It Could Happen Here It Could Happen Here Weekly 215
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Jan 17, 2026 Ben Rose Porter, a sociologist specializing in tech culture, dives into the intriguing intersection of consumer electronics and societal impacts. He critiques the increasing reliance on so-called empathetic robots and discusses the ethical concerns surrounding emotional marketing. The conversation also touches on the implications of LLMs in devices and raises questions about privacy risks with health wearables. Additionally, the discussion expands to the protests in Iran, highlighting the urgent local issues and the ramifications of internet blackouts.
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LLM Wrappers Are The New Gimmick
- CES 2026 was dominated by LLM wrappers: physical gadgets that merely front ChatGPT-like models rather than true device innovation.
- Many demos failed on-site because they relied on cloud LLMs and convention Wi‑Fi, revealing these products are brittle in real-world connectivity constraints.
Cloyd: Hype Over Competence
- Robert and Garrison watched LG's home robot Cloyd demo and found it incompetent at chores like folding laundry.
- The robot's marketing emphasized memory and personality while the device visibly failed simple tasks on the show floor.
Choose On-Device AI For Reliability
- Prefer devices that run models on-device when you need offline reliability and privacy.
- Robert highlighted TransAI's translator as genuinely useful because it translates and transcribes without touching the cloud.