It Could Happen Here Best and Worst (non AI) Products at CES
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Jan 13, 2026 Join Ben Rose Porter, a sociologist, as he dives into the chaos of CES 2026 with Robert and Garrison. They sift through the clutter to spotlight intriguing tech like exoskeletons that promise mobility benefits. Discover Nodi, a smart alternative for kids, and hear critiques on AI's impact on otherwise stellar hardware. Ben also explores the ethics of VR grief therapy, raising thought-provoking questions about mental health tech. From innovative gadgets to the complexities of modern design, the conversation is both enlightening and entertaining.
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AI Overload Masks Real Hardware
- CES 2026 felt saturated with AI add-ons that bloat otherwise good products.
- Robert Evans and Garrison Davis found genuinely new hardware scarce amid LLM wrappers.
Exoskeletons That Actually Help
- Robert Evans and Ben Rose Porter tested the HyperShell exoskeleton on the CES floor and reported reduced back and knee strain.
- Evans timed his casual walk improving from ~19 to ~15.5 minutes per mile while heart rate stayed stable.
Biometrics Are Currency, Not Private
- Many health wearables at CES promise diagnostics while funneling biometric data to cloud partners.
- The panel warned that vendors treat data-sharing as the default path to ‘improving’ devices.