CES 2025's 'Worst in Show' Awards Highlight Privacy and Sustainability Concerns in AI-Driven Gadgets

CES 2025's 'Worst in Show' revealed by tech experts -- one luxe item...

LAS VEGAS -- So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost $2,200. Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," he said. Ultrahuman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. A spokesperson for Bosch told The Associated Press that all data is encrypted end-to-end and stored on Bosch-administered servers, "while all data at rest is secured locally with individual data encryption keys." "Caregivers have the final say on whether data is transmitted at all. The Revol has an offline mode, which keeps data local if preferred," the spokesperson said, adding that the smart crib helps keep children safe. Although AI is everywhere at CES, Stacey Higginbotham, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. Soundhound AI's platform allows drivers and passengers to order takeout for pick-up directly from the car's infotainment system. The company did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement Tuesday, Keyvan Mohajer, CEO of SoundHound AI, said the product's launch marks a moment "decades in the making." "What begins here with food and restaurants will ultimately open up a whole new commercial ecosystem for vehicle and device manufacturers everywhere," he said. TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the U.S. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, TP-Link must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." In an email response, TP-Link Systems contested the report. "TP-Link Systems Inc. is a U.S.-headquartered company and does not provide any such security reporting to China as referenced by iFixit," the company said. "TP-Link Systems has a secure, vertically-integrated, and U.S.-owned international supply chain. Nearly all products sold in the United States are manufactured in Vietnam." TP-Link said it controls its own supply chains, and "is constantly assessing potential risks to its U.S. operations, customers, and supply chain," adding that it acknowledges that vulnerabilities exist across the industry. "However, contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places TP-Link on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes," the company said. The awards also feature a category called "Who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. Samsung did not respond to a request for comment. At a press conference at CES Tuesday, Jong-Hee Han, vice chairman of Samsung's device experience division, said he was "proud of how we have introduced new technologies and intelligence to the home, connected key devices and set the standard for the home of the future." "We are reinforcing our commitment to delivering personalized experiences through our widespread implementation of AI and we will continue this journey of AI leadership in the home and beyond, not just for the next decade, but for the next century," he said. Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget." Christopher De Maria, director of public relations at LG Electronics, disagreed with Gordan-Byrne's assessment of their new product. "Of course, like any new innovation, there will be naysayers, but we believe that when we launch this product, consumers who are looking to elevate their kitchen experience will appreciate its innovative features, convenience and performance. We have not announced pricing or availability or shared any information regarding energy consumption, so these comments are respectfully without factual merit."

'Worst in Show' CES products put data at risk and cause waste, privacy advocates say

So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness, or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. A new smart ring every few years? Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost $2,200. Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," he said. Ultrahuman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An AI-powered smart crib? Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. A spokesperson for Bosch told The Associated Press that all data is encrypted end-to-end and stored on Bosch-administered servers, "while all data at rest is secured locally with individual data encryption keys." "Caregivers have the final say on whether data is transmitted at all. The Revol has an offline mode, which keeps data local if preferred," the spokesperson said, adding that the smart crib helps keep children safe. Too much waste? Although AI is everywhere at CES, Stacey Higginbotham, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. Soundhound AI's platform allows drivers and passengers to order takeout for pick-up directly from the car's infotainment system. The company did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement Tuesday, Keyvan Mohajer, CEO of SoundHound AI, said the product's launch marks a moment "decades in the making." "What begins here with food and restaurants will ultimately open up a whole new commercial ecosystem for vehicle and device manufacturers everywhere," he said. Vulnerable to hacking? TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the U.S. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, TP-Link must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." In an email response, TP-Link Systems contested the report. "TP-Link Systems Inc. is a U.S.-headquartered company and does not provide any such security reporting to China as referenced by iFixit," the company said. "TP-Link Systems has a secure, vertically-integrated, and U.S.-owned international supply chain. Nearly all products sold in the United States are manufactured in Vietnam." TP-Link said it controls its own supply chains, and "is constantly assessing potential risks to its U.S. operations, customers, and supply chain," adding that it acknowledges that vulnerabilities exist across the industry. "However, contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places TP-Link on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes," the company said. Who asked for this? The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. Samsung did not respond to a request for comment. At a press conference at CES Tuesday, Jong-Hee Han, vice chairman of Samsung's device experience division, said that he was "proud of how we have introduced new technologies and intelligence to the home, connected key devices and set the standard for the home of the future." "We are reinforcing our commitment to delivering personalized experiences through our widespread implementation of AI and we will continue this journey of AI leadership in the home and beyond, not just for the next decade, but for the next century," he said. Worst overall Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association, called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget."

