Cool Tech Conversations from CES 2026

Article #4 on the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). See previous articles:

Today, we wind up the series with a summary of noteworthy CES sessions (aka workshops or seminars) attended by BridgingApps team members:

Speakers: Jessica Rafuse (Microsoft); Kate Sonka (Teach Access); Nancy Weintraub (Easterseals Disability Services).

Key points:

Partnerships between nonprofits and tech leaders are driving AI innovation for inclusiveness and accessibility.
Digital accessibility is not a requirement for many computer-science degrees. Teach Access’s free programs help fill that gap.
The Accessibility Skills Hiring Toolkit, available from Teach Access, helps employers create inclusive job descriptions and interview questions.

Speakers: Lisa Earnhardt (Abbott); Serena Williams (tennis star).

Key points:

New biowearable technologies help diabetes patients, like Serena Williams, manage their health.
One breakthrough biowearable is Lingo, a glucose monitor that attaches to the back of the upper arm. It monitors glucose fluctuations in real time, then provides individual recommendations for diet, hydration, and exercise.
Eighty percent of Americans with prediabetes are unaware of their condition.
Health tech can play a vital role in preventing disease and improving overall wellness.

Speakers: Rachel Nemeth (Consumer Technology Association); Ariel Simms (Disability Belongs™); Karen Tamley (Access Living).

Key points:

Most everyday-life technologies, from GPS apps to streaming services, now have AI-powered functions.
Assistive technology (text-to-speech devices, smart glasses, eye-gaze technology, etc.) also uses AI to power its features.
A surprising number of people still don’t realize that AI goes beyond ChatGPT and similar tools.

Speakers: Katherine B. McGuire (American Psychological Association); Allison Parshall (Scientific American); Alison Cerezo (mpathic); Emily Lattie (Lyra Health); David Mohr (Northwestern University).

Key points:

The section on chat companions, and their potential impact on teen mental health, highlighted the need for clinicians to be part of the conversation—particularly as more people begin substituting technology for human interaction.
AI can be programmed to notify parents if a teenager expresses suicidal ideation or other dangerous symptoms.
One compelling feature of AI chatbots is that they can help young people feel seen and heard. However, it’s still vital that kids learn to navigate social interactions in the real world, even when that feels unpleasant.

Speakers: Carey Kyler (AARP); Kathy Stokes (AARP Fraud Prevention).

Key points:

In 2024, U.S. consumers lost at least $12.8 billion to fraud. Factoring in estimates of unreported cases, some experts believe that actual losses were $196 billion.
Many fraudsters work for transnational crime syndicates. They use emotional manipulation, and are often experts with high-tech tools such as AI and deepfakes.
Important fraud-prevention tools include public education; victim support; and advocacy for better reporting systems.
Individuals can guard against fraud by securing their social-media accounts; using password managers; and freezing their credit (you can request a credit freeze without having experienced actual fraud).
Collective action and awareness are the most effective weapons against fraud.

(Bonus note: National Slam the Scam Day, part of the federal government’s National Consumer Protection Week, is coming up on March 5.)

Speakers: Said Bakadir (Meta Reality Labs); Dr. Skip Rizzo (USC); Ted Worth (Mynd Immersive).

Key points:

Dr. Rizzo is a pioneer in virtual reality (VR) for Veteran care, having worked for thirty years on trauma simulations and other VR treatments for PTSD.
Input from over 100 Veteran-care facilities and senior-living communities has proven the potential of extended reality (XR) for pain management, anxiety reduction, and cognitive improvement.
Active XR-for-Veterans programs include headsets for low-income seniors, and virtual companions being developed for older adults and Veterans.

(Note: “XR” comprises virtual reality and all other digitally-created-or-supplemented “realities.”)

Speakers: Katherine B. McGuire (American Psychological Association); Rebecca Ruiz (Mashable); Linda Charmaraman (Wellesley College); Janine Jones (UC Santa Barbara); Michael Robb (Common Sense Media).

Key points:

Seventy-two percent of boys ages 11–17 have encountered “digital masculinity” content that contributes to low self-esteem and loneliness.
Adolescent girls and LGBTQ youth often find affirming spaces online, but they face other digital challenges, such as body-image negativity and restricted access to crucial information.
Most important needs: digital products designed for well-being, not just engagement; AI-literacy education; a shift in tech industry practices; continued encouragement of in-person connections.

There were dozens of other fascinating sessions at CES 2026. Some were recorded: check the CES Content Library for these and other videos.