CES 2026 AI was the loudest theme in Las Vegas this week, as companies pushed artificial intelligence into gadgets, wearables, TVs, and even kitchen appliances. But alongside the excitement, consumer and privacy advocates warned that some “AI” features look unnecessary, intrusive, or likely to break, naming several products as “Worst in Show.”
CES 2026, the annual gadget fair, ended Friday in Las Vegas after days of new product demos and big promises about smarter devices. From AI-powered “emotional support” pets and smart rings to new kinds of robot lawn mowers and concept robots that tried (and sometimes failed) to do chores, the show highlighted how fast companies are trying to move AI from screens into the physical world.
AI shows up in everything
At CES 2026, AI wasn’t a side feature—it was a label attached to a huge range of products, from health devices to home appliances. Critics and consumer protection groups questioned whether too many gadgets are being called “intelligent” without a clear benefit for people who have to live with them every day.
TechRadar said CES is often a strong indicator of the ideas and themes that will dominate the year, and its team highlighted trends like AI wearables that aim to be a “second brain” and AI-powered pets designed to respond to gestures, voices, and moods. The same TechRadar roundup also pointed to a broader wave of new “external brain” gadgets—like lapel pins that record and summarize conversations and smart rings that handle notes and transcriptions—as brands keep searching for an AI hardware form factor that actually sticks.
Robots and “physical” demos grab attention
Robots remained a CES staple, with multiple outlets describing a show floor packed with machines designed to help with chores or everyday tasks. TechRadar noted that humanoid robots drew attention but still looked unready for home life, describing an LG CLOiD demo that took a long time to place a wet towel into a washing machine and other laundry attempts that were far from smooth.
Tom’s Guide also described LG’s CLOiD struggling in a towel-folding demo, including a moment where it “gets through the halfway fold before getting confused or maybe just low on power” and then “puts its hands down at its sides as if to signal to the world that it’s giving up.” On the more practical side of home robotics, Tom’s Guide highlighted Roborock’s Saros Rover concept robot vacuum, which uses “two legs with wheels” to climb stairs and can even jump.
Consumer groups call out “Worst in Show”
A panel of consumer and privacy advocates, including Consumer Reports, Back Market, and iFixit, judged an annual “Worst in Show” contest aimed at calling out technology that “undermines privacy, security, sustainability, and repairability.” Organizers said they selected what they viewed as “the most overengineered, unrepairable and unsustainable technology disasters at CES” this year, and published the list of “losers” on Thursday.
Euronews reported that the top “Worst in Show” pick was Samsung’s Bespoke AI Family Hub, an internet-connected fridge that can open and close its door using voice commands. Judges argued that features like voice controls, constant internet connectivity, and built-in advertising could make a basic appliance more likely to break, harder to use, and more expensive to fix, and they also criticized the fridge’s cameras as unnecessary.
Amazon’s Ring doorbell camera system was also named among the worst products, with criticism tied to consumer surveillance and new AI features introduced across cameras and doorbells. Euronews reported comments from the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cindy Cohn, who raised concerns about tools such as facial recognition, mobile surveillance towers, and third-party app features becoming increasingly invasive, and also included remarks suggesting that even people without Ring devices could still be impacted by nearby cameras.
The “Worst in Show” list also included Lollipop Star, described as an electronic lollipop that plays music as it’s licked using bone-conduction technology. Euronews reported it received an Environmental Impact award because of concerns about e-waste, including disposable batteries that last one hour, as well as single-use plastic and electronics.
New gadgets beyond the hype
While critics questioned some AI labeling, CES 2026 also delivered plenty of products aimed at being useful, fun, or simply strange. Mashable described CES as a major global tech exhibition where big companies like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Lenovo show new advancements alongside concept products that may never hit stores, while startups and robotics companies bring unusual devices as well.
On the consumer gadget side, Mashable highlighted the TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers, which it described as headphones that can transform into speakers, with availability “later this month” for $249. Mashable also described a proof-of-concept Motorola wearable AI device that can identify and describe objects, summarize information, and help navigate events by launching apps on a connected smartphone.
Health and “longevity” tech also got a spotlight in multiple CES roundups. TechRadar called “longevity” a major health-tech buzzword at CES 2026 and pointed to products like the NuraLogix Longevity Mirror and Withings Body Scan 2 as examples of devices promising deeper health metrics and long-term insights.
Tom’s Guide reported that the Withings Body Scan 2 is expected to cost $599 and is tentatively expected to ship by this summer, adding that several features have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval. Tom’s Guide also said the scale is positioned as “the world’s first science-backed longevity station,” measuring 60 biomarkers and producing results in 90 seconds, with outputs grouped into categories such as heart age and vascular age.
On the home side, Tom’s Guide described an LG smart oven that includes the company’s “AI Core-Tech” (also referred to as Gourmet AI) and has a camera inside to monitor food while it cooks, sending an alert to a phone when a bake is “perfectly browned.” Tom’s Guide also reported that IKEA’s Varmblixt lamp is returning as a smart, color-changing version with dimming and remote control, priced at $99 and expected to be available in April 2026.
