The most unusual technology announced yet at CES 2026

While CES 2026 is full of tech giants unveiling their latest innovations, the real excitement comes from discovering unexpected and strange gadgets that will make you wonder: “Who thought of this?”

We’re here to highlight the wildest products we’ve found yet at CES 2026, from an AI-powered panda that responds to your touch, to Razer’s anthropomorphic animation assistant, and plenty of weird stuff to make you do a double take.

An AI anime companion that watches you from your desk

Razer Ava projectwhich was originally introduced last year as an eSports coach, has evolved into something new: a 5.5-inch 3D animated desk companion that can help with gaming strategies, productivity, daily organization, and even personal advice. It is a gaming ally and daily helper. Users can choose from different characters, such as anime girl Kira or muscular Zane.

These digital avatars feature realistic movements, eye tracking, emojis, and lip sync for realistic interactions. But what really stands out is the continuous monitoring, where the device monitors you and your screen using the built-in camera. It’s a bit worrying, but since it’s still just a concept, there’s no guarantee it’ll ever become a real product.

Baby Panda AI robot is adorable for seniors

An’An, the newest AI pet from Mind with heart robotsCombines great design with a purposeful mission: supporting senior care.

The panda robot has high-tech sensors all over its body, so it reacts naturally when you touch it. Emotional AI remembers your voice, how you react, and what you like, so the more time you spend with An’An, the more personalized it becomes. It provides around-the-clock emotional support to combat loneliness. Additionally, for seniors who may have memory issues, the An’An app helps keep them engaged, reminds them of daily tasks, and keeps caregivers informed of their health.

A $500 ice cube maker uses AI to reduce noise

Smart home appliances brand Goofy Live It has unveiled a smart countertop ice maker that uses artificial intelligence to keep things nice and cool. The company’s patented AI NoiseGuard technology is designed to reduce all the annoying knocks you typically get from ice makers. The AI ​​detects when the machine is about to freeze and make the noise, so it automatically defrosts before things get loud.

The Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro produces fresh ice in just six minutes and can produce up to 60 pounds per day. Bucket holds 3.5 pounds of ice at a time. It’ll set you back $499.99 — which might make you think twice — but if you’re ready to upgrade your snowboard game, you can get one starting January 15 from Amazon, govee.com, Walmart, or Best Buy.

Ultrasonic chef knife vibrates when slicing and chopping

Depending on who you ask, this kitchen gadget may seem either very silly or very useful. Unlike traditional knives, these knives are made of… Seattle Ultrasonics It features 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 runs sharper than its physical edge, making tasks such as cutting vegetables, meat or bread much easier for chefs. According to the company, the vibrations are so subtle that you can’t see or hear the blade move or feel anything in the handle.

The knife is priced at $399 and is currently available for pre-order.

A musical lollipop plays Ice Spice in your head

There are musical toothbrushes, so why not have lollipops that play music too? Popsicle star It showed off its delicious product at CES, which delivers music through bone conduction while it’s in your mouth. (This technology works by sending vibrations through the bones of your skull directly to your inner ear.) Popsicles also provide a boost of fruity flavor. You can choose from three artists: Ice Spice (peach), Akon (raspberry), and Armani White (lemon).