The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas once again served as a pivotal platform for unveiling the latest technological advancements, with CES 2026 showcasing a future heavily influenced by artificial intelligence. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed that "The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here," underscoring the ubiquity of AI across various domains, from bendable screens and paper-thin TVs to cars and gadgets designed to learn user preferences. However, this year’s event presented a dual narrative, juxtaposing groundbreaking innovations with a strong critique of products deemed invasive, wasteful, or simply unnecessary, as highlighted by the annual "Worst in Show" awards.

The "Worst in Show" anti-awards, judged by consumer and privacy advocates without affiliation to CES, aimed to encourage manufacturers to improve by spotlighting uniquely problematic products based on their severity, potential impact, and regression from previous technologies. The overall "Worst in Show" distinction went to Samsung’s "Bespoke AI Family Hub" refrigerator. Critics argued that adding AI-powered voice commands, which proved unreliable in noisy environments, and computer vision for tracking food to advertise replacements, introduced unnecessary complications to an appliance whose primary function is to keep food cold. Samsung defended its design, stating that trade show conditions differ from home environments and emphasizing that security and privacy are foundational to its AI experiences. For privacy concerns, Amazon’s Ring doorbell camera system received the "Worst in Show" for "doubling down on privacy invasion." New features like an "AI Unusual Event Alert," which includes facial recognition, mobile surveillance towers, and the potential for "sketchier apps" via an app store, raised alarms about increased surveillance, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The "People’s Choice" for worst products was awarded to Lepro’s Ami, an AI companion marketed as an "always-on 3D soulmate" that tracks eye movements and emotional signals. Advocates expressed discomfort with an "AI video surveillance device on a desk" being presented as a soulmate, despite the presence of a physical camera shutter. Environmental concerns were addressed with the "Worst in Show" for the environment going to the Lollipop Star, a candy that plays music through bone conduction. Its disposable nature, filled with toxic chemicals and requiring critical minerals, was criticized for contributing to electronic waste. Security vulnerabilities earned Merach’s internet-connected treadmill the "Worst in Show" for security. This AI-powered treadmill, which collects biometric data and adjusts workouts based on heart rate, had a privacy policy stating, "We cannot guarantee the security of your personal information," raising significant user data concerns. German tech company Bosch also received two "Worst in Show" awards: one for its "Personal AI Barista" espresso machine, which incorporated subscriptions and Amazon Alexa voice assistance, and another for its e-bike app’s anti-theft and battery lock feature. The latter used "parts pairing," which digitally connects bike components and could potentially flag parts as stolen, prompting concerns about the right to repair and future exploitative practices, though Bosch countered that these features are optional and popular, with security and privacy being core values.

Shifting focus to the innovations that define the cutting edge of technology, CES 2026 was teeming with advancements in AI and robotics. Nvidia continued its dominance in AI infrastructure with CEO Jensen Huang outlining the new Rubin computing architecture, set to replace Blackwell later this year, offering significant speed and storage upgrades for AI computation. Nvidia also introduced the Alpamayo family of open-source AI models for autonomous vehicles, aiming to position its infrastructure as the "Android for generalist robots." This ambition was further demonstrated through a pilot program with Caterpillar, integrating "Cat AI Assistant" into excavators and utilizing Nvidia’s Omniverse for construction planning. AMD, under CEO Lisa Su, also emphasized expanding AI's reach through personal computers with its Ryzen AI 400 Series processors, featuring partnerships with industry leaders like OpenAI and Fei-Fei Li.

The show floor was also a spectacle of consumer gadgets pushing the boundaries of interaction and design. Lego made its first CES appearance to unveil the "Smart Play" platform, which uses connected bricks, tags, and Star Wars minifigures equipped with sensors to trigger lights and sounds, bringing interactive scenes to life. Nostalgia met modern tech with Clicks Technology’s magnetic QWERTY "Power Keyboard" for phones, recalling the Blackberry era while also doubling as a wireless power bank. LG captivated audiences with its OLED evo W6 Wallpaper TV, a strikingly thin 9mm screen capable of seamlessly streaming 4K video and audio. Roborock introduced the Saros Rover, an innovative vacuum with "chicken-like legs" designed to climb and clean stairs.

In the realm of personal technology, Razer showcased "Project Motoko," over-ear headphones designed to replicate smart glasses functionality through built-in cameras and microphones, offering AI-powered translations and information retrieval, with users able to choose their preferred AI model. Razer also teased "Project AVA," an AI companion avatar for desks. VHEX Lab presented a profoundly unique application of immersive technology with SITh.XRaedo, an extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates virtual avatars of deceased loved ones from a single photo, guided in real time by an XR therapist to help users process grief. Strutt demonstrated personal mobility innovation with the EV1, a self-driving personal mobility chair that navigates autonomously, sensing its surroundings to avoid obstacles.

Automotive advancements at CES 2026 included Uber’s highly anticipated robotaxi, developed in partnership with Lucid Motors and Nuro. This "most premium robotaxi yet" boasts 360-degree awareness through an array of cameras, sensors, and radar, alongside a customizable interior and real-time route visuals, with on-road testing underway for a planned launch later this year. Ford also detailed its upcoming AI assistant, launching first in its app and later in vehicles by 2027, built with off-the-shelf LLMs and hosted by Google Cloud. In robotics, Boston Dynamics and Google’s AI research lab announced a collaboration to train and operate Atlas humanoid robots. For the smart home, the Skylight Calendar 2 stood out as a family planning tool with AI capabilities to sync calendars and create to-dos, while Amazon expanded its Alexa+ AI chatbot, Fire TV, and Ring doorbell features, including fire alerts and a new app store for third-party camera integration, reflecting the diverse landscape of innovation at CES 2026.