AI was everywhere at CES 2026, from robots to toilets and toys. The race to define the next computing interface is on, agentic ad tech is emerging, and health wearables are pushing further into physiological data. Best in show: Lego’s Smart Brick.

Google Chrome’s latest update embeds Gemini AI into the browser, giving users direct access to AI-powered research, automation, organization, and real-time security tools. Google is infusing its AI features into its most-used product a week after it avoided being forced to divest its browser. Imbuing Chrome with AI unlocks unprecedented volumes of user training data—an advantage no rival can replicate. This development, plus Gemini’s expansion into education, underscores a wider push to make Google’s AI as ubiquitous as its search engine.

Nvidia is putting $5 billion into Intel, buying common stock at $23.28 per share for a 4%–5% stake. The two companies plan to co-develop custom PC and data center chips that blend Nvidia’s GPUs with Intel’s x86 CPUs and manufacturing muscle, per ABC News. For Intel, it’s a last chance to remain relevant in advanced computing. For Nvidia, it’s a strategic hedge—ensuring supply resilience and expanding influence over x86 chip design. The partnership will reshape the semiconductor industry and strengthen US tech leadership.

he news: At WWDC 2025, Apple announced its upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe, marking the final operating system supporting Intel-based Macs and the end of a computing era. Apple’s transition will accelerate replacement cycles for millions of business users and marketing technology stacks. ur take: The shift will require a massive reset for Apple-reliant companies. They will need comprehensive technology audits across devices and software to weed out unsupported tools. Organizations delaying transitions, particularly for models that have already lost support, risk security vulnerabilities and performance limitations, affecting campaign execution and creative production timelines.

Biden’s proposal to restrict AI chip exports to 120 countries faces backlash from Nvidia, which says the policy risks stifling innovation and harming economic growth.

With Gelsinger out, Intel faces strategic crossroads—divest, restructure, or merge—all while navigating a leadership vacuum that could stall its AI pivot and attract opportunistic bids.

With revenues soaring 94% to $35.1 billion, it dominates AI hardware, but Big Tech’s in-house chip ambitions could challenge its position.

With on-device AI capabilities and standout benchmarks, the M4 can help Apple justify premium Mac prices and offset tepid iPhone sales.

Qualcomm’s bid could reshape both companies, but Intel’s financial woes and regulatory hurdles pose major obstacles.

Data center industry growth is on the horizon as AI adoption rises, with cloud giants like AWS leading the shift from the “Cloud Era” to the “AI Era.”

A big cloud services drought could amount to involuntary AI slowdown: Cloud server chips and energy supplies buckle under the weight of generative AI demands, adding to monopoly likelihood.

Activision Blizzard one of many deals in geopolitical crosshairs: China is leveraging its antitrust review process to strike back over sanctions. Economic fallout for US companies could hinder tech innovation.

Tech’s economic pain isn’t letting up: Economic recovery eludes the tech industry as the Fed targets the overall strong job market’s role in driving inflation. Expect more corporate downsizing.

US chip production accelerated by uncertainty in China: TSMC is fast-tracking plans to ramp up to 4-nanometer chips and will build an additional fab in Arizona. The tech gap between the US and China widens.

Intel on the ropes: Competition, uncertainty, and stumbling PC sales could have Intel preparing to lay off thousands of employees when it is also seeking billions of dollars in investment for new factories.

Positive movement in the chip sector: Samsung aims for 2 nanometer chips, Intel tries its luck with GPUs, and Micron plans to invest $100 billion in a New York factory.

US-China conflict over chips intensifies: AMD and Nvidia stocks plunge on reports of new government sales restrictions of chips to China and Russia. US chipmakers could be forced to abandon potential sales.

Data center scrutiny rises in Europe: Data centers’ energy intensity and water use are running up against Europe’s energy crisis. Ireland’s data center moratorium puts facilities’ sustainability measures in focus.

Qualcomm comes for data centers: Nuvia unlocks potential for Qualcomm to diversify into server chips for data centers, effectively meeting pent-up demand with faster, cooler, and more-efficient cloud server solutions.

CHIPS and Science Act a boon for US manufacturing: President Biden signs the bipartisan bill, and chipmakers like Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, and GlobalFoundries are on board with expanding their US chip fabrication.