While CES 2026 is packed with tech giants unveiling their latest innovations, the real excitement comes from discovering unexpected, quirky gadgets that make you ask, “Who thought of that?”
We’re here to shed light on the most absurd products found so far at CES 2026, from an AI-powered panda that reacts to your touch, to Razer’s holographic anime assistant, and plenty more weirdness that’ll make you do a double take.
An AI anime companion who watches you from your desk
Razor’s Project AVAOriginally introduced last year as an eSports AI coach, it has evolved into something new: a 5.5-inch animated holographic desk companion that can assist with gaming strategies, productivity, daily organization, and even personal advice. It is both a gaming companion and an everyday assistant. Users can choose from different characters, such as anime girl Kira or muscular Zen.
These digital avatars feature lifelike movements, eye tracking, expressive faces, and lip-syncing for realistic interactions. However, what really stands out is the constant monitoring – the device keeps an eye on you and your screen using the built-in camera. This is a bit troubling, but since it’s still just a concept, there’s no guarantee it’ll ever become a real product.
A cute AI baby panda robot for older adults
An’An, the latest AI pet Mind with Heart RoboticsCombines an adorable design with a meaningful mission: supporting elder care.
Panda Bot has high-tech sensors throughout its body, so it reacts naturally when you touch it. Its emotional AI remembers your voice, how you interact and what you like, so the more you spend time with An’An, the more personalized it becomes. It provides round-the-clock emotional support to deal with loneliness. Additionally, for older adults who struggle with memory, An’An helps keep them engaged, reminds them about daily tasks, and keeps caregivers updated on their well-being.
techcrunch event
san francisco
,
October 13-15, 2026
$500 ice cube maker that uses AI to reduce noise
smart home appliance brands GoviLife Unveiled a countertop smart ice maker that uses AI to keep things nice and cool. The company’s patented AI NoiseGuard technology is designed to reduce all that annoying racket you typically get from nugget ice machines. The AI detects when the machine is about to shut down and make noise, so it automatically defrosts before things get too loud.
The Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro prepares fresh ice in just six minutes and can make up to 60 pounds a day. The bucket holds 3.5 pounds of ice at a time. It’ll cost you $499.99 — which might make you think twice — but if you’re ready to upgrade your ice game, you can purchase a game starting January 15 at Amazon, govee.com, Walmart, or Best Buy.
An ultrasonic chef’s knife that vibrates while slicing and chopping
Depending on who you ask, this kitchen gadget may seem either very silly or very useful. Unlike traditional knives, this one Seattle Ultrasonics It has a blade that vibrates more than 30,000 times per second, allowing it to move through food with ease. This vibration technology means that the knife works much faster than its physical edge, making tasks like cutting vegetables, meat or bread much easier for cooks. According to the company, the vibration is so subtle that you can’t see, hear, or feel anything in the handle as the blades move.
The knife is priced at $399 and is currently available for preorder.
A musical lollipop that plays Ice Spice in your brain
Musical toothbrushes exist, so why not lollipops that play music? lollipop star showcased their delicious product at CES, which delivers music via bone conduction while in your mouth. (The technology works by sending vibrations through the bones of your skull directly into your inner ear.) The lollipops also offer plenty of fruit flavor. You can choose from three artists: Ice Spice (peach), Akon (blueberry), and Armani White (lemon).
This Wall-E-inspired robot monitors your home and can even join you on camping trips
Zeroth Robotics introduced the W1 at CES, which is reminiscent of WALL-E.
The W1 is a programmable companion designed for families. according to Company WebsiteAt $4,999, the robot offers round-the-clock AI-powered security, 360-degree mobile monitoring, and integrates with smart home devices for instant smoke and intrusion alerts. It is also marketed as an adventure companion that can carry camping gear, follow you around the campsite taking pictures as a family photographer, and have a portable power supply so you can enjoy entertainment on the go.
However, the company hasn’t mentioned whether the robot can sort out litter or retrieve trinkets – in our opinion, this is a missed opportunity.
egg shaped hormone tracking device
This egg-shaped device can assess your reproductive health hormones. It just needs your urine.
Mira’s $249 ultra4 hormone monitor Enables convenient at-home testing: simply pee on the stick and insert it into the device. The device analyzes your results and provides information about four reproductive hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), and pregnenolone 3-glucuronide (PDG). Monitoring these hormones not only tells you about your six fertile days, but also gives information about conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perimenopause, and menopause.
Sounds a lot like eggs.
This story has been updated after publication to include more strange gadgets.
