Bosch arrived at CES 2026 with a simple message: artificial intelligence is no longer confined to labs or luxury cars, it is creeping into every corner of daily life, right down to the way a steak hits the grill. From a generative cooking assistant that can guide a home chef in real time to AI-powered cockpits and industrial sensors, the company is using Las Vegas to argue that its future lies in blending software with the hardware it has spent decades perfecting.
What stands out is not just the breadth of Bosch’s announcements but the consistency of the strategy behind them. The same data-driven logic that helps a vehicle understand its surroundings is being applied to ovens, vacuum cleaners and tiny motion sensors, all pitched as people-centric tools rather than abstract tech experiments.
Bosch Cook AI turns the steak into a data point
The most photogenic proof of that strategy is Bosch Cook AI, a generative assistant that treats dinner as a problem AI can help solve. At CES, Bosch partnered with a chef to grill steak live on stage, using Bosch Cook AI to adjust timing and technique in real time so the meat landed at exactly the doneness the audience expected, a moment that crystallized how the company wants to bring machine intelligence into the most analog of rituals. The demo was framed as part of a broader push that Bosch highlighted on 01.06, positioning cooking guidance as a natural extension of its long history in kitchen appliances and its newer focus on software-driven services for the home.
What makes Bosch Cook AI more than a flashy stage trick is the way it combines image recognition, sensor data and generative models to respond to what is actually happening in the pan. Bosch has described how users can photograph ingredients and let the assistant suggest recipes and step-by-step instructions, effectively turning a smartphone and a connected appliance into a sous-chef that can adapt on the fly. That approach was underscored in a report detailing how Bosch Cook AI sat at the center of the company’s CES cooking showcase, with Jan and By Lee Jeong cited around the launch as Bosch used the steak to make a broader point about everyday AI.
From Instagram teaser to generative kitchen assistant
Bosch did not arrive at this moment overnight, and the company has been seeding expectations for its cooking assistant across earlier trade shows and social channels. Ahead of CES 2026, Bosch previewed Bosch Cook AI as a generative-AI-powered helper that could take a quick photo of whatever was in a user’s fridge and turn it into a coherent meal plan, a pitch that framed the tool as both a creativity booster and a way to cut food waste. That teaser emphasized that Bosch Cook AI was not just a recipe database but a system that could reason about ingredients, techniques and desired outcomes, then translate that reasoning into clear instructions.
In one social post, Bosch highlighted how Bosch Cook AI fits into a larger narrative of product development that spans multiple CES cycles, using hashtags like CES2025 and CES2026 to signal that this assistant is part of a multi-year roadmap rather than a one-off stunt. The company also hinted at how the same generative logic could extend beyond the kitchen, inviting viewers to imagine an AI-powered cockpit in a vehicle as another canvas for this technology. That continuity was evident in an Instagram update where Bosch Cook AI appeared alongside references to Jan and broader CES productdevelopment, underscoring that the assistant is one node in a wider AI ecosystem.
Inside Bosch’s generative recipe engine
Under the hood, Bosch Cook AI is being positioned as a showcase for how the company blends its proprietary know-how with newer generative techniques. Executives have explained that the assistant is powered by generative AI models but grounded in Bosch’s own technologies and processes, which are embedded in the app to keep recommendations realistic and aligned with how its appliances actually behave. That means the system is not just hallucinating recipes, it is drawing on decades of engineering around heating profiles, sensor feedback and safety constraints, then wrapping that expertise in a conversational interface.
In a detailed discussion of Bosch’s hardware-software edge, the company framed Bosch Cook AI as a prime example of how it wants to bridge the physical and digital worlds with people-centric tech. The explanation began with the phrase “Sure, Tanja,” as an executive walked through how the assistant can translate a user’s desired cooking outcome into specific settings and steps, promising that “It’s that easy!” while stressing that the simplicity on the surface hides a complex orchestration of data and control. That philosophy is laid out in a press briefing where Sure, Tanja and Bosch Cook AI are invoked together to illustrate how generative AI, proprietary algorithms and intuitive design are meant to converge in a single app.
Personalized AI kitchens and the BSH strategy
Bosch’s cooking ambitions are also being driven by BSH Home Appliances North America, the group responsible for many of the Bosch-branded devices that end up in actual homes. At CES 2026, BSH used the spotlight to unveil personalized AI features for the kitchen, pitching them as tools that can learn a household’s preferences and adapt over time rather than static presets. Alongside Bosch Cook AI, the company introduced its first cordless stick vacuum for the region, a reminder that the same data and software infrastructure can support both aspirational cooking experiences and more mundane chores.
BSH framed these launches under the banner “Live #LikeABosch: People first,” arguing that personalization is not a gimmick but a way to make technology feel less intimidating and more responsive. The company highlighted how its AI can guide users toward a desired cooking outcome, effectively turning the oven or cooktop into a partner that understands both the recipe and the person behind it. That positioning was spelled out in a briefing where BSH Home Appliances North America described how Jan and BSH are using CES to argue that AI in the kitchen should be as much about comfort and confidence as it is about efficiency.
AI cockpits and the 80% car forecast
While the steak demo grabbed headlines, Bosch used CES 2026 to reinforce its ambitions in mobility, particularly around AI-powered cockpits that can understand drivers and passengers in richer ways. The company has been working with partners to build in-vehicle systems that can interpret voice, gestures and context, then surface the right information or assistance without overwhelming the person behind the wheel. In a key forecast, Bosch board member Tanya Rücker said that by the end of 2029, over 80% of newly sold vehicles worldwide will be software-defined, a figure that underscores why the company is investing so heavily in digital platforms for cars.
