Brunswick & University of Illinois Showcasing AI Tech Advancement at CES 2026

The future of digital technology, AI, and autonomy, in boating will be on full display at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The event runs from January 6th-9th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Boating's most prominent display will be courtesy of Brunswick Corporation who will be showcasing a host tech advancements spanning multiple products and divisions.

CES — one of the world’s largest technology expos — has become a critical hub for innovators in electronics, AI, and mobility technologies. It has increasingly drawn attention from the boating industry for its influential marketplace of digital technology that can parlay into recreational boating.

Brunswick will be partnered with the University of Illinois, who joined the mission in 2024 to co-develop the Boating Intelligence Design Laboratory, to showcase the latest advancements in marine technology blending artificial intelligence, immersive simulation, and hands-on autonomy features intended to reshape the future of boating. The Boating Intelligence initiative is part of Brunswick's broader ACES strategy (Autonomy, Connectivity, Electrification, and Shared) that aims to infuse emerging technology into traditional boating experiences to improve safety, accessibility, and user engagement.

One of UIUC and Brunswick's most hyped products will be a 200-degree virtual reality boating simulator that uses AI-powered autonomy to assist in complex tasks like route planning, docking, and improving situational awareness. The Future Helm Simulator, developed with input and software from University of Illinois students, will show boaters how an advanced interactive experience can reduce the learning curve and increase safety for boaters.

Brunswick's other big showcase with be the new Simrad AutoCaptain, the industry's first fully autonomous maneuvering system.

“As the first solution to be commercialized under the ‘Autonomy’ pillar of ACES, AutoCaptain marks a major milestone in our innovation journey," said Aine Denari, EVP & President, Navico Group and Brunswick Chief Technology Officer. "This system takes the stress out of close-quarters maneuvering, allowing boaters to focus on enjoying their time on the water. And this is just the beginning. The same hardware platform will support an expanding suite of autonomous features that will be rolled out via software updates, enhancing the boating experience by making it more accessible and intuitive for everyone.”

Several executives from Brunswick will be keynote speakers at CES, including Denari, Senior VP and Chief Information Officer Samir Shah, VP of Product Development and Engineering Marco Bracalente, and CEO and Co-Founder of ApexAI Jan Becker. Brunswick will also be leading a session titled "AI At The Helm of Marine Innovation" on Wednesday, January 7th from 12:00-12:30.

Other highlights available for consumers to explore at CES will be Fliteboards, one of Brunswick's newest acquisition and the latest in e-foiling technology. Brunswick will also be displaying a new Navan C30, their latest boat brand launched in 2024, with integrated solar panels and eFathom electric technology. The company has also hinted at the launch of a new Sea Ray model for 2026.

Visitors to CES will get the chance to explore the full complement of new Brunswick tech when the event opens this Tuesday Jan 6th.

You can hear Brunswick's plans for CES 2026 from CEO Dave Foulkes at the New York Stock Exchange in the video below:

#news #brunswickcorporation