The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) began its run in Las Vegas today, bringing thousands of new gadgets and devices to the show floor. Attendees are walking among wandering robots, staring up at enormous screens, and finding artificial intelligence built into products from every corner of the industry.
Journalists covering CES 2026 are checking out the latest innovations, hoping to make their way into homes across the country. Several products are already catching attention during the early hours of the show.
Uber returns to robotaxis
Uber is getting back into the game with its own branded driverless vehicle. The company teamed up with Nuro, which makes autonomous driving systems, and Lucid Motors to create the new car. The vehicle is built on the platform used for the Lucid Gravity electric SUV.
Nuro handled the cameras and sensors, while Uber took care of designing what passengers will see and use inside the car. People using the service can pick their own music and change how warm or cool the cabin feels.
Last year, Uber put $300 million into Lucid to help make this vehicle a reality.
Giant television draws crowds
Samsung brought a 130-inch Micro RGB TV to the show this week. The screen sits in a slim metal frame that can barely hold the massive display. This type of screen uses tiny red, green, and blue LEDs that light up the picture directly. The goal is to make images brighter with better colors than regular LED televisions.
Some people who are serious about home theaters still say OLED screens look better. But the sheer size of this 130-inch model had plenty of people stopping to look at it on the show floor. A smaller version measuring 115 inches came out last year and was priced at $30,000.
Photo frame brings pictures to life
Taking inspiration from moving paintings in Harry Potter movies, a picture frame called Vinabot uses AI to make photos move and talk. Users upload photos and write a short script, then the system creates a video of that celebrity, character, or family member having a conversation. The project plans to launch on Kickstarter.
Nails that change color with a button
A product called iPolish claims to be the first digital nails that can change color. These press-on acrylic nails connect to a phone app with over 400 different shades. To switch colors, users put the nail tip into a small wand. The wand uses technology similar to e-readers, which allows the color to change almost instantly.
The starter package costs $95 and comes with the wand, glue for attaching the nails, and two sets of nails. Additional sets should sell for about $6. The company hopes to launch during the summer and get shelf space at major beauty retailers.
Device checks food for allergens on the spot
People who deal with serious food allergies now have a new option from a French biotech company called Allergen Alert. The device costs $200 and is small enough to bring to restaurants. The company says it can deliver results as accurate as what labs provide.
To check a meal, someone puts a bit of food into a pouch, which come through a monthly subscription, and slides it into the device, which is about the size of a paperback book. Results usually come back in a few minutes. Right now, it only tests for gluten, but the company will have dairy-specific kits coming soon. The plan is to cover most common allergens, including nuts, by 2028.
Candy that plays music through your teeth
Among the stranger audio products on display is the Lollipop Star, which costs $9. This candy uses bone-conduction technology to create sound. Rather than using regular speakers, the electronics inside send vibrations through teeth and jaw bones straight to the inner ear.
Each flavor plays certain songs that were loaded onto it already, like “Beautiful Day” by Akon. The product should go on sale after the show wraps up.
Desktop AI companion with privacy features
The Lepro Ami is an AI companion meant to sit on a desk. It has an 8-inch curved OLED screen. Unlike AI chatbots on phones, Ami is built to be a physical device in the room that uses cameras in the front to track eye movement and a camera in the back to place its 3D avatar in the user’s actual space.
Because some people worry about devices that are always on, this one includes physical covers for both cameras and microphones. A company representative said all information from interactions stays on the device itself instead of going to the cloud. Ami is not available to buy yet.
Toilet technology gets a safety upgrade
A company from South Korea is showing off the VOVO Smart Toilet Neo, which costs $4,990. It has the expected high-end features like a bidet and flushing that happens automatically. But the company says this version also includes a sensor that checks urine and shows health information on a screen mounted to the bathroom wall.
While standalone devices for checking urine have appeared at past shows, this toilet has a different feature meant for taking care of older adults. Users can set it up to send a message to relatives or caregivers if nobody has used the toilet for over eight hours. This gives people a way to check on elderly family members without being intrusive.
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Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ces-2026-the-best-and-the-strangest-tech/