The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has long been a showcase for the future—a future often populated by robots. Yet, for every successful tech innovation, there’s a graveyard of prototypes that promised to change the world but ultimately faded into obscurity. This year’s unveiling of Hyundai’s Atlas, the Boston Dynamics humanoid, is just the latest in a long line of robotic promises that may or may not pan out.
To understand why this matters, consider the hype cycle: tech often overpromises and underdelivers. CES is a pressure cooker for this phenomenon, where ambition frequently outstrips practicality. The parade of robots over the years illustrates a recurring pattern: initial excitement, followed by commercial failure or niche adoption.
Early Dreams and Disappointments (2004-2009)
The early 2000s saw a surge of humanoid robots, often presented as harbingers of an automated future. Sony’s Qrio, showcased at CES 2004, was once considered a serious contender – even appearing in a Battlestar Galactica finale as a symbol of emerging AI threats. It never made it to market, though a few prototypes starred in a Beck music video.
Google’s early self-driving car prototype, displayed at CES 2006, stands out as a rare success story. It evolved into Waymo, now operating robotaxis in several U.S. cities. However, the broader trend was different. Honda’s Asimo, unveiled in 2007, could walk, run, and even fall comically on stage, contributing to its eventual discontinuation in 2018.
Other attempts, like Anybots’ telepresence robot from 2009, failed to gain traction. The idea of remotely overseeing factory workers with a rolling screen didn’t resonate with investors or capitalists, despite the pitch.
The Middle Years: Novelty and Near Misses (2011-2018)
The 2010s brought a mix of quirky concepts and incremental improvements. Vstone’s Robovie, featured in 2011, gained notoriety for being subjected to abuse in experiments with children. Justin Bieber posed with a dancing speaker robot at CES 2012, a product that didn’t survive long after its brush with fame.
Sony’s Aibo robot dog, resurrected in 2018, offered a nostalgic appeal but provided little technological advancement from previous iterations. The same year also saw a robot stripper performing at a Vegas club—a stark reminder that some robotic applications are more about spectacle than innovation.
Recent Attempts and Lingering Questions (2019-2026)
Recent CES iterations have showcased more sophisticated robots, but commercial viability remains a challenge. Boston Dynamics’ Spot, first demonstrated in 2016 and later shown by Hyundai at CES 2022, has found niche roles in inspection and bomb disposal. But a full-scale robot takeover remains distant.
The Ameca, billed as the “most advanced social humanoid robot” in 2022, lacks mass adoption despite its realistic facial expressions. AI-powered bartender robots like Adam, though popular at CES 2023, have yet to replace human mixologists—Botbar, where Adam once served, has closed permanently.
Hyundai’s Atlas at CES 2026 is the latest in this line of ambitious prototypes. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been pushing the robotics vision for years, but even his latest demos, like the Disney Research-backed Grek, have yet to translate into a widespread consumer product.
The pattern is clear: CES robots are often more about signaling ambition than delivering a revolution. The technology advances, but the market rarely catches up.
In conclusion, the history of robots at CES is a cautionary tale of hype cycles and unmet expectations. While some concepts eventually find success, most fade away, leaving behind a graveyard of failed prototypes. The future may still be robotic, but the path to get there is littered with the ghosts of CES past.
