy Guo, and Colton Potter, underscoring a shift away from superficial tools toward infrastructure that supports sustainable creative businesses.
Financial creators Jack Selby and Graham Stephan further reinforced this trend, highlighting how trusted voices are increasingly shaping financial literacy, investing education, and technology adoption at scale.
For Nevada entrepreneurs, this convergence signals new opportunities at the intersection of media, finance, and technology.
Public Leadership Meets Innovation
CES 2026 also highlighted the growing alignment between public leadership and the innovation economy.
Jack Selby and Graham Stephan of Iced Coffee Hour are interviewing Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo
An interview with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo at Creator Space focused on technology, digital assets, economic development, and workforce transformation. His participation reflected a broader shift: policymakers are no longer peripheral observers of innovation, but active participants in shaping its direction.
This alignment presents an important opportunity for founders operating in Nevada, where collaboration between startups, institutions, and public leadership is becoming increasingly essential.
Jack Selby and Graham Stephan of The Iced Coffee Hour with Lauren Jones and Nadya Rousseau of Alter New Media
Applied AI and Storytelling with Swiss Precision
At The Venetian, Alter New Media connected with Sami Arpa, CEO and Co-Founder of Largo.ai, a Switzerland-based AI company using cognitive modeling to help creatives make smarter content decisions.
Largo.ai’s approach prioritizes audience resonance and narrative clarity rather than generative output for its own sake. The company exemplifies a growing class of AI-driven ventures focused on enhancing human judgment rather than replacing it.
This philosophy resonated across CES, where founders increasingly emphasized purpose-driven deployment of AI.
Sport, Culture, and Enterprise Technology Converge
One of the most talked-about moments of CES 2026 occurred at Sphere Las Vegas during the Formula 1 and Lenovo experience.
Speakers included Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo; Jensen Huang, CEO and Co-Founder of NVIDIA; and Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1. Their discussion highlighted how AI infrastructure, real-time data, and immersive environments are transforming both enterprise computing and global entertainment.
The event illustrated how technology storytelling is increasingly happening at cultural scale, blending sport, media, and innovation into shared experiences.
Responsible AI and Privacy as Competitive Advantage
At The Venetian, Acompany Innovations introduced the AutoPrivacy AI Gateway, emphasizing the importance of embedding governance, transparency, and trust directly into AI systems.
Across CES, founders echoed growing concerns around cybersecurity, ethical deployment, and transparent data handling. Responsible AI is no longer a regulatory consideration alone; it is becoming a differentiator for adoption and trust.
Japan Tech Project: Precision Over Hype
The Japan Tech Project at LVCC offered a counterpoint to spectacle-driven innovation.
Featuring companies such as Opsodis, FYF Corp., Poketomo Tech (presented by Sharp), Toraru, and the RedCliff Drone Show, the showcase emphasized engineering discipline, sensory design, and human-centered experience.
The environment encouraged thoughtful engagement rather than quick demos, reinforcing a core insight: meaningful innovation succeeds when it integrates seamlessly into everyday life.
Human-Centered AI and the Future of Work
Karla Ballard, founder of HUMN, brought a critical human perspective to CES 2026.
Nadya Rousseau, Karla Ballard, founder of HUMN, Lauren Jones, and David Price Esq.
HUMN focuses on workforce development, emotional intelligence, and responsible AI adoption, addressing the human readiness required for successful technological transformation. As AI systems become more embedded in daily operations, Ballard’s work highlights the need for leadership development and organizational alignment.
This emphasis reflects a broader shift toward sustainability in innovation, ensuring that technology does not outpace culture or well-being.
Founder Conversations That Defined the Week
Alter New Media spoke with founders approaching technology as purposeful systems rather than novelty tools:
- Angelica De Riggi, AI Tails, on AI-driven pet health insights
- Ivan Shkvarun, Social Links, on intelligence for cybersecurity complexity
- Sami Arpa, Largo.ai, on cognitive AI for creative decision-making
Their work reinforced a core CES insight: clarity of purpose shapes technology more than technology shapes purpose.
Nadya Rousseau, the Honorable Lucia Sava, and Lauren Jones
Community as a Catalyst for Innovation
Beyond the show floor, CES underscored the importance of relationships and cultural exchange. The ChargerGogo Party brought together leaders from technology, policy, fashion, music, and creative industries, including Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony.
These informal environments continue to play a vital role in fostering collaboration, trust, and long-term partnerships within the innovation ecosystem.
Looking Ahead for Entrepreneurs in Nevada
As Alter New Media approaches its ten-year mark, CES 2026 reinforced a clear message for founders participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week Nevada:
- Precision is outperforming breadth
- Trust is foundational
- Leadership is shifting from execution to judgment
- Innovation and policy must collaborate
The future of entrepreneurship will belong to those who build with intention, discipline, and human impact at the center.
Nadya Rousseau and Elechi Uba Solomon at Chargergogo party for CES
Technology may be accelerating, but enduring companies are built by leaders who choose what truly matters.