CES was a red flag for tech in 2026

AI's Pervasive Presence at CES [00:00]

• The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) featured numerous AI-driven startups, including autonomous robots and AI emotional companions.
• The presenter describes a pervasive use of "AI" in product names, questioning its genuine utility and calling it a sign of a potential bubble.
• This trend is contrasted with rising consumer costs for essential tech components like RAM and graphics cards, suggesting a shift towards renting computing power.

"You know what it is? Every random household good that you could possibly think of that they put AI in the name of. This is not innovation. This is fueling a bubble."

Disillusionment with Tech Innovation [00:49]

• The presenter's initial excitement for CES, stemming from childhood fascination with tech shows, quickly turned to dread and anger upon experiencing the event.
• A key observation was the sheer volume of products at the Innovation Awards that were described as basic household items with "AI" appended to their names.
• This is seen as a symptom of tech oligarchs dictating the direction of the tech space, prioritizing investor desires over consumer needs.

"Look at this. I'm at the Innovation Awards. There's supposed to be a bunch of innovation back here. You know what it is? Every random household good that you could possibly think of that they put AI in the name of."

The AI Overdrive and Subscription Model [02:02]

• The presenter questions when technology "got so freaking dumb," criticizing the industry's relentless pursuit of buzzwords to please investors, following trends like "every tech needed an app," "blockchain," and now "subscriptions."
• Many tech products still incorporate these previous trends alongside AI, with a particular concern that everyday appliances like toasters and microwaves are being unnecessarily equipped with AI.
• The video introduces the concept of "circular funding" as a mechanism driving this focus, where tech CEOs mutually benefit from investing in each other's AI ventures.

"But surely your toaster or microwave doesn't need AI, right? Surely we could focus on just building better products, right?"

Lenovo's Missed Opportunity and Consumer Disconnect [03:18]

• The presenter attended the Lenovo Tech World exhibit at The Sphere, initially anticipating innovative technology.
• Instead, the event focused heavily on AI, with CEOs from Lenovo, Nvidia (Jensen Huang), and AMD discussing data center investments rather than groundbreaking consumer products.
• Notably, Lenovo did showcase a cool unfurling laptop, but this innovation was not highlighted, with AI being the sole focus for investors.
• The presenter argues that tech CEOs fail to recognize that consumers don't universally prioritize AI in their daily lives, contrasting this with the perceived consumer need for AI.

"And you know what I got? I got Lenovo tech lack of innovation."

Concerns Over AI Companions and Flawed AI Products [05:09]

• The video expresses alarm at the prevalence of AI kids' toys, referencing past incidents of data leaks, and the potential for AI lab pets to watch children.
• The proliferation of AI companions is criticized as potentially harmful for individuals already experiencing loneliness and isolation.
• These AI companions are also predicted to be expensive, with an added subscription fee, mirroring the return of the subscription model.
• The presenter purchased Meta AI display glasses for their cool display feature but found the integrated AI software to be among the worst experienced, highlighting a disconnect between ambitious AI claims and functional reality.

"In a world where people are already feeling incredibly lonely and isolated, the last thing we need is to be forcing AI companions in front of vulnerable people who just need an outlet and a third space."

The Tech Bubble and Consumer Value [07:03]

• The presenter reflects on the irony of a multi-billion dollar company like Meta potentially laying off employees due to AI, while simultaneously offering a poor user experience with their AI hardware.
• This scenario is presented as indicative of the future tech landscape envisioned by industry leaders—one that is disheartening for tech enthusiasts.
• The current "massive AI bubble" is producing products that offer no meaningful improvement to daily life but command high prices, such as $1,000 for the Meta AI glasses.
• The tech space is seen as moving away from consumers and towards businesses, driven by "circular funding" and "circlejerk bubbles" that benefit tech CEOs, with promises of consumer-centric development that don't materialize.

"This is what the massive AI bubble is giving us. Products like this that don't have any meaningful improvement in anybody's life yet still cost $1,000."

The Future of Tech: Extraction Over Innovation [09:01]

• The video concludes with the presenter's deep disappointment at CES, noting the pervasive "smack" of AI onto basic items without genuine purpose or benefit.
• The concern is raised: if AI isn't serving consumers, why are consumers being served AI with investor dollars and attention?
• The presenter questions the point of this AI bubble if it's making society worse, expressing sadness at seeing technology that once evoked excitement now used primarily to extract value from consumers with minimal return.
• The video ends with a call for audience engagement, inviting comments on their thoughts about the current direction of the tech industry.

"But what I am saying is when you have a convention full of tech and every single product is just basic household item with AI smacked in the name and AI isn't serving you, then why are we serving it with investor dollars?"