That prediction is not just a talking point, it is a strategic north star that informs Bosch’s collaborations and product roadmaps. At CES, the company highlighted how its AI innovations in vehicle mobility are designed to support new forms of interaction, including the ability to conduct certain tasks via video during driving, while still respecting safety constraints. The broader context for that vision was laid out in a report where Tanya and Jan were cited alongside the 80% figure, with By the end of the decade presented as a clear deadline for the industry’s software shift.
Collaboration with Microsoft and Nvidia in the cockpit
To make those AI cockpits real, Bosch is leaning on heavyweight partners like Microsoft and Nvidia, combining its automotive expertise with cloud and chip capabilities it cannot build alone. The company has described a collaboration with Microsoft and Nvidia that aims to create a cockpit platform capable of running advanced AI workloads, from natural language understanding to real-time sensor fusion, while meeting the stringent reliability demands of the automotive sector. By anchoring this work in a shared architecture, Bosch hopes to shorten development cycles and give carmakers a more flexible foundation for their own branded experiences.
Markus Heyn, member of the board of management of Bosch and chairman of Bosch Mobility, has argued that this AI-powered cockpit will make driving more comfortable and safer by tailoring information to the situation instead of flooding the driver with screens and alerts. The initiative is framed as part of a broader transformation of the automotive industry, which Bosch describes as being in the midst of a shift toward software-defined vehicles that can be updated and enhanced over time. Those ambitions are detailed in a release that highlights the Collaboration with Microsoft and Nvidia, and quotes Markus Heyn on how Bosch wants its AI-powered cockpit to reshape the driving experience.
Autonomous trucks and the Kodiak Robo partnership
Bosch’s mobility story at CES 2026 is not limited to passenger cars, it also extends to freight, where the company sees autonomous trucks as a major growth area for its components and software. In partnership with Kodiak Robo, Bosch announced a new long-term agreement focused on scaling autonomous technology for heavy-duty vehicles, combining Bosch’s hardware and safety systems with Kodiak’s self-driving stack. The goal is to create a platform that logistics operators can trust at scale, with redundancy and diagnostics built in from the start rather than bolted on later.
The partnership is framed as a way to accelerate the deployment of autonomous trucks by giving Kodiak Robo access to Bosch’s manufacturing muscle and global service network, while Bosch gains a front-row seat to the operational realities of driverless freight. Both sides emphasize that scaling is not just about more vehicles on the road, it is about building the supply chains, maintenance regimes and regulatory relationships that make autonomy sustainable. Those stakes are spelled out in a detailed account of How Kodiak and Bosch Plan to Scale Autonomous Trucks, which describes how Jan, Bosch and Kodiak Robo are aligning their roadmaps to bring autonomous technology to market more quickly.
MEMS sensors and the BMI5 platform behind the scenes
Behind the glossy demos, Bosch is also using CES to highlight the less visible components that make AI applications possible, particularly in sensing. At CES, Bosch is presenting its newest BMI5 AI MEMS sensor platform, which it describes as the foundation for a range of motion and environmental sensors that can feed rich data into AI systems. All sensors developed on this basis are characterized by their ability to combine low power consumption with on-device intelligence, enabling everything from wearables to industrial equipment to interpret movement and context without constantly pinging the cloud.
The company is explicit that these MEMS devices are not just passive components, they are active participants in AI workflows that can pre-process data and trigger higher level algorithms when something meaningful happens. That approach is central to Bosch’s vision of distributed intelligence, where decisions are made as close to the physical world as possible to reduce latency and improve privacy. The strategy is laid out in a CES preview that notes how At CES, Bosch is showcasing the BMI5 AI MEMS platform and explaining why All of its future sensor designs will lean on this architecture to support smarter applications.
BMI423 and the sensor roadmap
Drilling down further, Bosch Sensortec is using CES 2026 to spotlight specific products like the BMI423, a versatile sensor that illustrates how the BMI5 platform translates into real-world components. The BMI423 is described as delivering enhanced robustness and precision for a wide array of applications, from hearables that need accurate motion tracking to industrial devices that must operate reliably in harsh environments. By embedding more intelligence at the sensor level, Bosch aims to reduce the burden on host processors and make it easier for developers to add sophisticated features without redesigning entire systems.
The BMI423 also signals how Bosch is thinking about its research methods around sensing, emphasizing not just raw performance but the ability to integrate seamlessly into AI-driven products. The company’s CES materials highlight how its sensors are designed to be building blocks for tomorrow’s innovations, with clear documentation and reference designs that help partners get up and running quickly. Those themes are captured in an event overview that points to the BMI423 as a flagship sensor in Bosch’s Jan CES lineup, underscoring how sensing technologies are driving tomorrow’s innovations across consumer and industrial markets.
Tanja Rueckert’s people-centric AI thesis
Threading through all of these announcements is a consistent message from Bosch leadership about the role of AI in everyday life. Tanja Rueckert, a key executive shaping the company’s digital strategy, has argued that Bosch’s expertise across hardware, software and services enables it to build AI systems that are not just technically impressive but genuinely useful to people. She frames the company’s mission as shaping the future of mobility, manufacturing and technology in everyday life, with AI serving as the connective tissue that links these domains.
Rueckert has also stressed that this people-centric approach will be crucial for the future, particularly as AI becomes more deeply embedded in critical infrastructure and personal devices. In her view, Bosch’s ability to combine domain knowledge with robust engineering gives it an edge in building trustworthy systems, whether that means an AI that helps cook a steak or one that manages a factory line. Those ideas are articulated in a CES statement where Tanja Rueckert links CES, Bosch and Jan into a single narrative about how the company’s expertise enables it to shape technology that will be crucial for the future.
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