[Reporter's View] CES 2026, Physical AI and utility task

One of the keywords  from CES 2026, which opened in Las Vegas on January 6 (local time), was 'Physical AI.'

As the world's largest tech exhibition, CES serves as a global stage for emerging trends in AI, digital healthcare, mobility, and smart homes.

This year at CES, the primary themes in the medical sector were Medical AI with high clinical usability, automation-based diagnostic technologies, and innovations in women's health.

While CES is intended to be a forum for the future of technology, this focus was even more pronounced this year.

In this year's keynote, Nvidia put Physical AI at the forefront, emphasizing a flow of "Executable AI" spanning robotics, autonomous driving, and manufacturing. Even within the medical and healthcare sectors, Nvidia explained its utility cases in terms of products and partnerships rather than mere theoretical models.

This shift is most visible in the digital health sector. CES designated digital health as a major pillar of its official programming.

According to KOTRA analysis, the digital health sector saw a 7.4% year-over-year increase in participating companies, the highest growth rate among all industry groups at CES 2026.

The term 'expansion' was also officially highlighted, with CES organizers noting that 2026 digital health programming would broaden to include women's health, AI, and wearables.

However, the discussions surrounding Physical AI presents a new set of challenges for the domestic medical device industry, which has centered itself around digital health. The center of gravity is shifting from technological performance to the practical role played on-site.

The industry is no longer satisfied with AI that proves its validity in research papers. It now demands evidence of how much it reduces bottlenecks in hospital workflows, cuts operating costs, and saves labor and time, ultimately translating these results into contracts.

Digital health has long grown by "borrowing time from the market" under the guise of innovation. However, in the era of Physical AI, the market is asking whether that innovation can fundamentally alter cost structures and redesign daily clinical workflows.

In this context, it is consistent with Lunit's position as an industry leader that has expanded its reach through global market share gains and strategic M&A that it continues to receive questions regarding its break-even point (BEP).

This is not a task for any single company. The entire 'K-Medical Device' sector is expected to face a reality where medical software must integrate with hardware to prove tangible economic utility. 

For technology to become a reality, it must ultimately reach patients and medical professionals. The collaboration model recently demonstrated by Seers Technology and Daewoong Pharmaceutical is highly suggestive in this regard. 

A venture company with technical capacity, leveraging the robust sales network and trust of a traditional pharmaceutical firm to overcome the conservative barriers in the medical field, will be linked to future revenue demands.

The question posed by CES 2026 is clear. Digital healthcare must now prove it is a tangible industry capable of generating revenue, overcoming its status as a mere 'future growth engine.'