Tech Brew Ride Home — CES Day Two
Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Brian McCullough (Morning Brew)
Episode Overview
On the second day of CES 2026, Brian McCullough delivers a fast-paced round-up of the biggest tech news from the show floor and beyond. The episode’s primary themes are major chip announcements—highlighting Nvidia’s Vera Rubin platform and AMD’s next-generation AI chips—as well as new moves in automotive autonomy, laptop design, and a surprisingly transformative innovation from LEGO. The show captures CES’s electric energy, balancing deep dives on major developments with lighter (“did you know?”) moments about consumer tech.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Nvidia’s Vera Rubin Platform Unveiled
[02:00]
- Nvidia kicks off CES by launching the Vera Rubin platform, a follow-up to the Blackwell GPUs that dominated 2025 due to the AI boom.
- Quote from Dion Harris (Nvidia):
“Six chips that make one AI supercomputer.”
(paraphrased, 02:30) - Chips in the platform: Vera CPU, Rubin GPU, NVLink 6th Gen Switch, ConnectX9 NIC, Bluefield 4DPU, Spectrum X102.4T CPO.
- Key claims:
- 5x AI training capacity over Blackwell.
- Train large AI models in the same time as Blackwell, with only a quarter of the GPUs and at a seventh of the token cost.
- First rack-scale trusted computing platform, supporting 3rd-gen confidential computing.
- Products with Rubin will appear in the second half of 2026.
- CEO Jensen Huang claims full production is already underway and some LLMs can be trained with a quarter of the chips Blackwell would require.
2. AMD’s AI Ambitions & New Chip Platform
[05:20]
- AMD responds at CES with a preview of its next-gen CDNA 6-based ‘MI500’ AI chips built on a cutting-edge 2nm node, claiming “1,000x performance gains over predecessors.”
- Quote from Reuters on Lisa Su (AMD CEO):
“Sue also unveiled the MI440X, a version of the MI400 series chip designed for on-premise use at businesses. … The so-called enterprise version is designed to fit into infrastructure that is not specifically designed for AI clusters.” (06:15)
- The MI455AI processors are targeting OpenAI and similar data center customers.
- Despite progress, analysts still see Nvidia as dominant:
“Unlikely to dent Nvidia’s dominance as the market leader continues to sell every AI chip it can make.” (07:05)
- The MI500 chips will officially launch in 2027.
3. Nvidia’s Lesser-Known Play in Automotive Autonomy
[08:00]
- Nvidia expands its reach into self-driving car platforms, aiming to challenge Tesla and Waymo.
- New point-to-point Level 2 (L2) driver-assist system is rolling out to automakers in 2026—a direct answer to Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD).
- Quote from The Verge:
“For roughly 40 minutes, we navigate a typically chaotic day in San Francisco… passing delivery trucks, cyclists, pedestrians… The Mercedes, under guidance from Nvidia’s AI-powered system… handles itself confidently.” (08:45)
- System uses a combination of cameras, radar (for redundancy/safety), and Nvidia silicon/software stack.
- Xin Zhao Wu (Nvidia Automotive):
“The mission for me and my team is to really make everything that moves autonomous.” (13:00)
- Roadmap:
- L2 urban and highway autonomy first half of 2026.
- Autonomous parking and nationwide L2 coverage by year’s end.
- L4 trials in 2026, robotaxi deployments in 2027, personal autonomy in 2028.
- Quote:
“We’re coming fast,” Wu says, as the Mercedes slows itself down at another intersection. “I’d say we’re very close to FSD.” (15:00)
4. Dell’s XPS Brand Returns With New Laptops
[16:50]
- After trying Apple-like generic naming conventions, Dell resurrects the iconic XPS line at CES.
- New XPS 14” and 16” models feature Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips, new designs, OLED screens, but no dedicated GPUs.
- Quote from Gizmodo:
“Dell is admitting it made a mistake. … Now Dell XPS includes 14 and 16-inch models sporting up to Intel Core Ultra X7 or X9 chip for more GPU capabilities. … The revised XPS also includes the brand name stenciled on the laptop lid.” (17:30)
- Notable design:
- XPS 14: starts at 3 pounds, just over half an inch thick, optional 2.8k OLED.
