Caterpillar Charting a Tech-Driven Future at CES 2026
When one of the world’s most iconic industrial giants takes centre stage at the world’s biggest tech showcase, you know something significant is happening. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that Joe Creed, Caterpillar’s CEO, will deliver a keynote at CES 2026, marking a defining moment in the company’s transformation from heavy-equipment powerhouse to advanced technology leader.
Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair of CTA, put it simply: “CES is where innovators show up and bold ideas come to life. I’m thrilled to welcome CEO Joe Creed and Caterpillar to the CES keynote stage to show how technology is transforming the way we build.”
This isn’t just a speaking slot. It’s a statement. Caterpillar is stepping into Las Vegas to demonstrate how digital innovation, autonomy, artificial intelligence, and intelligent platforms will reshape construction, mining, infrastructure, and energy systems for decades ahead.
Setting the Stage for the Next 100 Years
Caterpillar celebrates its centennial in 2025. Rather than treating the milestone as a retrospective, the company sees it as a launch pad. Creed’s keynote will look forward, outlining the technology roadmap that will drive Caterpillar into its second century.
According to the company, the keynote will highlight:
- Accelerated development in AI and machine learning
- Expansion of autonomous equipment and connected jobsite ecosystems
- Growing partnerships across tech and industrial sectors
- Digital platforms that deliver real-time insights and predictive capabilities
- Workforce empowerment through new technology and data tools
Joe Creed reinforced the point: “We are building on our strong legacy of innovation, rapidly expanding our tech capabilities in new ways that help solve our customers’ toughest challenges.”
He continued, emphasising Caterpillar’s direction for the future: “CES is the place to showcase Caterpillar as an advanced technology leader in industrial equipment with expertise that extends beyond moving earth to include intelligent systems and integrated digital platforms that anticipate, evolve and optimise customer outcomes for a better tomorrow.”
From Dirt to Data
For decades, Caterpillar symbolised rugged strength and mechanical reliability. Today, that legacy remains intact, but its front line increasingly runs through artificial intelligence, autonomy, and cloud-based intelligence platforms.
The company already fields autonomous haul trucks in mining operations, remotely operated dozers, and smart compact equipment designed for urban construction environments. Its Command and VisionLink platforms are changing operations in mining and construction, offering real-time analytics, remote management, and machine learning insights.
Industry analysts expect Caterpillar to use CES to demonstrate advancements in:
- Fully autonomous earthmoving fleets
- Predictive maintenance technologies
- Remote operations for hazardous environments
- Digital twins and simulation for infrastructure planning
- Electrified and hybrid industrial power systems
Workforce, Culture, and Technology
While machines and algorithms grab headlines, Caterpillar remains clear that its people form the backbone of its evolution. Joe Creed’s career across multiple divisions has shaped a leadership approach grounded in industry experience and team empowerment.
He views technology as a means to amplify human capability rather than replace it. Under his vision, technicians, operators, and engineers gain tools that enhance safety, decision-making, and productivity.
Creed calls this a competitive advantage rooted in culture and talent. As he leads the company into its second century, his focus bridges tradition and frontier innovation.
Industry Response and Expectations
Kinsey Fabrizio, President of CTA, summed up the excitement ahead of the keynote: “I look forward to a dynamic Caterpillar keynote at CES, exploring AI’s transformational power and potential as we build the world. We can’t wait to see how Caterpillar is moving the mobility tech ecosystem forward.”
Fabrizio’s comment reflects a broader shift: traditional sectors aren’t just adopting technology, they’re shaping it.
Major technology firms and global executives will share the CES 2026 keynote stage alongside Creed, including:
- Dr. Lisa Su of AMD
- Yannick Bolloré of Havas and Vivendi
- Yuanqing Yang of Lenovo
This signals Caterpillar’s arrival not merely as a machinery manufacturer, but as a peer in the global technology ecosystem.
CES 2026
Creed will speak at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, 7 January, in the Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian. But the keynote is just part of Caterpillar’s presence. Attendees can explore Booth 5019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall to see live demonstrations and future-focused technology platforms.
From AI-enabled machines to fleet intelligence systems and predictive digital services, Caterpillar’s showcase promises a glimpse of the jobsite of tomorrow.
CES, traditionally known for consumer electronics, has increasingly evolved into the global meeting place for mobility, automation, energy transition, and industrial AI. Caterpillar’s involvement underscores that shift.
Construction and Infrastructure
Caterpillar’s CES appearance arrives at a pivotal moment for global infrastructure. Governments and industries worldwide face accelerating challenges, including:
- Skilled labour shortages
- Climate resilience and sustainability demands
- Autonomous equipment integration
- Digital transformation and cybersecurity
- Electrification and alternative power sources
Tools once reserved for defence labs and software firms now define competitive advantage in construction and mining. Caterpillar’s presence at CES highlights a future where earthmoving and AI development live side-by-side.
Building a Smarter, Safer, Sustainable Future
The next era of construction technology goes beyond automation and digital monitoring. It promises:
- Safer job sites through machine vision and remote operation
- Lower emissions through hybrid and electric industrial systems
- Shorter project timelines driven by digital twins and simulation
- Higher equipment productivity through AI-driven decision-making
- Greater workforce capability through augmented digital tools
Caterpillar has already committed substantial investment to electrification and energy solutions, including hydrogen-ready engines and battery-electric mining trucks. These advancements align with global sustainability goals and shifting sector regulations.
The CES Stage
CES 2026 isn’t merely an industry event for Caterpillar. It’s a signal to global markets, customers, and future talent that the company intends to lead, not follow, in the next chapter of industrial evolution.
With a century behind it and a technology-powered future ahead, Caterpillar stands ready to redefine what heavy equipment looks like in a connected, data-driven era.
The construction and mining landscape is changing rapidly, and markets will look toward Caterpillar’s keynote as a marker of where the sector is headed. By stepping onto the CES stage, the company reinforces that its future is as much about intelligence as horsepower.
For professionals, investors, and policymakers attending CES 2026 or following announcements globally, this is one keynote worth watching.