The 'Worst in Show' CES products put your data at risk and cause waste, privacy advocates say

So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. A new smart ring every few years? Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost $2,200. Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," he said. An AI-powered smart crib? Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. The company says users can how and where their data is stored. Bosch also says the crib can be transformed into a desk as children get older. But EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. Too much waste? Although AI is everywhere at CES, Stacey Higginbotham, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. Vulnerable to hacking TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the U.S. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, TP-Link must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." Who asked for this? The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. The worst overall Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget." © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The 'Worst in Show' CES products put your data at risk and cause waste, privacy advocates say

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost $2,200. Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," he said. Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. The company says users can how and where their data is stored. Bosch also says the crib can be transformed into a desk as children get older. But EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. Although AI is everywhere at CES, Stacey Higginbotham, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the U.S. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, TP-Link must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget."

'Worst in Show'

LAS VEGAS (AP) - So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives - whether by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as 'Worst in Show'. The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display". "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit Liz Chamberlain told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions on Thursday. A NEW SMART RING EVERY FEW YEARS? CEO of iFixit Kyle Wiens awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable". The rings, which come in colours like dune and desert sand, cost USD2,200. Wiens said the jewellery "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for USD2,200 is a new low," he said. Bosch's 'Revol' crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. The company says users can how and where their data is stored. Bosch also says the crib can be transformed into a desk as children get older. But EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor". "Parents expect safety and comfort - not surveillance and privacy risks - in their children's cribs," she said in the report. TOO MUCH WASTE? Although AI is everywhere at CES, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports Stacey Higginbotham felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers - all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. VULNERABLE TO HACKING TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the United States. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said founder of The Security Ledger Paul Roberts. "By law, TP-Link must report security flaws to a foreign government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." WHO ASKED FOR THIS? The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which senior director Nathan Proctor of United States PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. THE WORST OVERALL Executive director of The Repair Association Gay Gordon-Byrne called the LG 'AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ' the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features", Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and Internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget."

The 'Worst in Show' CES products put your data at risk, privacy advocates say

So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help pe... LAS VEGAS -- So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," Liz Chamberlain, director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost $2,200. Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," he said. Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. The company says users can how and where their data is stored. Bosch also says the crib can be transformed into a desk as children get older. But EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. Although AI is everywhere at CES, Stacey Higginbotham, a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. TP-Link's Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the U.S. But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, TP-Link must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget."

The 'Worst in Show' CES products put your data at risk and cause waste, privacy advocates say

