CES 2024: The strangest technology, gadgets and artificial intelligence claims from Las Vegas

Image credits: LG

CES 2024 is in full swing in Las Vegas. We are on the ground Giving you the most to talk about News and announcements from this event, but a lot of fun can be found in the more whimsical margins of the showroom. In the age of CES where companies are on board with the AI-driven hype machine, there are bound to be gadgets and claims that are a bit strange, to say the least.

Here are the 14 weirdest gadgets, tech, and claims from CES 2024 so far.

AI-powered bird binoculars

For bird lovers with an unlimited budget, Swarovski has unveiled AX Physio 10×32: A pair of AI-powered binoculars worth $4,799. The binoculars uses artificial intelligence to help you quickly identify more than 9,000 birds and other species, as well as providing the ability to take photos and videos of your finds to share.

An app that lets you pay to pee

Need to go and ready to pay? Flush web-based application It allows businesses to rent out their bathrooms to people for additional revenue. The strangest thing about this app, outside of its existence thanks to the lack of well-maintained public restrooms in the United States, is the rating system that companies use to approve or reject a reservation.

A BlackBerry-style keyboard for your iPhone

Do you miss the days of having a touch keyboard on your iPhone? Unveiled at CES 2024, He taps the tech builder’s keyboard Turns your phone into a relic of the BlackBerry era for $139. The keypad acts as a phone case attachment and gives you access to more of your iPhone’s screen without the numeric keypad. Sure, this will make your phone a lot longer, but that’s probably the price you pay for nostalgia.

Dynamic sound mixing based on your driving

Sound engine, a startup created by singer-songwriter turned entrepreneur Will.i.am, aims to match the music you listen to with the rhythm and energy of your commute. The technology reacts to your speed and matches the music to it, with lyrics coming in and out intelligently whether you’re on the highway or stuck in traffic. While we were a bit skeptical, we came away from the technology fairly impressed.

A router that looks like a picture frame

Matching your technology to your home’s aesthetic has become trendy in the past few years. Is your TV too boring? Make it look like a painting with Samsung Frame or make it blend seamlessly into your home The newly unveiled LG Transparent TV.

And the latest tech item to get the Elias treatment is the humble router. the Marble Wi-Fi 6 OpenWrt router From GL.iNet It looks like a small framed piece of art that you can hang on your wall or prop on your desk.

The AI ​​assistant that calls 911 for you

At LG’s press conference, the company announced AI smart home agent. The “two-legged” wheeled robot works as a synchronized assistant with your LG devices. Geneative AI lets you chat with an AI Agent, and the company claims it can Show you compassion. In the company’s surreal, Pixar-esque promotional video, the robot can remind you to take your medication or call 911 in a time of crisis.

Bidet you can talk to

Hey, Alexa? Turn on the bidet spray. Kohler ft PureWash E930 bidet seat With support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. With voice assistance, you can control the seat hands-free, operate the bidet’s spray and drying functions, as well as the UV self-cleaning feature. Just don’t let anyone watch you talk to your toilet.

A sound-absorbing mask that resembles a mask

Goodbye, curious listeners. Skyted’s Mobility Privacy Mask and Hybrid Silent Mask are designed to “absorb sound frequencies” in noisy environments like planes, trains and rideshares, so you can communicate with more privacy. According to founder Stefan Hersen. The company aims to implement Masks are like a curse In offices, call centers and even in gaming environments.

AI stroller rocks your baby for you

Parenting is hard. GlüxKind hopes this will be enough to convince you to put your baby in the hands – that is, the wheels – Artificial intelligence baby strollerElla. The stroller has the ability to propel itself hands-free, automatically stop on inclines, and softly rock your baby without having to lift a finger. The stroller also includes a built-in white noise machine feature.

An uncanny valley you can exchange ideas with

Most notable is “Who asked for this?” The products unveiled at CES are the GPT version of WeHead. The AI-powered head brings a face and physicality to ChatGPT, rather than a purely virtual AI experience. The mannequin-like setup with multiple screens is intended to serve as a confidant to bounce around ideas with, though we’re more focused on how weird it is to interact with than anything else.

Pocket AI Assistant scrolls through your phone for you

Do you want to order pizza? Instead of pulling out your phone, unlocking it, finding the delivery app, opening it, and working through the UI to complete your order (which is extremely tedious!), why not just ask rabbit r1 To do it for you? Instead of voice-only AI assistants like Siri and Alexa, the device designed by Teenage Engineering runs on a “language action model,” allowing it to perform a desired task virtually.

Smart slugs that can search for water pollution

From phones to televisions to toilets, everything has to be “smart” these days. What about slugs? Inspired. Moluscan CEO and co-founder Ludovic Quinault has found that a simple, non-invasive sensor attached to the shell of a clam or oyster can monitor everything from feeding to reproduction and stress responses, which can be an excellent predictor of water quality and potential pollution.

A TV that can be folded into a statue

Do you love your TV but wish it could be turned into a piece of art? Boy, we have good news for you. C SEED’s N1 Foldable TV is made up of five MicroLED panels, allowing it to go from a massive 137-inch screen to a brutal-looking sculpture in your living room in about 90 seconds. Through so-called adaptive gap calibration, there are no visible hinges between the displays, revealing a seamless viewing experience when fully opened. They also start at $200,000.

CPR doll that breathes and urinates

How realistic also TRUE? Adam-X From Medical-X is a patient simulator designed for a range of medical training exercises: intravenous administration, defibrillator use, CPR, and more. The company boasts realistic reproductions of the anatomical structure of the human skeleton, and will give you interactive feedback based on the patient’s needs and your accuracy. According to EngadgetThe company plans to incorporate a GPT-like feature in the future to help train doctors more directly. ADAM-X also contains simulated fluids such as blood and urine for precise training practice. Go, science

A smart mirror that claims it can sense if you are suffering from depression

Magic mirror on the wall, why do I feel so nervous? Barracuda calls BMind The world’s first AI-powered smart mirror For mental health. The Mirror uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to determine your mood based on your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice. In turn, the mirror can chat with you, create guided meditation exercises and self-affirmations and perform light therapy sessions through the edge of the mirror.

The CNC mill looks straight out of the 90s

This is not so Which A truly strange product, but its appearance is too striking to ignore. It’s actually part of a cool quest from Coast Runner To facilitate access to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. For professionals and amateurs. For those who are less familiar with space, a CNC machine is what allows a manual process to be standardized and automated, such as cutting components on an assembly line or 3D printing.

But just look at this drawing referencing the design of the 1992 “Jazz” disposable cup (Which has since taken on a life of its own online.) In an event with so many horrific or confusing aesthetics, a little nostalgia is nice and refreshing.