At CES, John Deere and other heavy machinery giants draw attention
On the 7th (local time), at the booth of U.S. agricultural machinery company John Deere set up in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held. The ultra-large X9 combine harvester equipped with autonomous driving functions is on display. Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
On the 7th (local time), at the booth of U.S. agricultural machinery company John Deere set up in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held. The ultra-large X9 combine harvester equipped with autonomous driving functions is on display. Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
On the 7th (local time), at the booth of U.S. agricultural machinery company John Deere in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, the new ultra-large combine (harvester) X9 was on display, overwhelming in size to the point that everyone walking through the West Hall stopped at least once to look at it. John Deere unveiled the X9, equipped with autonomous driving capability, for the first time at this CES. A GPS and cameras are installed on the thresher so it can determine in which direction it should move to harvest crops.
Sitting in the combine driving simulator set up in the exhibition hall, the steering wheel was turned and the accelerator pressed to harvest crops shown on the screen. It was not easy to time the steering, causing the machine to wander in a zigzag, and it repeatedly passed over areas that had already been harvested. After pressing the “autonomous driving” button on the gear section, the combine moved straight on its own, rapidly harvesting the crops. A John Deere representative said, “In autonomous driving mode, it can harvest 20–30% more crops than with manual driving,” adding, “Even beginners who are not familiar with operating agricultural machinery can harvest by using the autonomous driving function.”
On the 7th (local time), at the booth of U.S. agricultural machinery company John Deere set up in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held. Visitors could manually drive the ultra-large X9 combine equipped with autonomous driving functions in a virtual simulator, and also try it in autonomous mode. Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
Founded in 1837, John Deere has turned to AI as a solution to aging and labor shortages in the agricultural sector, and has been participating in CES since 2019, unveiling new technologies every year. Skilled workers are aging, hiring itself is difficult, and it takes a long time to train new workers. According to John Deere, the average age of farmers in the United States is 58, and they work more than 12 hours a day while still facing labor shortages.
Construction sites are also suffering from chronic labor shortages similar to those in agriculture. In response, heavy equipment manufacturers have showcased AI-based technologies at this CES that lower the barrier to entry so that even novice workers can easily operate machines.
On the 7th (local time), at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, Doosan Bobcat unveiled a “skid loader” equipped with large language model (LLM)-based AI voice control functions. Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
On the 7th (local time), at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, Doosan Bobcat unveiled a “skid loader” equipped with large language model (LLM)-based AI voice control functions. Courtesy of Doosan Bobcat
On the 7th (local time), at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, Doosan Bobcat’s “skid loader” equipped with LLM-based AI voice control functions was on display; this is the gear shift lever inside the vehicle. Pressing the button with the microphone icon initiates voice recognition. Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
Doosan Bobcat is introducing its AI-based voice command technology “Jobsite Companion” to small construction equipment to address the “generational shift of skilled workers” issue. Sitting in the skid loader (construction equipment used to scoop and move soil or gravel) displayed at Doosan Bobcat’s CES 2026 exhibition booth, pressing the microphone button on the gear and saying “Turn on the lights” caused the machine’s lights to switch on. A Doosan Bobcat representative explained, “Even novice operators who are not yet accustomed to handling construction equipment can execute more than 50 functions via voice commands, including setting adjustments, engine speed control, attachment coupling, and controlling lights and the radio.”
On the 7th (local time), at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, Caterpillar, the world’s largest heavy equipment maker, unveiled its generative AI-based “CAT AI Assistant.” Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
On the 7th (local time), at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the United States, where CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, is being held, Caterpillar, the world’s largest heavy equipment maker, unveiled its generative AI-based “CAT AI Assistant.” Las Vegas = Reporter Minah Lee
Caterpillar, the world’s largest heavy equipment maker, unveiled its generative AI-based “CAT AI Assistant.” Instead of leafing through complex heavy equipment manuals, users can simply ask the conversational AI. On site, when asked, “What is the most worn-out part right now?” an answer was immediately provided. Caterpillar applied NVIDIA’s “Jetson Thor” technology so that this tool can operate offline, without the need to go through servers. It is designed so that workers can still receive AI assistance even at construction sites with poor internet connectivity.
Meanwhile, at CES 2026, which closed on the 8th, “physical AI,” in which AI is embodied in physical form, and autonomous driving were the main topics. Interest was particularly high in Hyundai Motor Company’s humanoid (human-shaped robot) “Atlas.” Crowds flocked to Hyundai’s booth throughout the exhibition period to see Atlas. As for NVIDIA, CEO Jensen Huang unveiled the autonomous driving software “Alpamayo” during a special address. CES 2026 attracted more than 4,300 companies from about 160 countries, with 853 Korean companies participating, the third-largest number after the United States (1,476) and China (942).
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