(AP) -- So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers' lives -- whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as "Worst in Show." The award that no company wants to win calls out the "least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display." "We're seeing more and more of these things that have basically surveillance technology built into them, and it enables some cool things," , director of sustainability at the e-commerce site iFixit told The Associated Press. "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 contest announced its decisions Thursday. , CEO of iFixit, awarded the Ultrahuman Rare Luxury Smart Ring the title of "least repairable." The rings, which come in colors like dune and desert sand, cost . Wiens said the jewelry "looks sleek but hides a major flaw: its battery only lasts 500 charges." Worse, he said, is the fact that replacing the battery is impossible without destroying the device entirely. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for is a new low," he said. Ultrahuman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bosch's "Revol" crib uses sensors, cameras and AI that the company says can help monitor vital signs like how an infant is sleeping, their heart and respiratory rates and more. The crib can also rock gently if the baby needs help falling asleep and signal to parents if a blanket or other object is interfering with breathing. EFF Executive Director said the crib preys on parents' fears and "collects excessive data about babies via a camera, microphone, and even a radar sensor." "Parents expect safety and comfort -- not surveillance and privacy risks -- in their children's cribs," she said in the report. A spokesperson for Bosch told The Associated Press that all data is encrypted end-to-end and stored on Bosch-administered servers, "while all data at rest is secured locally with individual data encryption keys." "Caregivers have the final say on whether data is transmitted at all. The Revol has an offline mode, which keeps data local if preferred," the spokesperson said, adding that the smart crib helps keep children safe. Although AI is everywhere at CES, , a policy Fellow at Consumer Reports, felt that SoundHound AI's In-Car Commerce Ecosystem, powered by its Automotive AI, pushes it to unnecessary extremes. The feature "increases energy consumption, encourages wasteful takeout consumption and distracts drivers -- all while adding little value," Higginbotham said. That landed the in-car system as "least sustainable" on the list. platform allows drivers and passengers to order takeout for pick-up directly from the car's infotainment system. The company did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement Tuesday, , CEO of , said the product's launch marks an moment "decades in the making." "What begins here with food and restaurants will ultimately open up a whole new commercial ecosystem for vehicle and device manufacturers everywhere," he said. Archer BE900 router won for "least secure" of CES. The company is a top-selling router brand in the But its products are vulnerable to hacking, said , founder of The Security Ledger. "By Chinese law, must report security flaws to the government before alerting the public, creating a significant national security risk," he said. "Yet TP-Link showcased its Archer BE900 router at CES without addressing these vulnerabilities." In an email response, TP-Link Systems contested the report. "TP-Link Systems Inc. is a -headquartered company and does not provide any such security reporting to as referenced by iFixit," the company said. "TP-Link Systems has a secure, vertically-integrated, and -owned international supply chain. Nearly all products sold in are manufactured in Vietnam." said it controls its own supply chains, and "is constantly assessing potential risks to its operations, customers, and supply chain," adding that it acknowledges that vulnerabilities exist across the industry. "However, contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes," the company said. The awards also feature a category called "who asked for this?" Top of that list was Samsung's Bespoke AI Washing Machine, which , senior director of PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said is filled "with features no one needs," including the ability to make phone calls. "These add-ons only make the appliance more expensive, fragile, and harder to repair," he said. Samsung did not respond to a request for comment. At a press conference at CES Tuesday, , vice chairman of Samsung's device experience division, said that he was "proud of how we have introduced new technologies and intelligence to the home, connected key devices and set the standard for the home of the future." "We are reinforcing our commitment to delivering personalized experiences through our widespread implementation of AI and we will continue this journey of AI leadership in the home and beyond, not just for the next decade, but for the next century," he said. , executive director of called the LG "AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator with ThinkQ" the worst product overall. The fridge adds "flashy features," Gordon-Byrne said, including a screen and internet connection. "But these come at a cost," Gordon-Byrne said. "Shorter software support, higher energy consumption, and expensive repairs reduce the fridge's practical lifespan, leaving consumers with an expensive, wasteful gadget." , director of public relations at , disagreed with Gordan-Byrne's assessment of their new product. "Of course, like any new innovation, there will be naysayers, but we believe that when we launch this product, consumers who are looking to elevate their kitchen experience will appreciate its innovative features, convenience and performance. We have not announced pricing or availability or shared any information regarding energy consumption, so these comments are respectfully without factual merit." Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. , source

