CES and WEF 2026: What’s the Global State of Tech? with Jim Harris - Modern CTO Recap

Podcast: Modern CTO

Published: 2026-01-29

Duration: 1 hr 1 min

Guests: Jim Harris

Summary

Jim Harris discusses the transformative impact of AI on global technology trends, highlighting its efficiency gains and the future of work. He explores emerging applications in healthcare, education, and everyday life, alongside the challenges and fears surrounding AI adoption.

What Happened

Jim Harris begins by illustrating the profound efficiency gains companies are achieving with AI. Ernst & Young's investment of a billion dollars in AI has reduced a 46-hour risk management process to just six hours, exemplifying the potential for massive time savings and operational improvements.

In manufacturing, Brunswick uses AI to dynamically reprice boat parts in response to tariff changes. This real-time adjustment capability cuts down on response times and boosts profitability by quickly aligning prices with current economic conditions.

The healthcare sector is also experiencing significant advancements. Kaiser Permanente's use of AI has prioritized mammogram appointments, resulting in a 40% increase in cancer case identification. Jim Harris envisions a future where AI specialist agents could expedite diagnosis processes across medical fields.

Education is being transformed by AI's ability to provide personalized tutoring. A Colorado teacher used AI to tailor feedback for students, improving their performance by 28%. The potential for AI to enhance learning outcomes by up to 100 times by 2030 is on the horizon.

In robotics, Unitree is making humanoid robots more accessible, with models priced at $21,600. These robots could drastically reduce the time spent on housework, which Jim Harris notes averages 18 hours per week for most people.

The episode also touches on the rapid adoption of AI technologies like ChatGPT, which reached 800 million users in less than three years. This rapid growth highlights the accelerating pace at which AI is being integrated into everyday life, much faster than previous technological shifts like the internet.

Jim Harris warns that 39% of the skill set of the average worker will be irrelevant by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum. This underscores the urgency for workers to engage in continuous learning and adapt to new technologies to stay relevant.

Finally, Jim Harris discusses how AI is being used to optimize performance in sports and other fields by analyzing biometrics and external conditions, showcasing AI's versatile application across industries.

Key Insights

• Ernst & Young's $1 billion investment in AI has reduced a 46-hour risk management process to just six hours, demonstrating significant efficiency gains in corporate operations.
• Kaiser Permanente's use of AI to prioritize mammogram appointments has led to a 40% increase in cancer case identification, enhancing early detection and treatment outcomes.
• Unitree's humanoid robots, priced at $21,600, offer the potential to significantly reduce the average 18 hours per week spent on housework, making advanced robotics more accessible.
• The World Economic Forum predicts that 39% of the skill set of the average worker will be irrelevant by 2030, highlighting the need for continuous learning to adapt to technological advancements.