CES can mean miles of walking, endless demos, and information overload. This year, Quu teamed up with Jacobs Media to bring the radio industry the most important insights without having to trek 20,000 steps a day.
From CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Paul Jacobs, Fred Jacobs, Chris Brunt, and Steve Newberry (CEO of Quu) recorded a video series entirely on what matters to radio and audio brands.
Their mission: look at CES through a broadcaster’s lens and focus on what truly impacts radio.
CES 2026 Video Series: What Broadcasters Need to Know
This multi-day series delivers real-time takeaways the radio industry, including:
- How AI is changing the way people find and use audio
- Why audio is becoming more searchable and personalized
- What’s changing and disappearing in the connected car
- How dashboards, voice, and in-car experiences are evolving
- Why presets and habitual listening are declining
Each briefing is short (under 20 min), direct, and designed for busy radio professionals.
Day .5: Setting the Stage at CES
2026 CES Radio Briefing – Day .5
In this first “half-day” update, the team explains why CES 2026 feels different, and why broadcasters should care. The big shift: less focus on screens and hardware, and more focus on AI-powered audio and media experiences.
Key takeaways:
- The connected car is being redefined [6:57–9:35] – Cars are becoming AI platforms influencing how radio and audio are found and used.
- AI is becoming the new gatekeeper [10:11–11:25] – Discovery is moving away from apps and menus. AI “agents” get to know you and decide what audio gets served based on what listeners like, skip, and engage with over time.
- Presets + habitual listening will decline [13:54–14:05] – As Steve Newberry explains, AI suggests audio from any source. When listeners simply ask for what they want, reliance on presets and default listening behavior begins to shrink.
- Radio must get proactive now [14:12–15:28, 16:54–17:37] – AI is already here. Broadcasters have opportunities. Radio can stay competitive by leaning into what radio does best, local content and trusted voices, while using AI internally for planning, sales, marketing, and programming.
Each briefing is short (under 20 min), direct, and designed for busy radio professionals.
What this means:
Radio can no longer depend on default listening or old habits. As AI plays a bigger role in discovery, success will come from being relevant, local, and easy to find when listeners ask for something specific.
Related post:
Observations from CES 2026 – Day .5
https://jacobsmedia.com/obwervations-from-ces-2026-day-5
Day 1: AI, Audio, and the Expanding Definition of Radio
2026 CES Radio Briefing – Day 1
Day 1 digs deeper into how AI is reshaping audio, discovery, and listener expectations. A key theme emerges: radio’s role as the “companion medium” is being challenged (and expanded) by AI, video, and new in-car experiences.
Key takeaways:
- AI is positioning itself as the new companion [4:30–5:45] – AI platforms aim to be always-on helpers that remember preferences and guide choices. This raises the bar for radio when it comes to personalization and relevance.
- Audio discovery is changing [8:55–10:40] – As AI learns what listeners like, how they access audio, and who controls that choice, it will increasingly bypass traditional tuning and presets.
- Video is becoming part of the radio product [15:32–17:12] – Examples like Will.i.am’s interactive FYI RAiDiO platform and in-car video point to a future where local radio content extends beyond audio, especially in cars.
- Xperi shows how radio can still win inside the dashboard [18:20–18:39] – While video is growing, Xperi continues to support broadcast radio through its AutoStage platform.
What this means for radio:
Radio still has a strong place in the dashboard when discovery and usability are done right. The medium’s strengths—companionship, local connection, and trusted voices—still matter. But how those strengths are delivered is changing fast.
Related post:
Observations from CES 2026 – Day One
https://jacobsmedia.com/observations-from-ces-2026-day-one/
Day Two: From AI Hype to AI Reality
2026 CES Radio Briefing – Day 2
Day 2 moves from big ideas to real-world use. Across Foundry, C-Space, Eureka Park, and the auto exhibits, one message is clear: AI is no longer experimental. It’s already being used and moving faster than most broadcasters expect.
Key takeaways:
- AI is not a feature or a gimmick [0:00–0:18] – AI is now core infrastructure, shaping how media, products, and vehicles will operate.
- The pace has accelerated [5:54–6:05] – Changes that once took years are happening in months. Radio stations should start experimenting now before finalizing 2026 plans. To start, test AI-assisted sales proposals, promotion planning, or internal workflows.
- Cars are becoming AI platforms [8:26–8:45] – Radio still has a role in the car if it adapts to new ways listeners discover and interact with content.
- AI can reduce busywork [3:49–4:08, 14:52–15:25] – AI tools are already helping sales and operations teams save time, allowing them to focus on relationships, creativity, and strategy.
What this means for radio:
AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about helping stations work smarter, move faster, and stay competitive as listener behavior changes.
Related post:
Observations from CES 2026 – Day 2
https://jacobsmedia.com/observations-from-ces-day-2
Join the Free CES Wrap-Up Webinar
- Create content that stands out when listeners ask for what they want
- Strengthen local trust and connection that AI can’t replace
- Use AI internally to improve sales, marketing, and programming
Join Jacobs Media and Quu for a free CES 2026 Wrap-Up Webinar
To bring it all together, Jacobs Media and Quu will host a free CES 2026 Wrap-Up Webinar on January 29 at 2:00 PM (ET).
“CES 2026 – What Happened in Vegas and What It Means to Broadcast Radio” will connect the dots and translate CES trends into clear, practical takeaways for broadcasters.