The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 was saturated with artificial intelligence, to the point where it felt less like innovation and more like a desperate attempt to slap “AI” onto anything that would stick. From hair clippers to microwaves, the show floor demonstrated that just because something can have AI, doesn’t mean it should. The trend is clear: manufacturers are racing to integrate AI, even when the actual benefit is minimal or nonexistent.
The “AI” That Doesn’t Add Up
The most questionable applications of AI at CES weren’t necessarily bad products; they were products where AI felt forced, unnecessary, or outright misleading. Several gadgets appeared to use the term “AI” as a marketing buzzword rather than a core functionality. This matters because it cheapens the real potential of AI, blurring the lines between genuine innovation and superficial branding.
Glyde Smart Hair Clippers: A Robotic Haircut?
Glyde’s smart hair clippers take a simple tool and overcomplicate it with an “AI coach” that gives real-time feedback during haircuts. The idea is to help amateur stylists achieve a perfect fade, but the ominous face mask required for operation raises questions about user experience. The promise of future voice controls and AI-generated hairstyle recommendations feels more like a gimmick than a practical feature.
SleepQ AI-Combo Drug: Pills Meet “Intelligence”
Welt’s “AI-upgraded pharmacotherapy” is a multivitamin with ashwagandha extract marketed with an AI twist. The product uses biometric data from wearables to suggest optimal pill-taking times, but the claim that this qualifies as “AI-enhanced drugs” is a stretch. The real benefit may be in fine-tuning timing, but the branding feels disingenuous.
Fraction Stick Vac: Modular Upgrades or Planned Obsolescence?
Deglace’s Fraction vacuum cleaner uses AI to “optimize suction” and predict component failures. While modular upgrades are a good idea, the AI’s primary function seems geared toward selling proprietary replacement parts. The question is whether this is a genuine attempt at sustainability or a cynical revenue model disguised as smart technology.
Fraimic AI Art Frame: A $399 Slop Generator
Fraimic’s E Ink picture frame generates AI art on demand, but the core product is still just a digital frame. The AI component feels like an unnecessary addition to an otherwise solid device. The frame’s limited image generations per year further diminish its value, making it more of a novelty than a practical tool.
Infinix AI Modular Phone: AI Where?
Infinix’s ModuVerse modular phone concepts include AI-powered features like gimbal stabilization and voice isolation. However, the company admitted that some “AI” modules, such as magnetic power banks, have no AI functionality at all. This highlights the trend of manufacturers stretching the definition of AI to fit their marketing narratives.
Wan AIChef: Just a Smarter Microwave?
Wan’s AI-enabled microwave runs on Android and offers recipe suggestions, but it remains fundamentally a microwave. The claim that it can “cook” for you is misleading, as it only warms food to varying degrees of accuracy. The added AI features feel like unnecessary bloatware.
AI Barmen: A Robotic Cocktail Machine
AI Barmen is an automatic cocktail machine that uses AI to estimate age and sobriety. The system’s accuracy is questionable (it miscalculated the author’s age by eight years), and its ability to create custom drinks is hit-or-miss. The product’s primary function remains dispensing alcohol, with AI serving as a superficial layer.
Luka AI Cube: Chibi Elon Musk Chatbot?
Luka AI Cube offers AI-powered chatbots in the form of chibi avatars, including Elon Musk. While the concept might be fun for kids, the risks of giving children unfiltered access to large language models are significant. The choice of Elon Musk as an avatar raises further concerns, given his controversial AI projects.
In conclusion, CES 2026 demonstrated that AI integration is often superficial, driven by marketing hype rather than genuine innovation. The products highlighted above illustrate how easily the term “AI” can be misused, blurring the lines between meaningful technology and pointless branding. The industry needs to move past the buzzword and focus on AI applications that truly solve problems, rather than creating them.