- Prices increased from previous leaks: $2050 (14”), $2200 (16”); likely due to chip shortages.
- XPS 13 refresh coming later in 2026.
5. Roborock’s Stepping Robot Vacuum Concept
[20:25]
- Roborock debuts the Saros Rover: a robot vacuum with two “wheel legs” to climb stairs and navigate uneven surfaces—a first.
- Prior Roborock models had arms to pick up objects but struggled in real usage and reviews.
- The Rover uses AI, multiple motion sensors, and 3D spatial data for mobility—including jumping down ramps or obstacles.
- Quote from Bloomberg:
“It was not immediately clear from the carefully staged presentation what happens if the rover falls and whether it can reorient itself without human help. ‘In the event of an accident, the robot will try to get up by itself,’ the spokesperson said.” (21:30)
6. LEGO’s Smart Brick: The Most Radical Change in 50 Years
[22:30]
- LEGO unveils the Smart Brick—a 2x4 brick with a computer, sensors, speaker, NFC, Bluetooth, and wireless charging—at the heart of a new Smart Play platform, set to launch in March with Star Wars sets.
- Host’s Description:
“A fully functional computer that fits inside a traditional 2x4 LEGO brick… aims to blend the classic tactile experience of LEGO with dynamic interactive responses, all without screens.” (22:45)
- Smart Bricks can interact with special tiles and minifigures, detecting motion, responding to gestures and sounds, and communicating with other bricks.
- Notably, Smart Bricks do not use cameras or traditional AI—microphone is for simple sound triggers only (e.g., clapping).
- Julia Golden (LEGO CMO):
“No doubt in my mind these bricks will eventually make their way into adult sets as well. … The smart bricks and tiles will be a multipurpose tool and a LEGO builder’s tool chest.” (25:30)
- Vision hints at open-ended, cross-theme play (e.g., Star Wars meets Marvel via smart minifigs), with LEGO Smart Play as an “optional” future for all fans.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Nvidia’s AI push:
“Good to see somebody is still treating CES as the platform for launching big things.”
(Brian, 02:10) -
On AMD’s bold claims:
“[Lisa] Su previewed the MI 500 and said it offered 1,000 times the performance of an older version of the processor. The company said the chips would launch in 2027.”
(AMD via Reuters, 07:30) -
On automotive tech competition:
“Nvidia hasn’t been working on this problem as long as Elon Musk’s company, but what they showed me absolutely would go toe to toe with FSD under the most complex circumstances… some could argue it’s safer and more robust than the camera-only FSD.”
(The Verge, 11:00) -
On Dell’s branding U-turn:
“Whether or not you’re happy with your Dell Pro Premium Plus Max Crunchwrap supreme, the XPS line is back.”
(Brian, quoting Gizmodo, 18:05) -
On LEGO’s Smart Brick ambition:
“Smart Play… isn’t an experiment, but rather a tremendous opportunity for the future. … The smart bricks and tiles will be a multipurpose tool and a LEGO builder’s tool chest.”
(Julia Golden, LEGO executive, The Verge, 25:30)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Nvidia launches Vera Rubin AI platform | | 05:20 | AMD’s CDNA 6, MI500, and MI455AI chips | | 08:00 | Nvidia’s push into self-driving platforms | | 16:50 | Dell revives XPS brand | | 20:25 | Roborock rolling/jumping robot vacuum | | 22:30 | LEGO introduces Smart Brick/Smart Play | | 25:30 | LEGO’s Julia Golden on the Smart Brick vision|
Tone and Style
Brian’s narration is brisk, slightly cheeky (“Dell Pro Premium Plus Max Crunchwrap supreme”), and fact-driven, with a clear appreciation for both the business drama (“AMD says, ‘Hey, us too’”) and the toy-box wonder of CES. Quotes and secondary sources are woven into the reporting, giving listeners a sense of being plugged directly into the action.
Conclusion
CES 2026 Day Two’s episode captures a moment where chip giants battle for AI supremacy, legacy PC brands reconsider their identity, robotics takes ambitious new strides, and an unassuming plastic brick may become the next frontier in play for both kids and adults. This is one for the tech history books—and for anyone eager to see what happens “when smart LEGO Star Wars minifigures meet smart LEGO Marvel minifigures.”