The CES worst in show awards lampoon AI everthing

ces The Consumer Electronics Show is back to showcase not just the cutting edge of innovation but also the worst of what's possible when modern tech collides with today's culture of capitalist excess. As they have for the past several years, a group of repairability, sustainability, and privacy advocates have come together to present the CES Worst in Show awards again this year. Six categories of failure are awarded by the participants annually, with products being lampooned for being unrepairable, insecure, privacy nightmares, environmentally unfriendly, generally unasked for, and just plain worst of the show. And boy, are there some doozies to catalog from Las Vegas this year. Youtube Video Taking the prize for the least repairable is the Ultrahuman Rare, described by the company as the "world's first luxury smart ring," which likely puts it in the running for the "who asked for this" prize, too. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens, who presented the award for Ultrahuman's repairability fail, said that despite a price tag of $2,200, the Rare's battery is only rated for 500 charge cycles, and replacing it is impossible without destroying the ring. "Luxury items may be fleeting, but two years of use for $2,200 is a new low," iFixit said of the ring. To be fair to Ultrahuman, it says the Rare - which seems to have the same internals as its more modestly priced $349 Air ring - is able to hold a charge for up to six days. At 500 charge cycles, this translates to just over eight years of potential use, assuming minimal degradation, which means it would likely be obsolete by the time the battery dies. Either way, you're still out more than two grand for the privilege. Bosch took to CES to demonstrate its "Revol" smart crib that uses AI to keep an eye on its occupant via a camera, microphone and even a radar sensor. "One of the things we hate most at EFF is products that play on people's fears and vulnerabilities in order to suck in their data and their money," Electronic Frontier Foundation executive director Cindy Cohn said of the ever-watching and ever-data collecting crib. While concerns lingered over where that data goes, Bosch has been in touch to assure us that the Revol is safe for privacy-concerned parents. "All data is encrypted end-to-end and stored on Bosch-administered servers while all data at rest is secured locally with individual data encryption keys," the company said. "Caregivers have the final say on whether data is transmitted at all," Bosch added, reiterating that it has an offline mode. Moreover, Cohn also questioned whether the $1,200 price tag is justified "for something most parents will only use for a few months." In Cohn's words, is just too much - not to mention the inevitable results of a failure to update its software. Paul Roberts, founder of The Security Ledger, picked the TP-Link Archer BE900 router as the biggest security loser at CES 2025 because of the manufacturer's failure to mention anything to do with the security issues that have arisen in the past year due to its link to China. Hacks of TP-Link routers are common and well documented, Roberts said. As we reported late last year, the US government is even reportedly considering a ban of these Chinese-made devices from sale in the US after reports of large-scale breaches and the use of their hardware in botnet construction in recent years. However, as Roberts pointed out, such botnets aren't exclusive to TP-Link hardware, with even US-made devices ending up hijacked by China. TP-Link itself also previously told The Register that there's a distinction between Chinese-based TP-Link Technologies and TP-Link systems, which separated itself from its Chinese parent in 2022. Either way, you might want to avoid the snappy design as security concerns continue to loom. "[Choosing a product with the worst environmental impact] was a tough selection because AI is everywhere," Consumer Reports policy fellow Stacey Higginbotham said. "And the computing power required to deliver some of these features is astronomical compared to the value they offer." Higginbotham definitely found a winner - or loser - in the form of SoundHound's new vehicle infotainment AI, which the company bills as "the first ever in-vehicle voice commerce platform," which is essentially a lot of words to say that it's able to order takeout for you while you drive home. Higginbotham criticized SoundHound for the computing demands of its in-vehicle AI system, which she said requires more power to operate than traditional voice assistants. She also raised concerns that promoting in-car ordering for takeout could contribute to increased waste from disposable packaging. So, when will in-car fast food advertisements start cramming themselves into a car near you? Sometime this year, though SoundHound wasn't very specific, only saying it is in talks "with well-known automotive manufacturers" to cram its fast food AI into vehicles. SoundHound has been in touch to debate the claim that its in-vehicle AI took more energy to train, noting that it didn't benchmark its training against similar systems and as such can't address that claim by Higginbotham. The latest generation of Samsung's Bespoke AI powered appliances being shown off at CES is packed with new features that, according to Public Interest Research Group senior director Nathan Proctor, absolutely no one asked for, which is why it earned that award this year. Proctor said that Samsung's latest essentially "force feed useless smart features" to consumers, with things like ovens and washing machines now able to make phone calls, requiring the addition of unnecessary screens and microphones to appliances that really don't need them. All those unnecessary smart features make for an appliance that'll just break faster for a higher cost, and "all just to be able to take a phone call from a washing machine," Proctor asked. Continuing the theme from the "nobody asked for this category," The Repair Association executive director Gay Gordon-Byrne has dubbed LG's "AI Home Inside 2.0 refrigerator with [ThinQ]" as this year's worst in show for making an essential appliance too damn complicated for its own good. "When I talk with legislators about the right to repair, the first question is always about cellphones, and the second is always about refrigerators," Gordon-Byrne said, because of the ubiquitous and essential nature of both to modern life. By turning the main door of its four-door refrigerator into a large display panel complete with audio output, cameras, and extra sensors, LG has made its smart fridge more prone to repair issues. Critics argue that, like Samsung's smart appliances, these features make the fridge more expensive upfront, potentially shorter-lived, more costly to maintain, and more energy-intensive due to always-on components. "I can't think of a less durable product when you add all these unnecessary functions to something that's very basic and has to run 24/7," Gordon-Byrne said. "It's really a waste." As no one seems to have shown up to accept their awards, The Register has reached out to all the companies earning these dubious honors for comment. ®