TL;DR
CES 2026 showcased a string of oddball gadgets, including a holographic anime desk companion, an AI panda for elder care, an AI-quiet ice maker, an ultrasonic chef’s knife, and a bone-conduction musical lollipop. Many of the devices blend novelty with practical aims, but several raise questions about privacy, safety and real-world usefulness.
What happened
Beyond the headline product launches, CES 2026 featured a parade of unusual hardware that drew attention as much for its quirkiness as for its engineering. Razer showed Project AVA, a 5.5-inch animated holographic desk companion that evolved from an esports coach into a multi-role assistant; it offers selectable avatars like Kira and Zane, eye-tracking, lifelike facial animation and a built-in camera that observes the user and their screen, though the company describes it as a concept rather than a guaranteed product. Mind with Heart Robotics introduced An’An, a cuddly panda robot designed to support older adults: it uses body sensors and emotional-AI that learns voice and interaction patterns, provides reminders and aims to keep caregivers informed. Govee Life revealed a $499.99 countertop Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro that uses AI NoiseGuard to defrost proactively and reduce grinding sounds, makes ice in six minutes and produces up to 60 pounds per day. Other entries included a $399 ultrasonic chef’s knife that vibrates at over 30,000 Hz and a bone-conduction musical lollipop that transmits songs while you suck on flavored candy.
Why it matters
- AI-driven companions and pets are moving from novelty demos toward applications in caregiving and daily assistance.
- Devices that monitor users, like camera-equipped holograms, raise fresh privacy and surveillance concerns.
- AI and sensing are being applied to mundane appliances to improve convenience and reduce annoyances (for example, noise management).
- High-priced niche gadgets show companies betting consumers will pay for specialized benefits or novelty features.
- Novel interaction methods (bone conduction, ultrasonic vibration) highlight ongoing experimentation with how people experience everyday products.
Key facts
- Razer’s Project AVA is presented as a 5.5-inch animated holographic desk companion with selectable characters such as Kira and Zane.
- Project AVA avatars include eye-tracking, expressive faces, lip-syncing and a built-in camera that watches the user and their screen; the device is currently a concept.
- Mind with Heart Robotics’ An’An panda robot uses body sensors and emotional AI that remembers voice and interaction patterns to support older adults and notify caregivers.
- Govee Life’s Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro is priced at $499.99, makes fresh ice in six minutes, can produce up to 60 pounds per day and holds 3.5 pounds in its bucket.
- Govee’s ice maker uses an AI NoiseGuard system that detects impending noisy freeze-ups and defrosts proactively to reduce racket.
- Seattle Ultrasonics showed a chef’s knife with a blade that vibrates at more than 30,000 times per second; it is priced at $399 and available for pre-order.
- Lollipop Star demonstrated a musical lollipop that uses bone conduction to deliver music and is offered in three artist-flavor pairings: Ice Spice (peach), Akon (blueberry) and Armani White (lime).
- Availability for the Govee ice maker is listed as starting January 15 at Amazon, govee.com, Walmart and Best Buy.
What to watch next
- Whether Razer’s Project AVA concept progresses to a commercial product — not confirmed in the source.
- Real-world effectiveness and safety of An’An as a tool for elder care and caregiver notifications — not confirmed in the source.
- Consumer demand for premium novelty appliances like Govee’s $499.99 ice maker and the $399 ultrasonic knife — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Holographic avatar: A projected or rendered 3D image that represents a character or assistant, designed to appear lifelike and interact with users.
- Emotional AI: Artificial intelligence systems that detect, model or respond to human emotions and interaction patterns to personalize behavior.
- Bone conduction: A method of transmitting sound to the inner ear by vibrating the skull bones, bypassing the eardrum.
- Ultrasonic vibration: Very high-frequency oscillations (above human hearing) applied to an object, sometimes used to change how it cuts or moves through material.
- AI noise reduction: Software or systems that use machine learning to predict, detect or mitigate unwanted sounds through automated adjustments.
Reader FAQ
Is Razer’s Project AVA available to buy now?
Not confirmed in the source.
When can I buy Govee’s Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro and how much does it cost?
The ice maker is priced at $499.99 and is slated to be available starting January 15 at Amazon, govee.com, Walmart and Best Buy.
Is the An’An panda robot on sale yet?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are the ultrasonic knife’s safety and long-term effects documented?
Not confirmed in the source.
While CES 2026 is full of tech giants unveiling their latest innovations, the real excitement comes from discovering unexpected, quirky gadgets that make you ask, “Who thought of this?” We’re…
Sources
- The most bizarre tech announced so far at CES 2026
- We've Found the Coolest, Most Futuristic Tech at CES …
- The most interesting tech we saw on day one of CES
- CES Live Blog, Day 2: More of the Coolest Tech From Las …
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