China sees marriage and birth rates at record lows. Many people live by themselves, and isolation grows. In the West, too, work culture runs on intensity and cuts time for social life. Some people lack a job, and stigma plus shame push people into retreat. At CES 2026, robots appear as home helpers and companions. Companies pitch them as support and company. AI, Web3, and robots drive a shift, and technology feels personal as machines move closer to everyday life. What role do these machines take in human bonds?
Related: LG’s ambient care concept: How robots could ease work-life balance at home
AI as a place to feel heard
People crave a sense of being heard. They want to feel seen and know their voice matters. Some find that through talks with family, friends, or therapists. Others lack access or stay silent on tough topics.
I hate judgment, so I talk to ChatGPT about everything. Relationships, work stress, life goals—you name it. One part of my mind treats AI as a stand-in for real human bonds. It feels comforting, and I know a lot of other people do the same. The pull toward AI also appears in research.
In one study, participants shared a difficult situation and the emotions that came with it. Then they received a reply from either a person or Bing Chat. A label told them who wrote it.
The results were surprising. People responded more positively to AI replies than human ones. They felt understood and connected, and they thought the response matched what they had said. At the same time, participants reacted better when they believed a human wrote the reply. Just seeing the AI label made the response feel less valuable.
It’s odd that people reject AI work just because a machine made it. A response can still resonate, still offer connection, but somehow that doesn’t seem to count. I can’t see why the origin should matter more than the impact.
Technology that adapts to people
Since the rise of the web, the internet has kept an open shape. What began as an information hub grew into a space where people meet, share ideas, and form culture. That shift matches Marshall McLuhan’s view of a global village where connection shapes behavior. Today, the web is entering the era of Web3, emphasizing user ownership and control over personal data. No longer just a utility, the web has become a living social environment.
At CES 2026, the companies that drew attention presented systems that fit people, their preferences, and everyday routines. Web3, robots, and AI converge as core infrastructure, not marketing buzz. The Takway Sweekar AI pocket pet, for example, pairs a small, tangible robot with an AI that responds to emotions. It goes beyond digital pets to create a touchable AI lifeform that grows and adapts with use. LG CLOiD takes a different approach to household help, running laundry cycles and folding clothes into neat piles after occupants leave. Both show how tech can adjust to real life and make routines easier. Seeing these innovations in action made me excited. I want tools that protect my data while helping me get things done.
And if robots aren’t your thing, consider Qira. Lenovo’s personal AI super agent works across Lenovo and Motorola devices, helping without demanding attention.
“Lenovo Qira is not another assistant, it’s a new way intelligence shows up across your devices,” says Dan Dery, VP of AI Ecosystem in Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group. “Our goal is to make AI feel less like a tool you use and more like an intelligence that works with you, continuously and naturally.”
Parting thoughts
I feel the pull myself. When work drains energy and people drift apart, talking to AI feels easy and warm. I keep asking where that leaves real connection, and whether comfort from a machine fills a gap or changes how I bond with people.