Artificial intelligence has become a key trend at the largest technology exhibition CES 2026 (International Consumer Electronics Show), but not all new products have been enthusiastic. Consumer protection groups have released a list of the “worst products of the show”. We will discuss it today.
1. Samsung Bespoke AI Family Hub took the first position.
Samsung’s new refrigerators feature an intuitive 9-inch AI Home touchscreen and 32-inch or 21.5-inch Family Hub screens that are designed to improve four key areas of everyday life: Meals, Home, Connecting with loved ones, and Entertainment.
Only critics did not appreciate the new features and equipment of home appliances. They noted that advertising, cameras, and a constant online connection make the appliance more expensive, more complex, and less reliable.
Gordon Byrne, executive director of Right to Repair, believes that the main task of a refrigerator is to maintain a cold temperature. And the functions he sees increase the risk of breakdowns and complicate repairs.
Critics also pointed to problems with voice recognition in noisy environments and the presence of cameras. Elizabeth Chamberlain believes that everyone has the right to privacy, and with a camera following your every move in the kitchen, this becomes impossible.
2. The list also includes doorbells with Amazon Ring cameras.
These are smart home devices that allow you to see, hear, and talk to visitors remotely via a smartphone, receiving motion and button press notifications; they offer HD video, night vision, two-way communication, and Alexa integration, running on battery or wired connection, and are part of Amazon‘s security system.
The device has been criticized for the privacy risks associated with facial recognition and third-party applications. Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that such systems are becoming increasingly intrusive, and this is becoming a big problem for neighbors.
3. Another “winner” of the anti-rating was Lollipop Star.
The device plays music directly in the user’s head using bone conduction technology. It looks like a lollipop on a stick. It is equipped with electronics that transmit sound vibrations through the teeth, not through the air like conventional speakers. The user has to bite down on the lollipop with the back molars – then the vibrations reach the inner ear through the jaw, and the person hears the music.
The device received a negative rating due to disposable batteries, plastic, and electronics that generate harmful waste.
The founders of the ranking explained that its goal is to identify technologies that “undermine privacy, security, maintainability, and sustainability.” Since people’s lives are already filled with stress, there is no need to increase the flow of stress with strange devices.
