The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) just came to a close in Las Vegas and drew a whopping 148,000 attendees. This is a 4% increase from last year’s attendance and a good indicator that conventions and live events are continuing to rebound following the pandemic. Considered the world’s biggest conference of its kind, CES saw the debut of some exciting new electronic devices. Some, like a rollable ultra-wide laptop from Lenovo, showcased interesting ideas. While others have even more impressive possibilities—like Nuerable’s headphones that track brain activity to improve reaction time and improve concentration. There was also the usual range of new smart devices, 163” TVs, and computers. While advancements in LED technology and shiny new toys are fun, many of the most exciting product enhancements and panels are focused on AI.
Artificial intelligence is taking big leaps forward. No longer relegated to devices with screens and software, artificial intelligence is making a jump into the real world. This year saw breakthroughs showcasing new driverless cars and applied robotics for logistics, assembly, construction, and even dancing robots. While some of these are more novelty, some are truly novel. We’re seeing an operational breakthrough for AI that is able to literally work alongside us. While Hyundai debuting a strategy for AI-powered assembly robots is groundbreaking, this is less “consumer” topic and more about workplace productivity. These emerging tech trends are a good signal for SXSW.
Tech is a much bigger part of SXSW than it used to be. SXSW 2020 was cancelled right after COVID lockdown went into effect in March. But it rebounded with a virtual conference in 2021. Returning to a physical conference and festival in 2022, it has since grown in tech presence as its music component has shrunk. For its 40th annual event, SXSW is shortening its festivities to a single week with tech, film & tv, and music happening concurrently from March 12th–18th. Still separate, SXSW EDU will be March 9th–12th. But this shorter festival doesn’t mean a smaller one; it just has more happening at once. This is good! It means more serendipity and whimsy- which is what has made the conference beloved by so many.
Despite strong projections for 2026 attendance, this year’s SXSW has already seen a few hurdles. For starters, the epicenter of SXSW, the Austin Convention Center, is closed for renovations. Instead, SXSW will be spread throughout much of downtown with panels and attendees visiting multiple locations and themed neighborhoods. Across the globe, Sydney’s SXSW was cancelled by organizers despite growing attendance every year. Lastly, the music festival portion has not seen the same popularity as pre-COVID. All of this allows SXSW 2026 to focus more on the relationships between tech, media, art, and commerce.
With over 250 panels and discussions, there is a wide range of topics. Generative AI and machine learning have become commonplace, and their advancements have become more about fine-tuning than revolutionizing. A major panel at this year’s festival concerns how, or if, we can place guardrails on AI. Elsewhere, Psyonic CEO and founder Aadeel Akhtar discusses how AI is advancing bionic technology. Along with the usual marketing panels and pitch contests, real-world applications for AI will continue to be among the more exciting and “fresh” topics this year and into the future. Whether you think generative and assistive AI are at an inflection point or a bubble about to burst, conferences like CES and SXSW offer a different outlook. They provide industry insiders and the general public a preview at real-world applications for how AI can improve hardware for applications in medical devices, worker safety, and transportation.
CES has shown that tech breakthroughs continue making big leaps in advancing smart devices and applied robotics. SXSW will extend this to show how we could be able to interact with and work alongside emerging tech. As machine learning improves and adapts to real-world applications, we may be just a few years away from robots working alongside festival attendees, demoing themselves, or even giving keynote speeches. So, SXSW has great potential to keep growing, evolving, and being a destination for years to come.
