This year's CES show in Las Vegas brought us some awesome gadgets, but it also had its fair share of flops. Some experts decided to highlight the worst products, and their picks might surprise you. Liz Chamberlain from iFixit warned about the growing trend of gadgets with built-in surveillance tools, like cameras and microphones, hidden in places you wouldn't expect, such as washing machines and fridges. Imagine your appliances spying on you! The fourth annual "Worst in Show" awards were announced, and the winners are not what you'd hope for.
A luxurious smart ring by Ultrahuman topped the list for being impossible to repair. It costs a whopping $2, 200 and can't even be opened up to replace the battery. Next up was Bosch's AI-powered smart crib, which many parents might find concerning. It monitors babies with cameras, microphones, and radar, raising privacy issues. Plus, it's questionable if babies really need all that tech.
SoundHound AI's in-car commerce system was called out for being energy-hungry and distracting. It lets you order food from your car, but does anyone really need that? And, TP-Link's routers were slammed for being vulnerable to hacking. They're made in Vietnam, not China, but their security concerns are still a big issue. Finally, Samsung's AI washing machine took home the "Who asked for this? " award. It makes phone calls, but who needs a chatty washing machine?
The LG AI fridge was dubbed the worst overall. It has fancy features like a screen and internet connection, but these extras make repairs costly and the fridge less practical.
