‘Worst in Show’ CES tech gadgets have been revealed. Who made the cut?
Jan 09, 2025 - fastcompany.com
At CES, a panel of experts highlighted some of the most problematic tech innovations, awarding them "Worst in Show" for being the least repairable, private, and sustainable. The Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring was criticized for its non-replaceable battery, lasting only 500 charges. Bosch's AI-powered smart crib was noted for excessive data collection on infants, raising privacy concerns. SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem was deemed unsustainable due to increased energy consumption and driver distraction. TP-Link's Archer BE900 router was labeled least secure due to vulnerabilities and national security risks.
Other criticized products included Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which was seen as unnecessarily complex and costly, and LG's AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator, which was considered the worst overall for its short software support and high energy consumption. These products were seen as examples of technology that, while innovative, may not necessarily improve consumer lives and could pose privacy, security, and sustainability issues.
Key takeaways:
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Some products at CES are criticized for being the "Worst in Show" due to issues like lack of repairability, privacy concerns, and sustainability.
The Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring was criticized for being "least repairable" due to its non-replaceable battery.
Bosch's AI-powered crib was criticized for collecting excessive data on infants, raising privacy concerns.
LG's AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator was deemed the worst overall for its short software support and high energy consumption.
