CES 2026 AI Oddities: From Holographic Pandas to Musical Lollipops—Can These Gimmicks Deliver?
CES 2026 AI gadgets: More gimmick than revolution?
Razer’s Project AVA—a holographic AI desk companion with eye-tracking and screen-monitoring capabilities—remains in the concept stage, offering no immediate practical utility beyond novelty.
Meanwhile, Mind with Heart Robotics’ An’An AI panda robot for elderly care promises emotional support and task reminders, but its effectiveness against loneliness in aging populations remains unproven.
GoveeLife’s AI Ice Maker, priced at $499.99, claims noise reduction through AI algorithms. This exceeds standard countertop ice makers like the Frigidaire FFICE6000R ($199), which lack AI but offer comparable performance.
Seattle Ultrasonics’ $399 ultrasonic knife, which vibrates to ease cutting, competes with traditional chef’s knives like the Wusthof Classic ($150), raising questions about cost-justification for non-professional users.
Other products, such as Lollipop Star’s bone-conduction lollipops and Zeroth Robotics’ $4,999 W1 home/security robot, further blur the line between innovation and novelty.
Mira’s $249 Hormone Monitor, analyzing reproductive health via urine, offers a tangible application but faces competition from existing at-home fertility trackers.
