TechLinked IFA 2026's Weirdest Gadgets, Tesla's Pedal Free Cybercab Hits Austin, Judge Spares Google's Ad Business + more!
Sep 5, 2026
IFA’s strangest tech includes bezel-free phones, sleep earbuds, pet gadgets, bed vacuums, companion dolls, and mining robots. Tesla’s pedal-free Cybercab arrives in Austin under safety scrutiny, while Google avoids an ad exchange breakup. Plus, Xbox cloud gaming caps, simultaneous AI chatbot outages, a Missouri recall tied to data centers, and the science of the perfect kiss.
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IFA Showcases Gadgets For Every Weird Niche
- IFA 2026 featured unconventional gadgets alongside standard laptops and monitors.
- Highlights included bezel-free phones, sleep earbuds with a case display, a smart fish tank, a cat-food processor, and a bed vacuum.
Tesla's Pedal-Free Cybercab Tests Old Rules
- Tesla launched its Cybercab in Austin without a steering wheel or brake pedals, triggering an immediate NHTSA audit.
- Self-certification rules were written for human-driven cars, while regulators now consider rewriting them for autonomous vehicles.
Tesla Could Avoid Zoox's Four-Year Approval Wait
- Tesla may benefit from faster rule changes because Zoox's comparable driverless shuttle audit took four years to receive approval.
- The episode frames regulatory modernization as essential for deploying autonomous vehicles sooner.