CES Foundry: The Powerful New Hub for AI and Quantum Innovation
July 6, 2026
- Author: CTA Staff
The debut of CES Foundry at CES® 2026 marked one of the most significant additions to the world’s most powerful tech event in recent years. The two-day program further cemented CES not just as a showcase for innovation, but as a catalyst for collaboration and industry transformation.
CES Foundry was designed as a dedicated destination for AI and quantum technologies, bringing together innovators, startups, investors, policymakers and enterprise leaders under one roof.
A New Center of Gravity for Emerging Technologies
Held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Foundry delivered on its promise to be more than an exhibit — it became a dynamic, immersive community. Across two curated stages, attendees experienced fireside chats, panels, live demonstrations and pitch-style sessions focused on real-world applications of AI and quantum computing.
From discussions on AI ethics and enterprise adoption to demonstrations of quantum-enabled solutions, Foundry struck a balance between vision and execution, highlighting how these technologies are rapidly moving from concept to deployment.
The buzz around the inaugural space was undeniable. Foundry quickly established itself as the premier destination for AI and quantum breakthroughs, with emerging leaders and established names converging to explore how these technologies can reshape industries and improve lives.
Where Collaboration Meets Opportunity
What set CES Foundry apart was its emphasis on connection and collaboration. Beyond the stages, the environment fostered high-impact networking — sparking conversations between startups and investors, technologists and policymakers and global brands and disruptive newcomers.
This intentional design reflects a broader evolution of CES itself. Foundry was a shift from traditional exhibition formats toward community-driven innovation, where ideas are not only showcased but actively refined, funded and accelerated.
Driving the AI-First CES Era
CES 2026 made one trend unmistakably clear: AI is no longer emerging — it is foundational. Across the show floor and throughout Foundry, artificial intelligence powered breakthroughs in mobility, healthcare, robotics, retail and beyond.
This momentum is backed by data. According to Stanford’s 2026 AI Index, AI adoption has reached 88% of organizations, and performance improvements are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with models rapidly approaching or surpassing human-level benchmarks in several domains.
CES Foundry captured this inflection point perfectly — serving as a hub where AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-grade implementation.
Quantum’s Moment Gains Momentum
Alongside AI, quantum computing emerged as a powerful parallel story. While still earlier in its commercialization cycle, quantum technologies are advancing quickly, with growing enterprise interest and investment.
By positioning AI and quantum side-by-side, Foundry demonstrated how these technologies are increasingly interconnected, shaping the next era of computing and business innovation.
Looking Ahead: CES Foundry Returns in 2027
Following a successful premiere, Foundry is set to return to CES January 6–8, 2027, at the Fontainebleau — poised to be bigger, more global and even more impactful with three days of programming.
As AI continues its rapid expansion and quantum computing accelerates toward commercialization, the demand for spaces like Foundry will only grow. CES and Foundry are uniquely positioned to serve as the launchpad for the next wave of breakthroughs — a place where ideas evolve into solutions and where collaboration fuels progress. Catch up on all the conversations from the 2026 Foundry Stages on-demand.
