Artificial intelligence was a major focus at this year’s CES in Las Vegas in early January, where technology companies introduced new consumer products with advanced digital features. At the same time, consumer and privacy organizations announced the annual “Worst in Show” awards, which highlight products considered invasive, wasteful, or unreliable. The top award was given to a smart refrigerator made by Samsung that uses voice control and cameras to track food. Judges said these added features could reduce the reliability of an appliance meant mainly to keep food cold. The awards were organized independently from CES by groups such as Consumer Reports and iFixit, which examine how technology affects privacy, safety, and long-term use.

Judges said products were selected based on design quality, possible risks, and potential impact if widely adopted. New artificial intelligence features added to Amazon Ring doorbells were also criticized, with experts linked to the Electronic Frontier Foundation warning that increased monitoring tools need careful review. Specialists said continuous data collection could create long-term risks to privacy and security. Environmental concerns were also raised about devices that use disposable electronic parts, which increase electronic waste. Companies said artificial intelligence features are designed to improve convenience and user experience. Organizers explained that the awards aim to encourage better product design rather than target individual brands, reflecting a broader discussion about responsible use of artificial intelligence in daily technology.