Practical Predictions for 2026

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Episode 93: Are humanoid robots, AI glasses, or autonomous vehicles the real future of AI—and which new tech should you actually care about? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) and Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9) break down the biggest surprises and trends from CES 2026.

In this episode, Matt returns from CES with fresh insight into the top three AI-powered trends dominating the event floor: humanoid robots, AR/AI-enabled glasses, and autonomous vehicles—including some wild new updates on flying cars and health-focused wearables. Maria pushes past the hype, challenging which tech is actually solving real problems. Together, they critique the usefulness of current AI gadgets, discuss the state of robots (do we really want a flipping robot, or just a butler?), debate wearable tech style, and preview major updates from OpenAI, Google, and Claude. Whether you’re all-in on futuristic tech or just want your laundry folded, this episode separates the game-changers from the gimmicks.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

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Show Notes:

• (00:00) CES: Innovation Plateau Observed

• (05:30) Robots: Impressive Mechanics, Lagging Software

• (09:35) AI-Powered Augmented Reality Glasses

• (10:10) Xreal Glasses: 2D to 3D

• (13:48) Self-Driving Rideshare and Robo-Taxis

• (18:31) Expensive eVTOL Temptation

• (22:04) ChatGPT Health: A New Tool

• (25:48) Decoding Blood Work with AI

• (29:17) Google Gemini Powers Personal AI

• (31:12) Personal Intelligence and Multiple Accounts

• (34:17) Misconceptions About AI Subcategories

• (36:56) Stay Updated on AI

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Mentions:

• CES 2026: https://www.ces.tech/

• XREAL AR Glasses: https://us.shop.xreal.com/collections/ar-glasses

• Ray Ban Meta Glasses: https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses

• Waymo: https://waymo.com/

• Zoox: https://zoox.com/

• Tesla Robotaxi: https://www.tesla.com/robotaxi

• OpenAI ChatGPT Health: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

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Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

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Check Out Nathan's Stuff:

• Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/

• Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano