At CES 2026, the annual technology event hosted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), one thing was unmistakable: technology is no longer an “add-on” layered into buildings after opening day. It’s becoming core infrastructure, shaping how communities are designed, operated, and experienced from day one.
Across senior living, multifamily, and hospitality, this shift matters deeply. These environments are both residential and service-driven, relying on reliability, safety, comfort, staffing efficiency, and trust. The most relevant innovations at CES weren’t flashy gadgets, they were systems that reduce friction, improve uptime, and deliver better outcomes for residents, guests, and teams.
Below are the technologies that stood out most and why they signal real change for the built environment.
Connectivity Is Now Essential Infrastructure
One of the biggest gaps highlighted at CES wasn’t a missing product, it was missing readiness.
Many communities are still underinvested in connectivity, even as they deploy more connected systems: smart locks, access control, cameras, sensors, nurse call integrations, staff devices, resident devices, and guest networks. When everything is connected, WiFi can’t be “good enough.” It must be property-wide, resilient, and designed for density and growth.
Connectivity now sits at the intersection of three non-negotiables:
- Experience: seamless connectivity is an expectation, not a perk.
- Operations: staff depend on connected workflows to move faster and reduce errors.
- Safety: especially in senior living, unreliable networks become a risk when technology supports care and response.
WiFi now belongs in the same category as power and plumbing: essential infrastructure.
Robotics and Surveillance as Community Intelligence
The most meaningful evolution in robotics isn’t robots replacing people, it’s integration.
At CES, the real value appeared when robotics were paired with existing camera and sensor networks. That combination transforms security systems into platforms for community intelligence, supporting both safety and operational insight.
When implemented thoughtfully, these systems can:
- reveal shared-space usage patterns
- identify environmental issues earlier
- support faster verification and response
- inform staffing and service schedules
Surveillance is shifting from reactive to proactive. Meanwhile, humanoid robots may draw attention, but daily utility remains limited. For now, the greatest value lies in purpose-built automation that works quietly and reliably inside real environments.
Digital Twins Are Changing How Communities Are Designed
Digital twins were one of the most immediately applicable CES themes.
More than 3D models, digital twins simulate how space, systems, and people interact before construction or renovation begins. For senior living, multifamily, and hospitality, this enables teams to test real-world scenarios early, when change is still affordable.
Digital twins allow teams to:
- simulate staff circulation and resident movement
- validate sightlines, wayfinding, and support spaces
- plan technology placement and coverage
- surface operational friction before it becomes costly
The payoff is fewer change orders, stronger alignment across stakeholders, and greater confidence that design intent matches operational reality. Digital twins are quickly becoming a standard risk-reduction tool.
Agentic AI and the Future of Support
AI was everywhere at CES, but agentic AI stood out for its practical implications.
Agentic AI uses purpose-built agents designed to handle specific tasks and workflows. Personal agents can operate across devices and systems, remaining context-aware and persistent — reducing the need to navigate multiple apps and dashboards.
In service-driven environments, this opens meaningful possibilities:
- personalized reminders for routines and appointments
- adaptive prompts based on individual preferences
- early identification of missed patterns
- reduced staff burden from repetitive tasks
- earlier, more proactive intervention
When implemented responsibly — with consent, privacy protections, and human oversight — agentic AI has the potential to improve quality of life while strengthening operations.
The Physical Reality of Digital Growth
One underappreciated CES takeaway: digital growth has a physical footprint.
AI “gigafactories” — next-generation data centers — are reshaping energy demand, resilience planning, and development patterns. As communities become more connected and dependent on always-on systems, infrastructure planning must evolve alongside digital ambition.
Wellness Is Becoming Personalized and Proactive
Wellness innovation at CES focused on personalization and prevention extending beyond fitness into mobility, sleep, and long-term health support.
For aging populations, this points to better comfort and fewer preventable issues. For hospitality, it signals a future where wellness is embedded into experience, not treated as a separate amenity. Sleep technology, in particular, is gaining credibility as a contributor to cognitive health and recovery.
What This Means for the Built Environment
CES 2026 wasn’t about distant futures. It was about systems-level technologies already reshaping expectations.
The throughline is clear:
- Connectivity is infrastructure.
- Sensors are becoming intelligence.
- Digital twins reduce risk.
- Agentic AI reshapes support and operations.
- Digital growth drives physical demands.
- Wellness is becoming proactive and personal.
For senior living, multifamily, and hospitality, the opportunity isn’t to chase technology, it’s to design environments where technology makes life safer, easier, and more human.