30
AI and autonomous hardware takes centre stage at IFA 2026
AI and robotics dominated the show floor at IFA 2026, with manufacturers showing
off everything from smarter home appliances to robotic companions. Daniel Todaro, CEO of Gekko, reports from Berlin on the products that stood out, the brands making their mark and what retailers can take away from this year’s show.
F
rom the moment you arrive at IFA 2026, a tangible shift is immediately palpable. Someone has been listening, and the changes are resoundingly positive. With an influx of new brands
and a sharp focus on innovation—particularly artificial intelligence and its capacity to elevate hardware capability—this year marks a seminal evolution in IFA’s rich history. Welcoming over 240,000 visitors from 155 countries and featuring more than 2,000 exhibitors, this record-breaking edition firmly reaffirmed IFA’s position as an indispensable global stage for consumer technology. Since its inception in 1924,
IFA Berlin has
served as the premier platform where technology leaders, innovators, and industry experts gather to shape the future of consumer electronics. Uniquely positioned as the only trade show where B2B and B2C audiences converge seamlessly in one venue, it fosters direct interaction between suppliers, trade professionals, and
end consumers. This dynamic dialogue yields invaluable feedback, deep insights, and lucrative business opportunities. Innovation took centre stage this year, with
unprecedented solutions operating alongside vastly enhanced products powered by AI. As the CEO of Google DeepMind predicted, the sheer velocity of change driven by artificial intelligence is accelerating progress at a pace tenfold greater and faster than the Industrial Revolution. On the exhibition floor, traditional appliances gave way to hyper-connected home ecosystems and autonomous helpers, cementing AI and robotics as the central focal points of IFA 2026.
While debate persists around democratising
AI and addressing its broader societal impact, the technology’s ability to solve complex global challenges and drive human progress is undeniable. Exhibitors showcased everything from advanced humanoid assistants designed for daily chores,
to AI-driven robotic pets
offering emotional companionship. Intelligent home appliances—such as next-generation refrigerators that actively manage inventory and highly automated floor cleaners- were ubiquitous. However, the standout product for me was the Hypershell Halo: a remarkably lightweight mobility exoskeleton providing structural assistance during walking and running. In the context of consumer electronics (CE), we stand on the precipice of a major hardware super-cycle as products evolve to deliver enhanced consumer utility. The overall outlook remains positive, underscored by a 16.6 per cent growth in the global CE sector since 2021. However, with a local slowdown of -5 per cent in China, Chinese brands are aggressively expanding into international markets. Navigating this shift represents one of five macro challenges impacting the global CE landscape alongside consolidation, memory shortages, fluctuations.
regional conflicts, and currency
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
