[CES 2026 | Innovators Show Up] Marketon CEO Changjun Yang: “The dominant device of the AI era has yet to be decided… holograms could be the answer”

CES 2026 was an exhibition that spoke repeatedly about “AI,” but beneath the surface, another question was constantly being raised: What will be the new form factor that represents the AI era?

The mobile internet era was symbolized by the smartphone. Mobile devices led by Apple and Samsung changed the world through screens held in the palm of one’s hand. However, innovators encountered at CES 2026 spoke with one voice. In the AI era, the interface will no longer remain a “touch-based screen.”

Changjun Yang, CEO of immersive display specialist Marketon, whom we met at CES 2026, began from the same line of questioning. “As Sam Altman has said, the device that defined the mobile internet era and the dominant device of the AI era could be completely different,” Yang noted. “AI is not a technology you press with your hands, but one you speak to, see, and interact with in space.”

“The answer he focused on was a new input/output device and a new form factor—holograms.”

“Meta is pursuing AI interfaces through smart glasses, and many companies are exploring new compact devices,” Yang said. “I believe holograms can take up one axis of that competition.” His focus is not on holograms as mere visual effects, but as practical interfaces combined with AI.

The new product Marketon unveiled at CES 2026 is the result of that philosophy. Named “Mobile Hologram,” the device breaks away from the limitations of large-scale hologram displays by maximizing portability and on-site usability. It is designed to project 3D images in midair at a smart-device scale and to be controlled without physical touch.

Yang defined the product as a “hologram mobile device.” Unlike public holograms fixed to a specific location, this concept allows users to carry and move the device themselves. It can be used in living rooms and bedrooms, concert venues and event sites, and even while on the move.

In particular, the product was designed on the premise of integration with AI agents. Users can control hologram content via voice commands and gestures, moving beyond simple playback to interaction structures that respond to user context. This directly embodies Yang’s concept of an “input/output device for the AI era.”

Marketon’s technology has already been validated in the education and exhibition sectors. It has been installed and operated at the Seodaemun Museum of Natural History, elementary and secondary schools in Korea, financial institutions in Singapore, and major banks, proving its immersion and usability. Key strengths include midair imaging visible even in bright environments, a reflector-free structure, and superior hygiene and safety compared to VR devices.

At CES 2026, Marketon shifted its focus toward the global K-pop fandom market. “The fastest way to prove the practicality of holograms is to combine them with content people are passionate about,” Yang explained. “K-pop is the optimal market where technology and experience intersect.”

The mobile hologram is designed for immediate use at concert venues, fan signing events, pop-up stores, and merchandise shops. Yang described it as a “concert in your hand.” The goal is to allow fans to encounter artists in three dimensions anytime, anywhere.

“What we want to create is not a display, but an experience,” Yang said. “When AI and holograms are combined, the relationship between fans and artists themselves can change.” He added, “Mobile holograms will become an essential item that transforms performances and fan engagement at global tour sites.”

At CES 2026, Marketon plans to expand collaboration with global buyers, focusing on the “AI & Entertainment” sector. The company is also preparing to build an ecosystem encompassing content production and distribution through partnerships with K-pop agencies, global fan platforms, and merchandise distributors.

The dominant device of the AI era has yet to be determined. What became clear at CES 2026, however, is one thing: AI has entered a phase of competition over which form factor it will operate on. Marketon has presented holograms as one of those answers. “There is still a vacancy for the device of the AI era,” Yang concluded. “The battle has begun to see who will turn that vacancy into reality first.”