AI fridge and virtual friend voted Worst in Show at CES 2026

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At CES 2026, the awards for the most disappointing products highlighted several items powered by artificial intelligence, such as a smart refrigerator, a video doorbell, and devices designed to help people feel less lonely.

Samsung’s Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator won the top prize at the show. This smart fridge can understand voice commands, identify food inside using a camera, and even help you make grocery lists by suggesting items you’re running out of.

At the CES show, the system reportedly had trouble understanding voice commands when there was a lot of background noise, which suggests it might not always work reliably.

Samsung responds to Worst in Show award

Okay, so the judges at the show weren’t thrilled with Samsung packing all this extra tech – apps, sensors, even ads – into what should be a simple appliance. Honestly, I get their point. But Samsung basically said that a show floor is a totally different beast than my kitchen. They’re trying to make things easier around the house with their Bespoke AI stuff, and they think it’ll actually make life more convenient and fun, not just add more complicated features.

Amazon’s Ring doorbell system received the ‘Worst in Show’ privacy award due to its AI-powered features. These features detect things like people and animals, raising worries about increasing surveillance and the use of facial recognition technology.

AiMe, an AI assistant designed to be a constant companion for people working remotely, surprisingly won an award for being the ‘Worst in Show.’ This device uses eye and voice tracking to try and respond with empathy, but some critics worry it crosses the line from helpful friend to constant monitoring.

The list of concerns also included environmental issues. Specifically, a musical lollipop using bone-conduction technology raised worries about electronic waste, as the technology can’t be salvaged after the candy is finished.

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2026-01-09 15:18