Artificial intelligence was a central theme at this year’s CES, held in Las Vegas in early January, where technology companies presented new consumer products with advanced digital features. Alongside these launches, a coalition of consumer and privacy organizations announced annual “Worst in Show” awards to highlight devices considered invasive, wasteful, or unreliable. The overall award was given to a smart refrigerator released by Samsung, which includes voice control and camera-based food tracking. Judges stated that the added functions could be detrimental to a product meant to focus on food storage. The awards were organized independently from CES by groups such as Consumer Reports and iFixit, which examined how products could affect privacy, safety, and long-term use. The announcement aimed to explain why rapid and pervasive use of artificial intelligence in household devices raises concerns.

The judges explained that the selections were based on impact, design quality, and possible risks if products become widely adopted. New features added to Amazon Ring doorbells were also criticized, with judges linked to the Electronic Frontier Foundation warning that expanded monitoring tools should be carefully scrutinized. Some experts argued that constant data collection could have long-term ramifications for consumer privacy and security. Environmental issues were also discussed, especially regarding products that include disposable electronic parts, which challenge sustainability efforts. Despite criticism, companies stated that these technologies aim to improve convenience and user experience. The organizers of the anti-awards clarified that the purpose was not to target individual brands but to encourage better design choices. The discussion reflects a broader debate about how artificial intelligence should be used responsibly as smart technology becomes more common in daily life.