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Worst in Show: CES Panel Cuts Through the Hype to Uncover Problematic Tech
Not everything at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show earns a 5-star rating. A panel of self-described dystopia experts has judged some products as “Worst in Show,” calling out the “least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display.”
Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit, highlighted the growing trend of surveillance technology being built into everyday devices. “We’re seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things,” she said. “But it also means that now we’ve got microphones and cameras in our washing machines, refrigerators, and that really is an industry-wide problem.”
The fourth annual “Worst in Show” contest announced its decisions on Thursday.
The top “Worst in Show” awards went to a range of products, including:
* The Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring, given the title of “least repairable” by iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens. The ring, which costs $2,200, has a battery that only lasts 500 charges and is impossible to replace without destroying the device.
* Bosch’s “Revol” AI-powered smart crib, which was criticized for its use of surveillance technology to monitor babies and collect an excessive amount of data. “Parents expect safety and comfort — not surveillance and privacy risks — in their children’s cribs,” said EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn.
* SoundHound AI’s In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, which was deemed “least sustainable” due to its energy consumption, potential wastefulness, and distractions. The feature allows drivers to order takeout for pick-up directly from the car’s infotainment system.
* TP-Link’s Archer BE900 router, which was given the “least secure” award due to its vulnerability to hacking and potential security risks to national security.
* The Samsung Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which was deemed “who asked for this?” due to its unnecessary additional features and inability to be repaired.
* The LG “AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ,” which was called the “worst overall” for its flashy but impractical features, high energy consumption, and expensive repairs.
The awards were made in an effort to cut through the hype and highlight the concerns surrounding the growing trend of surveillance, waste, and lack of sustainability in the tech industry.