On the January 6, 2026 episode of “Bloomberg Businessweek Daily,” hosts discussed record-high markets, the potential Supreme Court ruling on Trump-era tariffs, and the economic implications of such a decision. The highlight was an interview with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon at CES 2026, where he emphasized the real, long-term potential of AI across robotics, automotive, and wearables, rejecting the idea that AI is a speculative bubble.
On the January 6, 2026 episode of “Bloomberg Businessweek Daily,” hosts Carol Masser and Tim Stenovec covered a range of topics shaping the economic and business landscape, with a particular focus on technology, markets, and policy. The show opened with a market update, noting that the S&P 500 and Dow Jones were hitting record highs, while investors awaited key economic data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions. There was also discussion about the upcoming Supreme Court opinion day, which could potentially address the legality of former President Trump’s global tariffs—a decision with significant implications for trade policy and the broader economy.
The program featured an in-depth segment on the potential Supreme Court ruling regarding Trump’s tariffs. Bloomberg’s Supreme Court reporter explained that while a decision was not guaranteed on the scheduled opinion day, the expedited nature of the case suggested a ruling could come soon. The conversation highlighted skepticism among justices about the president’s authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval, and discussed the possible economic consequences if the tariffs were struck down. Michael McKee, Bloomberg’s international economics correspondent, added that even if some tariffs are removed, companies are unlikely to lower prices, meaning consumers may continue to face higher costs.
A major highlight of the episode was a live interview from CES 2026 with Cristiano Amon, CEO and President of Qualcomm. Amon discussed Qualcomm’s expansion into robotics, automotive, and wearables, emphasizing that robotics represents a significant new frontier for edge AI. He predicted that industrial robots powered by AI would become mainstream as early as 2026, while fully autonomous consumer robots would take longer to materialize. In the automotive sector, Amon described the car as an emerging digital platform, with Qualcomm’s digital cockpit technology already in millions of vehicles and partnerships with major automakers to advance assisted and autonomous driving.
Amon also addressed the future of AI-powered wearables and PCs, suggesting that personal devices like smart glasses, jewelry, and rings will become the next evolution of mobile platforms, integrating AI agents for continuous, personalized assistance. He pushed back against the notion that AI is a speculative bubble, arguing that while there may be short-term overinvestment, the long-term potential of AI is still underestimated—drawing a parallel to the early days of the internet, which ultimately exceeded expectations.
The episode concluded with analysis from Bloomberg Intelligence’s Mandeep Singh, who noted that despite the excitement around robotics and autonomous vehicles at CES, the real near-term growth in AI remains in data centers and enterprise applications, where demand for chips and systems is surging. The show also touched on trends in private credit and M&A activity, with Christina Lee from Oaktree Capital Management highlighting pent-up demand and the role of private equity in driving deal flow for 2026. The hosts wrapped up with a look at market movers, including the impact of comments from Nvidia’s CEO on chip and data center stocks, and teased upcoming coverage on Venezuela and prediction markets.