CES 2026 AI Gadget Fails: Do We Really Need a Smart Hair Clipper?

You can't shake a stick without hitting an AI gadget at CES this year. CES 2026 is drowning in artificial smarts, but the "intelligence" part seems to be missing in action from many of the show's most buzzed-about products.

CES 2026 AI Gadget Fails: The Intelligence Gap

According to The Verge, AI has popped up in the strangest places, from hair clippers to stick vacuums. In some cases, even the manufacturers themselves seem unsure what exactly makes their products "AI," raising concerns about overhyped marketing and brand dilution at CES 2026.

• Glyde Smart Hair Clippers: A product that many feel takes the "intelligence" out of artificial intelligence.
• Stick Vacuums: Everyday appliances being rebranded with AI tags without clear functional upgrades.
• AI Companions: A wave of robots and toys that struggle to justify their "smart" labels.

Marketing Hype vs. Functional Reality

The industry's obsession with embedding AI into every wearable and screen has led to a skeptical atmosphere. Some observers have jokingly suggested that legendary director Hayao Miyazaki would likely find the current state of AI-integrated consumer goods particularly distasteful.