2026 will be an 'explosive year' for AI, says SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 02, 2026 at 16:13  |  3:00  |  CNBC
Speakers
Jack Hidary — CEO, SandboxAQ
Seema Mody — Technology and Global Markets Correspondent, CNBC

Summary

SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary predicts 2026 will be an explosive year for AI, led by robotaxis and humanoid robotics. He expects Waymo to reach 1 million paid rides per week by Q3 and Tesla to match Waymo's robotaxi fleet numbers over the next three to four quarters, arguing Tesla should be viewed as a robotics company. He also sees humanoid robots scaling first in B2B logistics and warehouses, with Amazon and hospitals as early deployment areas.

  • Jack Hidary predicts an explosive AI year in 2026.
  • Waymo and Tesla robotaxis are scaling; Waymo expected to hit 1M weekly rides by Q3.
  • Tesla should be viewed as a robotics company, not a car manufacturer.
  • Humanoid robots will hit B2B first, especially logistics and warehouses.
  • Amazon will announce humanoid robot use this year and scale over time.
  • Hospital robots are already testing non-surgical tasks.
  • Chinese and private humanoid robotics companies are noted as players.
Ideas
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 0:32
AI explosive in 2026.
2026 will be an explosive year for AI, with robots hitting in many different ways and coming onto the radar of many investors.
AI-SECTOR HIGH
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 0:43
Robotaxis scaling rapidly.
Robotaxis are already scaling: Waymo has 450,000 paid rides a week and 2,500 cars on the road, and he expects Waymo to reach one million paid rides a week by Q3, with Tesla trying to match similar numbers by mid-to-end year.
DRIV HIGH
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 0:53
Tesla is a robotics play.
Tesla should be viewed as a robotics company, not a car manufacturer; its car sales are irrelevant to its future, and it should match Waymo's robotaxi fleet numbers over the next three to four quarters despite currently having only 130 robotaxis.
TSLA HIGH
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 1:44
Humanoid robotics explosion in 2026.
Humanoid robots are the next major AI-driven wave; he points to Optimus, Figure AI, and Chinese robotics companies, and expects robots to hit big in B2B first before consumer.
Humanoid robotics HIGH
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 2:06
Logistics humanoid robots scaling.
B2B humanoid robot adoption will start in logistics and warehouses; Amazon's existing robot base and planned humanoid rollout support his expectation of hundreds of thousands of humanoid robots eventually in logistics and supply chain.
Logistics and warehouse robotics HIGH
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 2:11
Amazon leads warehouse humanoid robots.
Amazon is a key adopter of warehouse robotics: it already has over a million non-humanoid robots in warehouses and will announce humanoid robot use this year, rolling out over this year, next year, and the year after as it scales.
AMZN MED
Jack Hidary CEO, SandboxAQ 2:35
Hospital robotics deployments growing.
Robots are already being tested in US hospitals for non-surgical basic tasks such as moving linens, towels, and food and UV sanitizing rooms to eliminate MRSA, making hospital robotics another B2B deployment area.
Hospital robotics MED
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This CNBC video, published January 02, 2026, features Jack Hidary discussing AI-SECTOR, DRIV, TSLA, Humanoid robotics, Logistics and warehouse robotics, AMZN, Hospital robotics. 7 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Jack Hidary  · Tickers: AI-SECTOR, DRIV, TSLA, Humanoid robotics, Logistics and warehouse robotics, AMZN, Hospital robotics